Blocking neighbors unsecured wifi

[jaydee]

I live in a high density environment and most of my wireless devices can pick up 10+ wireless networks, sometimes more than 20. There's one network that has unsecured internet access, and if at all possible I would like to block that from entering my home. I've used some utilities to determine it's 2.4GHz, 'n', and using channel 6. It's fairly weak signal (~90 dba), its only effective on one side of my house and only 2 out of 7 of my devices pick it up, but I'd rather not see it altogether. I thought maybe by setting my router with the same settings (2.4/n/ch. 6), it would cause enough interference to block it, but it didn't even seem to touch it.

Short of wrapping my house in tinfoil, any advice?

 

[VirtualLarry]

I don't think that you can, legally-speaking. They have the right to broadcast their signal on that band (subject to FCC limitations on EIRP in that freq.). You DO NOT have the right to jam it.

I don't see what the problem is? Bad words in the SSID name, that you don't want your kids to see?

 

[Red Squirrel]

Just connect to it and search for pirated content or child porn, or best yet, pirated child porn. The FBI will shut it down pretty fast. though on serious note, if they're too stupid to secure their wifi they're probably too stupid to change the default admin password on their router, connect to it, and just disable it or set a password. It's not hacking if the door was already wide open.

 

[JackMDS]

Just connect to it and search for pirated content or child porn, or best yet, pirated child porn. The FBI will shut it down pretty fast. though on serious note, if they're too stupid to secure their wifi they're probably too stupid to change the default admin password on their router, connect to it, and just disable it or set a password. It's not hacking if the door was already wide open.

So what you are saying is that if someone did not lock the door to their house you are allowed to go in and do there whatever you want to.

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Legal Solution - http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/45598-wireless-networks-allow-block-filter-windows.html

 

[Makaveli]

So what you are saying is that if someone did not lock the door to their house you are allowed to go in and do there whatever you want to.

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Legal Solution - http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/45598-wireless-networks-allow-block-filter-windows.html

Agreed jack that comes off as pretty juvenile.

And OP why don't you just disable that network in your wireless devices.

 

[Red Squirrel]

So what you are saying is that if someone did not lock the door to their house you are allowed to go in and do there whatever you want to.

-----------------------------

Legal Solution - http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/45598-wireless-networks-allow-block-filter-windows.html

If you called the cops because someone stole stuff from you due to door being wide open they'd just laugh at you. Not saying it's right, but doing this would actually help the person as their network is vulnerable as long as that AP is wide open. So it's kinda like going to someone's house that they left the door open and close it for them.

 

[Harrod]

From everything I've read, it's illegal to knowingly cause interference to block out a radio signal. The being said, if it's open, why not connect to it, guess the password, and then turn the power down on the transmitter. If someone has an open access point, they probably never changed the default password.

 

[1sikbITCH]

https://www.fcc.gov/document/warning-wi-fi-blocking-prohibited

Not saying you can't figure out some sort of dampening field. Maybe try reversing shield polarity.

 

[MtnMan]

It's not hacking if the door was already wide open.

It probably is hacking, after all the cops are charging people for breaking & entering of unlocked vehicles all the time.

 

[MtnMan]

If you called the cops because someone stole stuff from you due to door being wide open they'd just laugh at you. Not saying it's right, but doing this would actually help the person as their network is vulnerable as long as that AP is wide open. So it's kinda like going to someone's house that they left the door open and close it for them.

I didn't think Canada was that screwed up, in the US it is still B&E. Not to say the cops won't roll their eyes.

 

[nerp]

If you called the cops because someone stole stuff from you due to door being wide open they'd just laugh at you. Not saying it's right, but doing this would actually help the person as their network is vulnerable as long as that AP is wide open. So it's kinda like going to someone's house that they left the door open and close it for them.

Actually, if someone robbed you and your door was unlocked it is still a crime and police would be obligated to investigate it like any other crime. if you walked in and the door was unlocked and didn't rob anything, it is still trespassing and you could be arrested.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

Get a test PC with nothing on it and let it connect to the open router. Configure an email client to use their ISP SMTP server. Try sending an email, which will fail since you do not know their email passwords, but the bounced email will hit their POP server.

I suggest something like this in the body of the email:

ALERT! YOU ARE ALLOWING ANY MONKEY UNDER THE JUNGLE'S SUN TO ACCESS YOUR NETWORK. DO YOU WANT OTHER MONKEYS SHITTING FROM YOUR TREE? IF NOT, LOCK DOWN THAT GLOWING BAD BOY OF SUN AND BE SECURE KNOWING NO OTHER MONKEYS ARE TOILETRY RIGHTS IN YOUR TREE.

 

[jaydee]

Ok, well this hasn't been very helpful. I'm not breaking into whatever neighbor this is network (guessing the password), and based on the demographics of where I live, I highly doubt they would have any idea how to change a router setting them-self even if I did figure out who it was. Nor am I interested in "jamming" or doing something unethical while connect to their network.

I've found scatters of info about certain window film/coating/tint with metal in them that can effect signal transmission, but I don't see any hard data, or links to known products, but that seems to be a promising lead. The problem is only half the house and reception is better near the windows, so I think that's where it's getting in.

 

[KingFatty]

I would guess that if you put up any films or stuff to block the wifi signal, you run the risk of blocking other signals that you want, such as your cell phone signals, your TV broadcast signals, etc. But that assumes the film is not targeting a specific frequency, if that kind of film even exists?

Can you elaborate on why you'd want to block his signal? Is it to improve your signal?

 

[Ketchup]

Ok, well this hasn't been very helpful....

