[Eug Wanker]

Fadblog #2237:

I couldn't for the life of me figure out why I couldn't see my iMac from my PowerBook on my home network. I didn't have the iMac firewalled, and wireless internet access worked perfectly fine from my PowerBook. However, browsing the network from my PowerBook yielded me no iMac. When I finally checked my router's attached devices from my iMac, my PowerBook was nowhere to be seen, despite the fact it worked fine.

It turns out my PowerBook had hooked onto one of the other unsecured wireless networks, and for that entire evening I had been freeloading off someone else's bandwidth. I have... count 'em... 7 other wireless 802.11b/g networks within range of my home, not counting my own. Two are unencrypted too, and I have full access to the router settings of one of them.

[osxpinot]

Yup, this is commonplace. The ISP around my houses hooks people up with unsecured Linksys routers. You can drive down the street and hop from Linksys to Linksys. Fun!

[Eug Wanker]

Originally Posted by osxpinot

Yup, this is commonplace. The ISP around my houses hooks people up with unsecured Linksys routers. You can drive down the street and hop from Linksys to Linksys. Fun!

Heh. Funny you should mention that. One of the unsecured networks is a Linksys, with the name... "linksys". I just hopped onto it:



(My own network name doesn't show in the above list because I've set the router not to broadcast it.)

[baw]

Whenever I travel, I don't use the hotel's pay for internet service. I just pickup the chair, put it next to the outside window and enjoy free internet.

[olePigeon]

WEP cracker is your friend. Though, don't do it in Washington, it's illegal.

[xi_hyperon]

Originally Posted by Eug Wanker

Heh. Funny you should mention that. One of the unsecured networks is a Linksys, with the name... "linksys". I just hopped onto it:



(My own network name doesn't show in the above list because I've set the router not to broadcast it.)

I see an unsecured network called "linksys" here too. Why do people not encrypt their networks?

[Link]

Because most people have no idea what the (*&@#$ the router config thing is.

I can pick up about 5 networks from inside my house with my powerbook -- not a single one of them is open. Imagine that?

[JHromadka]

Y'all must have thin walls. I only see one other network besides my own at my house. I personally don't lock my network. My neighbors are too old to figure it out anyway, and I'm not next to the road so no wardrivers.

[xi_hyperon]

I always see a minimum of two other networks, but they go in and out, so I couldn't really connect to them even if I wanted to. Otherwise I'd cancel my own service.

[HawgJawl]

I guess I am glad I still use wire.

[Person Man]

"EthanNet?"

[budster101]

Mine says: F.B.I.

"Female Body Inspector"

[scaught]

I see no wireless networks where I live. My neighbor has a Harley and just yesterday put a kicker box into his 199_ Ford Escort. He likes to complain about his kids and drop N-bombs when talking about work.

[budster101]

Wait.

What?

[scaught]

ya. i know. pretty much nothing about what i said has anything to do with the reasons why i have no wireless networks around me. but trust me. it makes sense.

[budster101]

Well, I think I get it, tell me if I'm right.

The bafoon next door to you who rides a friggin oil leaking obnoxiously loud motorcycle cares more about the 'finer' things in life like paying exhorbident sums of money for an inferior status symbol only yuppies can buy, but he really cannot afford in the first place. He's also a low-class name dropping wannabe who owns a Ford Escort and thinks a major upgrade to his car is putting in a KICKER BOX so now his car is competing in loudness to his big fat namedropping knuckle-dragging ass.

Did I miss anything?
Sounds like my Father-in-law.

[scaught]

well. you kinda missed some things. "dropping an N-bomb" refers to his liberal use of the term "******" when talking about work.

And he can afford his toys. He works at an auto plant making the new mustangs. Those guys are union protected, and very well paid.

The saddest part is him complaining about his daughters, while praising his son who's some kind of highschool baseball star.

He doesn't have a wireless network.

[budster101]

Oh N-bomb.. I thought "Name Dropping"... So he's culturally sensitive as well? This isn't my Father-in-law is it? He goes to Sam's Club and when he hears people speaking spanish, goes.. fairly loud in another aisle, mockingly... guttuttbutttagutttagutttaaaaaaabutttadutdddda.... I was with him once and winced inside.... then walked away casually.

Yeah, my FIL has 3 daughters... and chased them away...caused two divorces, but his son can do no wrong... weird. He's doing his best to mess with my wife and I, but so far has failed. He's a real POS, who thinks he's a big-shot. I guess if you count having friends in low places a big shot.

I think he's been messing with my work too. Past 3 jobs, I think he's called them or had friends call and badmouth me. I think he tops your neighbor in the mean-spirited-jackass-racist-big-shot department.

[scaught]

does your father in law have a wireless network?

(we can keep this on topic)

[budster101]

Oh, forgot. Nope, he wouldn't know what a wireless network was if it sat on his face.

He has two wireless phones though...

Sorry to help knuckle-drag this thread off topic!

