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Those Evil Wi-Fi Users
Wi-Fi hotspot cruising gets bad rap
Users being harassed outside libraries; police categorizing wandering Wi-Fi users as "roaming bands of cyber thieves"; there's certainly plenty of confusion among law enforcement when it comes to Wi-Fi. Techdirt illuminates the latest instance of such over-reaction in Arizona, where a community is "outraged" about "drive-by computer hackers cruising upscale Scottsdale neighborhoods to cherry-pick wireless Web systems" (despite no actual evidence of anyone doing anything wrong). Gated neighborhoods have filed police reports about users who are buzzed in and then found sitting in their cars using the internet (perhaps only checking e-mail). Secure your hotspots, perhaps?
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David
Premium Member
join:2002-05-30
Granite City, IL

David

Premium Member

Well I guess

everyone expects the law to handle thier security issues..

tsk, tsk..

Maxo
Your tax dollars at work.
Premium Member
join:2002-11-04
Tallahassee, FL

Maxo

Premium Member

Re: Well I guess

said by David:
everyone expects the law to handle thier security issues..

tsk, tsk..
Agreed. Wireless routers need to come pre-configured for security and with a blunt warning on the potential dangers. The installation CD should automatically configure the router for encryption, firewall, and possibly even MAC address authentication. Then maybe a two page manual on the basics.
I don't think it can be expected that the average person is going to be a security expert, or even know the basics.

disorder
Useful Idiot
Premium Member
join:2003-04-16
Alexandria, VA

disorder

Premium Member

Re: Well I guess

Agreed.

thrillhaus
Premium Member
join:2003-12-26
Long Beach, CA

1 edit

thrillhaus to Maxo

Premium Member

to Maxo
Ahhh! You didn't secure your wireless AP!!! That's like leaving your garage door up... inviting theives in. It's the user's responsibilty to secure their AP, but the companies can do it as. As far as I know, most of the AP's don't come pre-secured in order to make them "user friendly".

Maxo
Your tax dollars at work.
Premium Member
join:2002-11-04
Tallahassee, FL

Maxo

Premium Member

Re: Well I guess

said by thrillhaus:
It's the user's responsibilty at secure their AP, but the companies can do it as. As far as I know, most of the AP's don't come pre-secured in order to make them "user friendly".
I agree. But it's also the companies responsibility to offer a good product. A secure product is certainly a good product. I see two scenarios.
1. User is not too computer savvy - User buys wireless router and gets wireless NIC installed and power to router. User puts in CDs, agrees to EULA, clicks next a bunch and is ready to roll. Software handles everything.
2. User is computer savvy - User buys wireless router and install wireless NIC. Runs ipconfig, plugs defaults gateway into browser and manually configures everything to taste.

thewolfman
join:2003-04-03
Niagara Falls, NY

thewolfman to Maxo

Member

to Maxo
That would be like getting a manual with a bottle of Jack Daniel's, or buying smokes and getting a CD-Rom on the dangers of smoking. People know that smoking is bad and drinking too much is not good for you. Why do they know this?? Education and research. If I buy a router and don't know how to configure it, shame on me. If I can't secure a router, I shouldn't buy one.
It isn't rocket science, is it?

Maxo
Your tax dollars at work.
Premium Member
join:2002-11-04
Tallahassee, FL

Maxo

Premium Member

Re: Well I guess

said by thewolfman:
It isn't rocket science, is it?
I've seen doctors get in front of a computer and all of a sudden the simplest tasks become harder than brain surgery. As it stands right now the average person knows cigarettes and alcohol are bad for their body, but few know the potential dangers of a wireless network. I try to educate everyone I talk to that has a wireless network, but few pass off what I say as something they should seriously look into.

thewolfman
join:2003-04-03
Niagara Falls, NY

thewolfman

Member

Re: Well I guess

I'm saying that people need to educate themselves on wireless security BEFORE they buy. Doctor's go to school BEFORE they do brain surgery, right? I would hope so. It falls under the 'buyer beware' category. Not sure how to secure it, don't buy it.

