Florida man arrested for wardriving

bryanthompson · bryanthompson's Garage

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wardriving

Quote:

Wardriving is an activity consisting of driving around with a Wi-Fi-equipped computer, such as a laptop or a PDA, in one's vehicle, detecting Wi-Fi wireless networks. It is also known (as of 2002) as "WiLDing" (Wireless Lan Driving), originating in the U.S. with the Bay Area Wireless Users Group (BAWUG). It is similar to using a scanner for radio. Many wardrivers use GPS devices to measure the location of the network find and log it on a website. For better range, antennas are built or bought, and vary from omnidirectional to highly directional. Software for wardriving is freely available on the Internet, notably, NetStumbler for Windows, KisMac for Macintosh, and Kismet for Linux.

Article here: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050707/ap_on_hi_te/techbits_wi_fi_theft_1

Looking at my AirPort, I have 9 unsecured wifi signals coming into my computer room. My wireless router is hidden and mac address exclusive, it took all of 45 seconds to set up... Log into router, check two boxes, enter laptop's mac address.

I'm not sure what I think about this guy getting arrested... technically, he was stealing bandwidth at the bare minimum, even if he wasn't doing anything else michevious... While at the mall last week, I hopped onto what I believed was the mall's public wifi to check my email. Public wifi is everywhere, so how are you to know if it's a public or private network, and how do you know when you're breaking the law, unless the network name is "Sam's private network" which they never are.

FrayAdjacent911 · 07-06-2005, 06:24 PM

Yep... I read about that. They're calling it 'unauthorised access of a computer network' which is a third degree felony.

I think it should be defined better. The guy MIGHT have been doing something nefarious or downright illegal, or he could have simply been having a chat with some people in innocent context.

Myself, I have a wireless card for my laptop, and a wireless router. I don't use it much anymore, so the router stays off. I tried to set up WEP, but could never get my laptop to take the key correctly, so I set up MAC address filtering.

When I got the wireless stuff, I plugged in the card and set up the software, and BAM, from my apartment, I saw 5 networks, and was able to get on 3 or 4 of them. I can still get on a couple of them. I do from time to time if I don't feel like plugging my router in, or if I want to try accessing something from the outside (testing my webserver and such).

It's just not that difficult to protect your stuff. There are some good tips that are easily found. I don't think someone who leaves their network wide open has much room to complain if someone uses their network without their knowledge. It's like leaving your front, back and garage doors wide open and complaining when people come in and drink your milk.

Saintly · 07-06-2005, 07:14 PM

I had a guy in my block of units that had his network AND his two PCs FULLY open.
no authentication at all on his netgear router and both of his PCs had the root of C: shared with read write access.
I had a look at his PC and found his e-mail address and sent him an e-mail telling him about it and listing a few simple instruction manuals on how to fix it.
A few days later i got a reply thanking me and asking if i would come over for coffee and to help him do it. really nice guy but no idea about computers besides how to switch them on.

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

At any given moment, I can see 4 to 8 open networks from my shop PC.

mikester · 07-06-2005, 09:01 PM

I have about a dozen within range of my PC...mine is mac address filtered and such...

RoninLB · 07-07-2005, 03:30 AM

2600 mag did a very good article on this a few months ago.

Adam · Adam's Garage

I figure if people don't want you using their b/w, then they'll protect their system. My home network is MAC address filtered and WEP enabled. It's amazingly easy to do. Besides, it's not like I could be bothered hacking their precious PCs using my PDA when I'm sipping lattes at a Wi-Fi cafe.

If I find an open wireless network, I get onto Pelican!

stevepaa · 07-07-2005, 09:48 AM

Many people have no idea about how easy it is to use others bandwidth. If they knew more they would use preventive measures. I can see three from my home. Mine is WEP with ~16 (?) digit code. It seems to be sufficient.

gaijindabe · 07-07-2005, 10:30 AM

When we were idiot teens, we would ride around in a VW Bug (naturally) with a garage door opener and open or close any door that we could get to work. Human nature drives us to such stupidity I guess... Anyway, a few six-packs and dollar's worth of gas would keep us busy all evening...

Hugh R · 11:45 AM

Ok, I intrigued, I have a linksys wireless router. But I can't seem to open up any program on it to put in a password, or whatever to make it secure with my laptop. What do I do?

mtelliott · 07-08-2005, 11:26 AM

Linksys has a web site that allows you to configure your router. I tried following their direction they sent with the router to no avail. If you go to their website, they'll have a button to configure your router.

Michael

88BlueTSiQuest · 06:15 AM

For your Linksys setup menu, you have to open your web browser and go to http://198.168.1.1

This is where you'll setup your password, and access restrictions. Since I don't even have a wireless laptop, I have the wireless portion of my 802.11g turned off. The only reason I bought a wireless was for when I did get a laptop, but a needed a router at the time.

Because that IP Address is the same for all Lynksys routers, it's in your best interest to turn off remote management, and set up a password and user name.

Hugh R · 07-08-2005, 04:59 PM

Link didn't work for me, but I went to linksys.com and figured out how to do it. I'm not sure why you go to a webaddress to change your router, but it worked and I'm now secure (I think) Thanks again.

88BlueTSiQuest · 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hugh R
Link didn't work for me, but I went to linksys.com and figured out how to do it. I'm not sure why you go to a webaddress to change your router, but it worked and I'm now secure (I think) Thanks again.

The web address is the actual address of the router. I'm guessing you could consider the router as working as a server, and supplying the internet to you. So in order to configure the router, you have to go to it's IP address to set the parameters. The IP address is changeable, and usually recommended that you change it when you set it up. I changed mine, which I forgot about. So I'll go back up and change the link I posted.

Since the Linksys website has the power to make changes to your router, that tells me that you still have 'remote management' enabled. Which could allow a hacker to change the status of your router.

FrayAdjacent911 · 07-09-2005, 06:58 PM

the address is probably 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 or similar. The manual with the router should tell you what IP you need to punch into your browser to get into the router. Then you should be able to change the password, and set options like MAC address filtering and WEP. The manual should have decent instructions to do so.