Wireless honeypot & legal implications

[ichy]

So out of curiosity/boredom I've considered setting up an unencrypted wireless access point and monitoring the traffic in and out of it to see what people who use it do. I can't help but wonder though, is that technically illegal? I'm not up to anything malicious here and would really just be doing it out of curiosity and to play with some monitoring tools but I don't want to inadvertently get myself in legal trouble.

 

[Chiefcrowe]

Not sure, but I think it would be ok if you're doing research and actually not trying to intercept login info, etc.

 

[lxskllr]

Leaving your wireless open is being a good neighbor. AFAIC, if it's your network, you're free to monitor anything you like on it. If people want security, there's plenty of tools to prevent snooping on an open network.

https://openwireless.org/

 

[lxskllr]

duplicate

 

[Fardringle]

Actually, for most residential ISP contracts, leaving your wireless open (i.e. sharing the connection) is against the TOS and could get your service terminated. Sure, it's nice to share, but when the service provider specifically says no, then it's not "nice" any more...

 

[lxskllr]

Actually, for most residential ISP contracts, leaving your wireless open (i.e. sharing the connection) is against the TOS and could get your service terminated. Sure, it's nice to share, but when the service provider specifically says no, then it's not "nice" any more...

I don't know how to setup encryption on Debian. I have to run it open ;^)

 

[Nintendesert]

You should be ok legally Ichy,


http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...-wifi-networks-is-not-wiretapping-judge-says/


However it wouldn't hurt to check your local State's rules on it.

 

[ch33zw1z]

I don't know how to setup encryption on Debian. I have to run it open ;^)

lol, aaaaaaaaaand you just baffled any ISP. Debbie anne????? Sir????

 

[TakeNoPrisoners]

Actually, for most residential ISP contracts, leaving your wireless open (i.e. sharing the connection) is against the TOS and could get your service terminated. Sure, it's nice to share, but when the service provider specifically says no, then it's not "nice" any more...

Except they have no way of knowing you leave it open. Traffic is traffic.

 

[Slugbait]

All usage on secured and unsecured networks can be monitored and recorded. Unless it's not that person's network, or that person has not been authorized/approved to conduct network monitoring...that would be illegal.

Legal implications for you are pretty simple. Someone else uses your network for nefarious purposes, and you are the person who will be speaking with the ISP/cops/lawyers/federal agents/etc, depending on infraction. Your honeypot logs might help, or they'll just laugh at you...maybe not worth the effort.

 

[lxskllr]

Legal implications for you are pretty simple. Someone else uses your network for nefarious purposes, and you are the person who will be speaking with the ISP/cops/lawyers/federal agents/etc, depending on infraction. Your honeypot logs might help, or they'll just laugh at you...maybe not worth the effort.

Logging might make things worse. You'd be showing knowledge of "illegal" activity, and not taking action against it.

 

[amsterdamxxx]

Don't be a doucebag and do that, curiosity killed the cat you know. I hope someone downloads child porn and you get arrested for being a dick.

 

[John Connor]

I'll laugh if some people are smart enough to SSH through the hot spot or use a VPN.

I have DD-WRT flashed into my router and use SSH to tunnel when using unsecured WIFI hotspots.