Maxo
Your tax dollars at work.
Premium Member
join:2002-11-04
Tallahassee, FL

Maxo

Premium Member

Re: Well I guess

said by thewolfman:
I'm saying that people need to educate themselves on wireless security BEFORE they buy. Doctor's go to school BEFORE they do brain surgery, right? I would hope so. It falls under the 'buyer beware' category. Not sure how to secure it, don't buy it.
In your scenario the doctor would be the computer technician.
I think a car analogy works better. When you buy a car you should know at least the year, make, model, and how to check the basic fluids. When you push the gas it should go forward, when you push the breaks it should stop. When you turn the steering wheel the car should turn. You shouldn't have to learn all the intricate details about how a car runs and you shouldn't have to be troubleshooting everything all the time. When you buy it all it should need is the keys to turn it on. The car should come equipped with all the standard safety features and it shouldn't be a chore to make them work. If you do have a problems you can either take the time out to educate yourself or you can take it to a mechanic.
Likewise when you buy computer stuff it should work as advertised without hassle. You should learn the basics behind operation and routine maintenance but you shouldn't have to worry about all the nitty gritty.

thewolfman
join:2003-04-03
Niagara Falls, NY

thewolfman

Member

Re: Well I guess

Actually, the doctor was your scenario, not mine. The point I am trying to make is very simple. The majority of router buyers are well versed in technology, or know someone who is. Therefore, they have SOME resource available to them to secure the router. I don't need linksys or any other company to do it for me. If you do, find someone who will do it for you. We 'dumb' enough things down for people as it is. How complex is a router? There isn't any 'nitty gritty' to worry about. I will say it again, educate yourself before you buy something. If you can use a computer, you can do a google search under "router security" and follow the steps on any number of sites that show you how to do it.

Maxo
Your tax dollars at work.
Premium Member
join:2002-11-04
Tallahassee, FL

Maxo

Premium Member

Re: Well I guess

said by thewolfman:
Actually, the doctor was your scenario, not mine. The point I am trying to make is very simple. The majority of router buyers are well versed in technology, or know someone who is. Therefore, they have SOME resource available to them to secure the router. I don't need linksys or any other company to do it for me. If you do, find someone who will do it for you. We 'dumb' enough things down for people as it is. How complex is a router? There isn't any 'nitty gritty' to worry about. I will say it again, educate yourself before you buy something. If you can use a computer, you can do a google search under "router security" and follow the steps on any number of sites that show you how to do it.
Well, I only brought up Doctors to illustrate that even intelligent people can lose all common sense when they start dealing with computer. The other issue is that manufacturers don't give a crap about how much knowledge you have before they sell you a product. As long as profit is involved. And it will be a while before the average Joe has a basic working knowledge of computers and computer gadgets. So I think the manufacturers should take a little initiative and make the installation CD automatically setup basic security measures. More tech people like you and I can simply bypass the CD (as we usually do anyhow) and perform a manual setup.)

thewolfman
join:2003-04-03
Niagara Falls, NY

thewolfman

Member

Re: Well I guess

said by Maxo:
And it will be a while before the average Joe has a basic working knowledge of computers and computer gadgets. So I think the manufacturers should take a little initiative and make the installation CD automatically setup basic security measures. More tech people like you and I can simply bypass the CD (as we usually do anyhow) and perform a manual setup.)



Once again, it goes to educating yourself before you buy something. I don't think that the "average Joe" is wireless. Don't put the burden on manufacturers because the "average Joe" doesn't want to secure his wireless connection. The next step is to have it managed by the government, do you want that? Besides, I don't want to have to pay more for a product because the "average Joe" doesn't concern himself with security. If the "average Joe" doesn't know what he is doing, he should educate himself on the subject before he buys. If the "average Joe" doesn't care to do it, I don't care if someone uses "average Joe's" connection.
Xoroz6
join:2004-08-06

Xoroz6 to Maxo

Member

to Maxo
Well I happen to work doing support for wifi routers and ap etc...
Many people dont know about security or the risks about not having WEP / WPA / MAC Filter or any kind of security setup.
What they want?
To make the product work.
What we do?
We get it to work.

