Free Public Wifi?

Sniper82

Lifer
Feb 6, 2000
16,517
0
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Here lately I been getting Free Public Wifi connection in my networks which is unsecured? I've never tried connecting to it but I am just curious if its really free :D?
 

RebateMonger

Elite Member
Dec 24, 2005
11,586
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Most "free" public Wifi connections have only limited connectivity unless you pay extra. Why not do an Internet search for your community and see what it actually is?
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
Me personally?

I'd never, ever use a public Internet service. Most times security isn't even a concern.

Then again when I'm on the road I'll use the hotel service and play with their stuff just to see what they've got going on. It's pretty bad. Someone with "bad" intentions could really gather some info.
 

InlineFive

Diamond Member
Sep 20, 2003
9,599
2
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Even if it's free public wifi is far to insecure to be safe. Unless it's private and encrypted I always VPN through my home.
 

Sniper82

Lifer
Feb 6, 2000
16,517
0
76
Originally posted by: JackMDS
How do you know that it is Free Public WIFI?

I don't know that it is. My network card is just picking it up in my network places. Might be someone running it hoping ppl will connect and they can get into their systems. I'm not willing to find out. I'll search around some to see what it is.
 

keeleysam

Diamond Member
Feb 8, 2005
8,131
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Originally posted by: Sniper82
Originally posted by: JackMDS
How do you know that it is Free Public WIFI?

I don't know that it is. My network card is just picking it up in my network places. Might be someone running it hoping ppl will connect and they can get into their systems. I'm not willing to find out. I'll search around some to see what it is.

Is it an Ad-Hoc network?

If so, it's a bug in Windows that has been propogating lately. Windows remembers the last one it saw, so any computer it comes into range with picks it up and spreads it.
 

Fraggable

Platinum Member
Jul 20, 2005
2,799
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Originally posted by: Sniper82
Originally posted by: JackMDS
How do you know that it is Free Public WIFI?

I don't know that it is. My network card is just picking it up in my network places. Might be someone running it hoping ppl will connect and they can get into their systems. I'm not willing to find out. I'll search around some to see what it is.

So... why the heck don't you think it could be your neighbor's network? With the new 802.11N standard your neighbor could be 500+ feet away and you could still see a signal from them. I'd guess that more than 75% of home wireless networks are unsecured because people are too dumb to check into setting it up on their own so maybe they just aren't aware it's open, they're not trying to break into your system.
 

nweaver

Diamond Member
Jan 21, 2001
6,813
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Originally posted by: Fraggable
Originally posted by: Sniper82
Originally posted by: JackMDS
How do you know that it is Free Public WIFI?

I don't know that it is. My network card is just picking it up in my network places. Might be someone running it hoping ppl will connect and they can get into their systems. I'm not willing to find out. I'll search around some to see what it is.

So... why the heck don't you think it could be your neighbor's network? With the new 802.11N standard your neighbor could be 500+ feet away and you could still see a signal from them. I'd guess that more than 75% of home wireless networks are unsecured because people are too dumb to check into setting it up on their own so maybe they just aren't aware it's open, they're not trying to break into your system.

you won't see 500 feet with n, unless you have clear line of site.
 

Sniper82

Lifer
Feb 6, 2000
16,517
0
76
Originally posted by: nweaver
Originally posted by: Fraggable
Originally posted by: Sniper82
Originally posted by: JackMDS
How do you know that it is Free Public WIFI?

I don't know that it is. My network card is just picking it up in my network places. Might be someone running it hoping ppl will connect and they can get into their systems. I'm not willing to find out. I'll search around some to see what it is.

So... why the heck don't you think it could be your neighbor's network? With the new 802.11N standard your neighbor could be 500+ feet away and you could still see a signal from them. I'd guess that more than 75% of home wireless networks are unsecured because people are too dumb to check into setting it up on their own so maybe they just aren't aware it's open, they're not trying to break into your system.

you won't see 500 feet with n, unless you have clear line of site.

regardless why would my neighbor's name it Free Public Wifi unless they are just wanting to be nice and share?
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
Originally posted by: Sniper82
regardless why would my neighbor's name it Free Public Wifi unless they are just wanting to be nice and share?

Maybe because doing so is illegal????

It's a federal crime to connect to a network that you don't have explicit permission to use.

Not only that, the owner of this AP, wants people to attach to their network. From there gatering personal information and files is a breeze.
 

Fraggable

Platinum Member
Jul 20, 2005
2,799
0
0
Originally posted by: Sniper82
Originally posted by: nweaver
Originally posted by: Fraggable
Originally posted by: Sniper82
Originally posted by: JackMDS
How do you know that it is Free Public WIFI?

I don't know that it is. My network card is just picking it up in my network places. Might be someone running it hoping ppl will connect and they can get into their systems. I'm not willing to find out. I'll search around some to see what it is.

So... why the heck don't you think it could be your neighbor's network? With the new 802.11N standard your neighbor could be 500+ feet away and you could still see a signal from them. I'd guess that more than 75% of home wireless networks are unsecured because people are too dumb to check into setting it up on their own so maybe they just aren't aware it's open, they're not trying to break into your system.

you won't see 500 feet with n, unless you have clear line of site.

regardless why would my neighbor's name it Free Public Wifi unless they are just wanting to be nice and share?

You hadn't made it clear that 'Free Public WiFi' was the name of the network (SSID), it sounded to me like you were saying the network would let you connect so you called it free public WiFi.

In that case, I would stay away from it unless you live very close to some kind of coffee shop or bookstore or somewhere that might have a wireless network for customers to use. They should have paid for a 'reseller' account with their ISP to allow others to connect to their network.
 

RebateMonger

Elite Member
Dec 24, 2005
11,586
0
0
Here's an example of "free" city-wide public WiFi, offered in Tempe, Arizona:

Tempe City WiFi Project

They attached transceivers to light poles throughout the city. Overall, the grid covers 40 square miles. In a 2 square mile zone (Merchant District) the WiFi is free. There's also free access to City web sites and to Arizona State University web sites.

Monthly unlimited service (1Mbps/384Kbps) is offered at $30 a month and is intended to replace a wired ISP.