Police go on patrol for open Wi-Fi networks

McBanjo (User):

A typical mum/grandma/grandpa shouldn't be able to have an open WiFi network, passwords should be the norm and open networks should be the exception. Why didn't all the WiFi router manufacturers think of this when they built their products?

Raindog (Cornerstone member):

Quoting McBanjo:
Why didn't all the WiFi router manufacturers think of this when they built their products?

Because the public are idiots, it allowed a whole raft of hastily designed products to hit the shelves.

The zombie clickers wanted plug and transmit solutions and the marketers simply capitalise on the user negligence.

What better situation for hardware vendors and retailers, flog off products that are inherently insecure (ie: insecure in their quick start-up configurations) then convince users they need another security based product once problems occur.

I does also beg the question to how many people are so dim they have no idea their are Gigabytes of their usage disappearing every month.
And not just the MA & PA users, I routinely see inherently secure business networks where after paying for all the basic security the in-house experts have added a (or many) domestic access points to their corporate LAN. No prizes for guessing the what is happening there.

But as for the Qld police war-driving around in squad cars, yeah right, that'll work. A bit more token effort government spending there, coming from the same team of experts that decided they could filter the entire Internet.
Why not put undercover officers throughout the community to listen for conversation of those intent on of fare evasion, it will be about as effective.

No doubt the series of social engineering based TV adds soon, where Kevin lets you know how open access points are risking nation safety and as a suffering taxpayer you can do your bit so need to worry just keep sending money. Spare me please.

djsflynn (APC staff):

Quoting McBanjo:

McBanjo A typical mum/grandma/grandpa shouldn't be able to have an open WiFi network, passwords should be the norm and open networks should be the exception. Why didn't all the WiFi router manufacturers think of this when they built their products?

A major router/networking vendor tried this a few years back and it was an epic fail.

They made sure the instructions outlined that security was in place. They had separate sheets printed on a stand-out coloured paper listing the SSID, default password and instructions on how to change it. In short, they did everything you could possibly do to inform that 'typical' user about the default out-of-the box security.

The result was a HUGE spike in calls to their 1800 tech support line from people who "couldn't get the thing to work" because, you guessed it, they had TOTALLY ignored all the instructions and warnings about the password. This of course cost the company plenty of money, so they promptly went back to having no out-of-the-box security.

raybundy (New user):

If this is done?? it should be done by the department of communications (radio Inspectors) as they have the experience and equipment for tracing radio signals and they have more commonwealth powers to act in such cases.there are radio inspectors cruising the streets looking for pirate radio and tv already and i would think any signals

yourbroadband (New user):

they should be able to find out where the signal is easily. If it is an open network they should be able to connect to the network and find the public ip address. Then it is simply a matter of emailing the ISPs with a datetime and ip address and bam, a user account is identified.

Raindog (Cornerstone member):

Quoting yourbroadband:
they should be able to find out where the signal is easily. If it is an open network they should be able to connect to the network and find the public ip address.

Just as catching bank robbers is easy, you simply listen for gunshots, approach the scene fast enough to catch the blaggards red handed then utter "Halt Police" in a stern and authoritative voice.
Back in the real world however things are not always as easy or clear cut as they may first appear.

DFTBA (New user):

"Having found an open wireless network, however, it’s unknown exactly how they will detect precisely which home, apartment, townhouse or business office in a multi-story commercial block the signal is coming from." also, are they then going to enforce the people to protect their networks.


palm meets face

Tin (Cornerstone member):

Quoting DFTBA:
are they then going to enforce the people to protect their networks


Since there is no law requiring people to secure a wireless network, I guess they'll tell them how evil they are for sharing, and walk away.

IFA (New user):

This is an April 1 joke right? You have got to be kidding me! Soon you will be locked up for offering someone that has fallen over a hand to get up, after all - you might be scoping them out to see how vulnerable to being overpowered they are. It's a waste of my money, get back to doing real police work guys. And for the record, a lot of the newer devices now have security as a standard step of the installation wizard so this is going to be a diminishing trend anyway.