Well I am not saying I dont agree.
I do... but its all about: how easy is it?
The companys that design this products will soon realize
what they have done, to have by default:
NO WEP, SSID BROADCAST ENABLE, DUMB DEFAULT PASSWORD OR NO PASSWORDS...
I just hope that the people who setup this at bigger companies know who to do it right, or valuable information will fall to anyones hand.

DaDogs
Semper Vigilantis
Premium Member
join:2004-02-28
Deltaville, VA

DaDogs to David

Premium Member

to David
This is a gated community. It is a high-priority target. I'm guessing that a smart consultant could clean up "cleaning up" that community.

Sounds like a business opportunity to me.
BosstonesOwn
join:2002-12-15
Wakefield, MA

BosstonesOwn

Member

Re: Well I guess

But then I am sure the people in this community would turn away the service. They have the police to scare the people away for free.

DaDogs
Semper Vigilantis
Premium Member
join:2004-02-28
Deltaville, VA

DaDogs

Premium Member

Re: Well I guess

One can assume anything I suppose.

Nerdtalker
Working Hard, Or Hardly Working?
MVM
join:2003-02-18
San Jose, CA

Nerdtalker to David

MVM

to David
said by David:
everyone expects the law to handle thier security issues..

Its sick. I'm getting sicker every day almost hearing about all the paranoia, law-creating, and stupidity of these people who could've avoided it if they either:

•Read the manual
-or-
•Figured out the obvious implications of wireless+computer+browsing

Seriously. If I buy a walkie-talkie, should I expect it to be totally secure? No. Why would it be any different now with your default-configured AP? Do I suddenly get angry and frustrated when I find out that sending your credit card# over CB radio is a bad idea? No. Why is WiFi different?

Stupidity should be at least mildly painful. To the people in scottsdale (which I visit occasionally), get off your butts and ***gasp*** read something about wireless security before you blindly go to the store, pick one up, and come home with it.

The screenshot is my "masterlog" all the wireless networks I've detected either with my laptop or my PDA. 127/177 AP's that I've seen have encryption turned off. That's over 71%! 52/177 had default SSIDs, which means that they totally disregarded even creating a special name for their AP. People with default SSIDs usually have a plethora of problems, since the default SSID represents either a total disregard for any security, or total ignorance.
Bluexenon
join:2004-05-27

Bluexenon to David

Member

to David
I live in a gated community in California. As far as being "buzzed" into the community and sitting outside of the homes and using the internet, well thats the their security problem. We have a main gate with a guard house who will not let anyone through unless he is authorized to do so. We also have a rear enterance for homeowners to use which is night vision CCTVed and we also have 2 guards that patrol through the streets every 30 minutes. People who are complaining in AZ gated communities need to get a different company to handle their security needs. The local law inforcement has better things to do than to handle such incidents.

kalphearion
In nomine Patri
Premium Member
join:2003-11-08
Broomfield, CO

kalphearion

Premium Member

I guess no one learns anything

With all the hype about Wireless "war driving" you'd think people would get a clue and either A: setup the security features for wireles B: hire someone to do it if they dont know how or C: just buy some ethernet cable and spend the extra time to run the cable.

Brian
jmuskratt
join:2000-11-21
New Orleans, LA

jmuskratt

Member

Unlocked doors do not equal invitations to steal.

I think some may have another opinion if they found strange extension cords plugged into an outside outlet.

I'm sorry officer, I thought he was okay with me borrowing his car. After all, he did leave the door unlocked.

Theft is theft.

Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a.b.s.complete-cd to go visit.

NYR 56
Premium Member
join:2000-12-05
Smithtown, NY

NYR 56

Premium Member

Re: Unlocked doors do not equal invitations to steal.

said by jmuskratt:
I think some may have another opinion if they found strange extension cords plugged into an outside outlet.
That would increase your electrical bill and requires trespassing. Using a wireless network however, doesn't require this. It isn't illegal to listen to a cordless phone conversation as long as you don't do anything malicious, so why should using a wireless network be?