That's due to the fact that you haven't presented us with any good reason to block it. Probably because their is none. You said yourself it's a weak signal, so it's not affecting your network in any way (even if it's on the same channel). And your devices should be set to connect to your network anyway, so the only way you would encounter their network would be upon first configuration, or if you were going out of your way to find it.

 

[cyclohexane]

why all the fuss???!

If it bother you so much, just tell your phones/tablets to "forget this network" and be done with it.

 

[Makaveli]

Actually, if someone robbed you and your door was unlocked it is still a crime and police would be obligated to investigate it like any other crime. if you walked in and the door was unlocked and didn't rob anything, it is still trespassing and you could be arrested.

This!!

Not sure where you got the idea the cops would do nothing in Canada!

 

[VirtualLarry]

That's due to the fact that you haven't presented us with any good reason to block it. Probably because their is none.

OP, can you answer this?

The only reason I can think of, is that OP wants to impose strict parental controls over internet, and the kid(s) have cell phones or tablets that can pick up the "free" signal, and access the internet regardless of parental wishes.

 

[Red Squirrel]

This!!

Not sure where you got the idea the cops would do nothing in Canada!

They don't here. They tell you "lock it or lose it". They even had a PSA on the radio about it, basically saying it's your fault if you don't lock your stuff and they won't do anything.

There's been tons of car "break" ins here because of that. Thieves know they can get away with it. They check car and house doors every night for people who forgot to lock their doors. You can still report it to the police as it might lead to cues on other crimes these people did, but they're not going to do anything about that particular incident.

But that's a bit off topic.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I'm guessing the reason you want to block it is because some devices keep auto connecting to it and don't have an option to not. If you are willing to look into RF blocking films and stuff I'd try that route first. They also make lead paint that is made for blocking RF, if you're actually willing to repaint all your outside walls (I think that stuff might be quite expensive though). It's used in hospitals mostly in critical rooms like ORs so any wireless instruments are not interfered with by other signals. Some kind of covering like they use on Microwave oven windows in your windows could maybe work too, though it would look kinda odd.

If you want to stay legal and blocking the signals using films, paint etc does not work you're probably mostly out of luck though.

 

[Mike64]

It probably is hacking, after all the cops are charging people for breaking & entering of unlocked vehicles all the time.

Just for the record, the "breaking" in "breaking & entering" historically never (going back to its earliest origins in British common law) had anything to do with physically compromising (ie, "breaking") anything. Basically, just entering any sort of building or enclosure without lawful authorization, whether secured or not, has always been, in fact, "breaking and entering." [ETA: I forgot this was in Canada, but since it's a fundamental common law concept, I imagine it's probably similar there, at least everywhere but (maybe) Quebec.]

(And while I'm not sure about this, I'd also be surprised if messing with someone else's router didn't constitute "hacking" under most jurisdictions' relevant statutes these days. And also, fwiw, that (omitting the dissertation on federal jurisdiction) you could - theoretically - be charged under federal law even just for messing with a router right next door if it's connected to a commercial ISP...) [Since I have no idea whether Canada has gone as "anti-hacker" crazy as the US, I don't know if any of that applies Up There...]

 

[Elixer]

Just connect to it and search for pirated content or child porn, or best yet, pirated child porn. The FBI will shut it down pretty fast. though on serious note, if they're too stupid to secure their wifi they're probably too stupid to change the default admin password on their router, connect to it, and just disable it or set a password. It's not hacking if the door was already wide open.

What if they left it open on purpose, and are using it as a honey pot, looking for people to search for the stuff you mentioned... or anything else, they would get the MAC address, and if they have deep packet inspection going on, could learn quite a few things from the people that are using it...

Then, once they know person X goes to banking site Y, they could make a fake Y site, and have person X log in.
Now, nobody here would ever do such a thing! ()

 

[JeffMD]

An open wifi can still be considered trespassing and better yet, theft of services if you use it. And no you can't block it, any type of purposeful interference would be against FCC laws.

I'm not sure why you would care about blocking it (if you are trying to prevent siblings from latching onto it, the signal is going to be so weak they would be able to do very little with it. It would just constantly disconnect.)

If you want to do something, post a notice at the mailboxes indicating the router name (if you can determine the model by logging into it on 192.168.1.1, even better) and that it is unsecured and their network is wide open for hacking, packet sniffing, and bandwidth abuse. Should probably make it disappear quick.

 

[jaydee]

I'm guessing the reason you want to block it is because some devices keep auto connecting to it and don't have an option to not. If you are willing to look into RF blocking films and stuff I'd try that route first. They also make lead paint that is made for blocking RF, if you're actually willing to repaint all your outside walls (I think that stuff might be quite expensive though). It's used in hospitals mostly in critical rooms like ORs so any wireless instruments are not interfered with by other signals. Some kind of covering like they use on Microwave oven windows in your windows could maybe work too, though it would look kinda odd.

If you want to stay legal and blocking the signals using films, paint etc does not work you're probably mostly out of luck though.

That's what I'm getting out of this. I'm almost ready to buy some window film/coating and see what happens. Re-painting the exterior is farther than I'm willing to go. I'm fairly surprised that setting my wireless router with same frequency and channel didn't do more. I am also considering moving my router from the 3rd floor (where I don't have a problem), to the 2nd floor (problem) to see if it would cause enough interference to block out the unwanted signal inside the house, but that has some other ramifications (I'd have to move my NAS as well, because it's wired to the router).

 

[VirtualLarry]

You still haven't given a valid reason for wanting that remote AP blocked.

I'm putting this thread down as "troll".