DaDogs
Semper Vigilantis
Premium Member
join:2004-02-28
Deltaville, VA

DaDogs

Premium Member

Re: Unlocked doors do not equal invitations to ste

said by NYR 56:
said by jmuskratt:
I think some may have another opinion if they found strange extension cords plugged into an outside outlet.
That would increase your electrical bill and requires trespassing. Using a wireless network however, doesn't require this. It isn't illegal to listen to a cordless phone conversation as long as you don't do anything malicious, so why should using a wireless network be?

Where's my clue stick?! Oh! Here it is:
»www.tncrimlaw.com/TPI_Cr ··· 9_02.htm
»www.panix.com/clay/scann ··· nce.html

NYR 56
Premium Member
join:2000-12-05
Smithtown, NY

NYR 56

Premium Member

Re: Unlocked doors do not equal invitations to ste

A site I read stated you must act maliciously when intercepting the signal for it to be a crime. That is what I based my post on.

DaDogs
Semper Vigilantis
Premium Member
join:2004-02-28
Deltaville, VA

2 edits

DaDogs

Premium Member

Re: Unlocked doors do not equal invitations to ste

It is actually illegal to intercept the cordless to base link in the USA. It is considered part of the land line link and therefore the courts give it "reasonable expectation of privacy".

Still if you don't tell anyone, and don't record it, and you are not under surveillance when you do it, it would be hard to bring charges, wouldn't it?

You were misled, though. If you as much as told someone something you heard and they could repeat it for the police who could verify it with the victim, you could be charged.

Ditto "digital pager" traffic. It is interesting to note that voice pager traffic does not enjoy reasonable expectation, unless things have changed again, I don't keep up with that kind of information much these days as I no longer need to.

dj12midnit
Tag You'R It
Premium Member
join:2000-07-28
98284-9568

1 recommendation

dj12midnit to DaDogs

Premium Member

to DaDogs
If you actualy read the law it says and not or so yes you can listen just dont record it or repet it...

DaDogs
Semper Vigilantis
Premium Member
join:2004-02-28
Deltaville, VA

DaDogs

Premium Member

Re: Unlocked doors do not equal invitations to ste

Agreed, I know what it says. It says, "Do not get caught listening." That means, "If you do not record it or repeat it we will have no way of knowing you did it." But we both knew that.

TechieZero
Tools Are Using Me
Premium Member
join:2002-01-25
Lithia, FL

TechieZero to NYR 56

Premium Member

to NYR 56

Re: Unlocked doors do not equal invitations to steal.

LOL! My kid's baby monitor was picking up my nieghbors phone. Was I breaking the law?

NYR 56
Premium Member
join:2000-12-05
Smithtown, NY

NYR 56

Premium Member

Re: Unlocked doors do not equal invitations to steal.

Definitely not, since it was unintentional.

Viper007Bond
Premium Member
join:2002-09-26
Portland, OR

Viper007Bond to jmuskratt

Premium Member

to jmuskratt
I agree with that for private Wi-Fi's (but if they're private, people shouldn't be stupid and set up a "private" Wi-Fi and not secure it), but with the library example, why can't you use it from anywhere? It's our Wi-Fi connection - we pay for it with taxes. It's also a public one.
jmuskratt
join:2000-11-21
New Orleans, LA

jmuskratt

Member

Re: Unlocked doors do not equal invitations to ste

Why can't you drive 140 on the interstate? It's your freeway, you paid for it. Public funding does not mean unlimited and unrestricted public use. This is why libraries can limit you from looking at all the porn you want.

Why can't you legally download music off newsgroups? I mean, it's not costing anyone any money. Just because there isn't a metered fee doesn't mean that you're not stealing. You are taking something of value (bandwidth) from someone else (home owner) without their consent (being unsecured doesn't mean they consent to you stealing it) with the intention of permanently depriving them of it (which you are, they'll never get that bandwidth back later..you limited their use). That is theft.

BuriedCaesar3
It's Not Polite To Stare.
join:2004-03-27
Richardson, TX

BuriedCaesar3

Member

Re: Unlocked doors do not equal invitations to ste

said by jmuskratt:

You are taking something of value (bandwidth) from someone else (home owner) without their consent (being unsecured doesn't mean they consent to you stealing it) with the intention of permanently depriving them of it (which you are, they'll never get that bandwidth back later..you limited their use). That is theft.

Actually, folks who don't protect their wireless access points are providing a very loud and obvious invitation to steal (not that I'm saying it's not wrong, it is). The idea of learning how to lock up, or add password protection to, your wireless access point certainly makes sense, then, doesn't it? Same goes for where you live. In many areas, people don't leave the door open and unlocked, even when they're home. Why, then, would you want to leave your wireless access point open and unlocked for anyone to come by, notice that it's open and available, and take easy advantage of it? Most thieves will move right on as soon as they find a locked door or window at the house and only the very persistent will actually intentionally break in and risk someone catching them from the noise or the prowling. Same goes for wardrivers - they'll just keep roaming until they find a free access point.

DaDogs
Semper Vigilantis
Premium Member
join:2004-02-28
Deltaville, VA

DaDogs to Viper007Bond

Premium Member

to Viper007Bond
said by Viper007Bond:
I agree with that for private Wi-Fi's (but if they're private, people shouldn't be stupid and set up a "private" Wi-Fi and not secure it), but with the library example, why can't you use it from anywhere? It's our Wi-Fi connection - we pay for it with taxes. It's also a public one.

Regarding the library example, the guy had a library card. That was an example of pure stupidity or harrassment upon the part of the officer.

asdfdfdf
@244.xx.175.Dial1.StL

asdfdfdf to jmuskratt

Anon

to jmuskratt
I'm not trying to pick on you in particular jmuskratt
but I hear "Theft is theft" quite frequently as if it means something.
Obviously theft is theft and murder is murder and anything is itself. Doesn't tell us whether any particular act is a murder or not, nor is that proof that using a public access point without being inside the access point owners premises is theft.

The heart of the problem here is the bizarre need to propertize everything and then to insist that therefore any use of anything that is not explicitly authorized is a crime.
It is highly questionable to claim that use of a deliberately public access point is theft.
Certainly, I understand that no one wants to be investigated for kiddie porn because someone routing it through their wireless point was doing such and such. It still doesn't follow that such use is theft. If I let someone borrow my phone and it turned out he used it to chat up someone underage I certainly would be pissed about it but it doesn't mean that he "stole" anything from me.
As the article pointed out, we still aren't to the absurd point that someone can claim I am stealing their property if their porchlight is shining on my watch as I stand in the street and I use the light to read my watch.

The library should shield its building to make sure that no emissions pass beyond their library walls if this is a problem for them.

Not only was this individual stopped from using the access point, but this notion of theft "outlawed" his ability to even use his laptop in a public area. Yet we consider the freedom to use public areas in legal ways unmolested by police less important than absolute control over all emissions from one's access point? This is the bizarre state of property concepts today.

Not everything is property and property rights do not trump everything else.

•••••

DaDogs
Semper Vigilantis
Premium Member
join:2004-02-28
Deltaville, VA

DaDogs

Premium Member

What can one say?

It wouldnt be that hard to make vendors post a large sticker on their packing that says, "WARNING -- enable encryption after installation" ... 'course if we did that we might have do do something similar with every PC that ships ... "WARNING -- Do NOT connect this computer to the internet until you have installed it's patches."

There is no easy way to protect those who are determined to remain ignorant.

••••

NewLife
Just Keep Swimming, Just Keep Swimming
join:2001-07-31
Calhoun, GA

NewLife

Member

Most of the people are....

Most of the people who are complaining are probably those snobby a$$d people that are running $300 T-1s, with wireless networks so they can sit out back and drink coffee while computing but yet they have no clue on security. SO now they are depending on the pigs, I mean police, to defend their connections when they piglice hve about as much clue as the rest of these people.

mibagent_x
Go giggle the handle
Premium Member
join:2001-03-04
Barnhart, MO

mibagent_x

Premium Member

Some People

Some if not most people do not under stand how networking, wired or not work. If people did I think they wouldn't be complaining as much. Wi-Fi by nature brodcasts to everyone and anyway that asks can get onto the network, unless its secured. Complaining that someone is using your unsecured hotspot is akin to someone saying "hey how dare you drive on my connecting street to the highway" If you don't want people using "your" street put up a damn sign or a gate with a code aka encrypt the street.

DaDogs
Semper Vigilantis
Premium Member
join:2004-02-28
Deltaville, VA

1 edit

DaDogs

Premium Member

Re: Some People

I dont think one needs to put up any encryption. Sure that is a best practice, but I'd say changing the SSID to a non-default SSID should be enough. Especially if that SSID were something like, "My-PRIVATE-Network". In my mind, setting up a connection to that network would be like, crossing the "Beware of the Dogs" sign in my front yard, you just might get eaten.

Yowzaaah
Ours Go To Eleven
join:2000-12-14
DamnFlat, OH

Yowzaaah

Member

HORRIBLE reporting and fact checking

That AZ article was evidently fact checked by someone with the technical background of and Andean Llama Sheppard.

They cite the FIRST PROSECUTIONS of 3 Michigan men as if they were indicted for sniffing Lowes Packets. Did they even BOTHER to read the details of the offenses alleged? These guys actually intruded on the store network and dropped a trojan like file to skim credit card numbers. They were NOT charged for accessing an unsecured network, they were charged for what they did once in. AND it was an inside job with one of the defendants having been a Lowes employee. Grrrrrr.

ropeguru
Premium Member
join:2001-01-25
Mechanicsville, VA

ropeguru

Premium Member

Maybe...

All these affluent people need to drop by here at DSLR and read this Article:

»Forcefully Securing Hotspots?

Then they can call the guy who wrote it and really get the police involved. They could form a "roaming band of cyberthief vigelantes".

ame055
join:2003-07-01
ME

ame055

Member

Re: Maybe...

whatever happened to Bluetooth. All the hype they made when it came out and then no products use the technology except for a few??;
instead they all switch to wifi.
Jon_Hanson
Mountain Dew Rules
Premium Member
join:2001-07-09
Gilbert, AZ

Jon_Hanson

Premium Member

Re: Maybe...

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are not competing technologies. Wi-Fi is used for network access. Bluetooth is a cable-replacement technology meant for short distances.

David
Premium Member
join:2002-05-30
Granite City, IL

David

Premium Member

Car 54, Car 54

802.11 b/a/g in progress...

stop wardriver at all costs, consider him surfing, and extremely dangerous.

Please disarm criminal with non lethal ammunition.

••••

natter
join:2000-12-18
New Boston, NH

natter

Member

good fun

I just got back from Cali and had an omni antenna on my car and it came in real handy. I wasn't hacking, I was just stopping by people's houses and checking email and IM'ing people. I was amazed at the number of AP's that were open.

When I did find a coffee shop that had net access, their router was broken so I was out of luck...

Off again I went and found a nice park and did some work off of one of the 3 open AP's in the area...
BosstonesOwn
join:2002-12-15
Wakefield, MA

BosstonesOwn

Member

Re: good fun

I ran netstumbler on about a 6 square mile radius in one of our 2nd biggest cities in mass. I found 140 ap's and 73 unsecured I just looked at the net stumbler screen and saved the log.

Make it easier for me to get my email while sitting in traffic.
the niTz
Premium Member
join:2004-07-05
Sahuarita, AZ

the niTz

Premium Member

tucson hot spots

yeah its nice checking email while driving in tucson, i got more then 100 routers and 80 of them were unprotected, o and linksys gives a cd that configures a default router with security but of course i prefer mac address protection

dualsmp
join:2001-08-25
Charlotte, NC

1 edit

dualsmp

Member

Warning severe engine damage could result

I really could care less about wireless users that could give two sh|ts about wireless security. These are the same people who give you a blank stare when you tell them that anti-spyware apps are a good idea, along with virus protection. Most of the people you give advice to look at you like you are some conspiracy theorist. I used to inform people about such dangers, but 99% of the time the advice is not taken. Makes you wonder if they know to change the oil in their car every once and awhile.

"Warning-- someone can leech off your cable modem if you don't implement encryption"

"Warning-- severe engine damage could result from lack of regular oil changes"

"Warning--when changing a light bulb, be sure to turn off the switch to avoid burning finger tips"

•••••••••••••••••••••

FLECOM
Bay Networks Freak
Premium Member
join:2003-03-03
Miami, FL

FLECOM

Premium Member

omg hax0rz can steal ur megahurtz!!!1112

seriously, who cares?

WEP is a pain imo, i dont want to add all my mac addresses to my ap, so i just leave it open

are the evil hax0r wardriverz going to steal my credit cards and social and invade my body like the borg?

no of course not... 99% of wardrivers do it for shits and giggles, hell, i wardrive sometimes...

the other .5% use it for free net access and maybe at most the rest use it for "not nice" purposes...

a lot of people quite honestly dont care about security that much, i know i dont... becuase i dont have anything on my pc's that needs to be secure, and my machines are all secure so what can somone do on my network?

languard me? oh noes!
chunk73
Premium Member
join:2002-02-22
Trumbull, CT

chunk73

Premium Member

I do it to make money

I have been "wardriving" for the past year, when i find an unsecure network, I slip a piece of paper in the mailbox of the home telling them what I found and how i can help. About 90% call me back. I charge 50 bux to secure there wireless network, and it often leads to other things down the road. They now call me for all there computer needs. I am lovin it. Quite a profiable venture
TranceAddict2
join:2003-06-14
Jacksonville, FL

TranceAddict2

Member

Re: I do it to make money

i just had to say, thats a brilliant idea!
VirtualLarry
Premium Member
join:2003-08-01

VirtualLarry to chunk73

Premium Member

to chunk73
said by chunk73:
I have been "wardriving" for the past year, when i find an unsecure network, I slip a piece of paper in the mailbox of the home telling them what I found and how i can help. About 90% call me back. I charge 50 bux to secure there wireless network, and it often leads to other things down the road. They now call me for all there computer needs. I am lovin it. Quite a profiable venture
Do you think that I could make some good money installing alarm systems, if I walked down the street, and tried their back doors, and if they were unlocked, I would leave a slip of paper under their door, saying "Hey, I cased your joint, and found out that I could have gotten in, if you would like me to install an alarm system for you, just call XXX-XXXX"?

Me, I wonder how many of the 10% that didn't call back, called the police instead. (For your sake, hopefully none, but still I wonder, given the apparent paranoia displayed by some in this thread and in some of the linked articles.)
chunk73
Premium Member
join:2002-02-22
Trumbull, CT

chunk73

Premium Member

Ill take my chances

All i know is that for the past year i have not been contacted by the police and come to think of it i may start trying the back door as well. Hell i am pretty crafty with installing deadbolts, tack on another 50 bux for installing a deadbolt plus securing their wireless network, not only have i made $100 in one visit, but now i am the handyman/computer wiz for the whole town, thanks for the idea buddy. (other peoples stupidity, is my weekly income)

John Galt6
Forward, March
Premium Member
join:2004-09-30
Happy Camp

John Galt6

Premium Member

Re: Ill take my chances

I hope that you have that on your business card...!

It's a great slogan...!

chunk73
Premium Member
join:2002-02-22
Trumbull, CT

1 edit

chunk73

Premium Member

And this is where i come in

»comment.zdnet.co.uk/0,39 ··· 4,00.htm

Check out that article, i especially like the part that says, "give them 7 days to fix the problem" Well at least 10% that havent called me yet will now have someone to call when the police come knockin on their door. In the end they will all be calling me.