[Eug Wanker]

Originally Posted by JHromadka

Y'all must have thin walls. I only see one other network besides my own at my house. I personally don't lock my network. My neighbors are too old to figure it out anyway, and I'm not next to the road so no wardrivers.

Well, I live in a townhouse complex. My walls are brick actually, but the iMac is right by a window which not only faces many other townhouses, but also is very close to an 8 storey condo building.

Originally Posted by Person Man

"EthanNet?"

At my GF's old apt. there was a wireless network called "bukkake". If you don't know what it is, I dare you to Google it.

Nice to see a neighbour here with a network called "MacNet" though.

[lavar78]

Originally Posted by Eug Wanker

At my GF's old apt. there was a wireless network called "bukkake".

LOL!

[Superchicken]

This is why I figure I won't have to worry when I move out about paying for interweb access... just download off someone else's router

[Scotttheking]

I see only one other wireless network from here, and the name is in hex.

It's new, and one of these days I'll try and figure out if it means anything. I'm not touching it though.

[Link]

It'd be neat to do a band of "MacNet" networks throughout... all have the same user/pass for a limited but free line Change that like once a month across the US and uh yeah.. It could be cool

[tooki]

Originally Posted by Eug Wanker

Heh. Funny you should mention that. One of the unsecured networks is a Linksys, with the name... "linksys".

That's no surprise -- TONS of people get Linksyses and never set them up.

Next time you hop onto a "linksys" or "default", hop into a browser and poke in http://192.168.0.1 . Nine times out of ten, you can login with the default password of "admin" -- if they haven't set up the network name, they likely haven't secured the router, either!!!

tooki

[Superchicken]

haha you know what would be fun?
Logging into someone else's router setting the password, and locking them out ... that'd be mean though, I'd just set myself up as DMZ

[Person Man]

Originally Posted by Superchicken

haha you know what would be fun?
Logging into someone else's router setting the password, and locking them out ... that'd be mean though, I'd just set myself up as DMZ

Why would you set YOURSELF up as DMZ? That would open yourself up to any passing port scanner/nefarious person... (ignore the fact that OS X isn't as vulnerable to malware as Windows).

Set the router owner's computer (90% of the time it'll be a Windows machine, and there's a good chance it will be an older, unpatched version of XP, ME, or even 98) up as DMZ... let THEM get first-hand experience (i.e. infected up the wazoo) with not setting up their router properly.

[OB1]

I leave my network open. A foolish thing to do? What's the worst that can happen?

[PacHead]

Originally Posted by OB1

I leave my network open. A foolish thing to do? What's the worst that can happen?

Somebody can gain access to your Mac, whereby they will steal your credit card info, and join a bunch of illegal, underage prOn sites, all in your name. They will also order themselves a new G5 courtesy of you, and they will read every mail you have ever written. When they're done robbing your info, they'll erase your entire drive, just for the hell of it.

Being that I'm no hacker, that was just a guess.

[GSixZero]

Here's my apartment building's airport cross section.



Looks like most are open and I bet a few have default passwords for router configs.

I'm using AirPollution right now, since I just moved in and it's my roommate's wireless router. It's amazing how many people have zero clue about wireless security. Even my roommate, who is a computer engineer only had MAC filtering on. As soon as I get unpacked I'm going to unleash the WPA, MAC filtered, non-ssid broadcasting, 3 airport WDS network.

[OB1]

They sound nice at apt 8. You should say hello.

[SVass]

If you leave your network open, then someone can use your router to gain access to the internet. If file sharing is not enabled then the average competent hacker can do NOTHING. No matter what you do, the FBI/NSA can do anything that they want! sam

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by OB1

They sound nice at apt 8. You should say hello.

My thoughts exactly. I'd take a six-pack o' brew.

[OB1]

Originally Posted by PacHead

Somebody can gain access to your Mac, whereby they will steal your credit card info, and join a bunch of illegal, underage prOn sites, all in your name. They will also order themselves a new G5 courtesy of you, and they will read every mail you have ever written. When they're done robbing your info, they'll erase your entire drive, just for the hell of it.

Being that I'm no hacker, that was just a guess.

mmm, that's pretty bad. Pretty unlikely too though? I suppose I should really secure my network... I could use a little advice, WEP? WPA-PSK? Or WPA-802.1x?

[Eug Wanker]

Hmmm... I have MAC address filtering and WEP 128, as well as have set the router not to broadcast.

I'm wondering if I should switch everything to WPA. I'm inclined to leave things as is for now though.

[Link]

In an apartment complex I can see the point to all this protection, but I already know my neighbors -- and they're not all that bright (even the Windows sysadmin guy next door) -- shoot I had HIM get a new router lol because his was open and wouldn't lock down right.

If someone was in reach of my network I'd see them -- and resultantly go and kick their ass.

[GSixZero]

I think the attitude "I know my neighbors, and they wouldn't be able to figure it out" is a dumb type of security. Do you know all the people driving by? Do you know all of your neighbor's friends and relatives? Do you know everyone who lives within 10 miles?

[Link]

Oooh... That's funny because I live right on the bayside which means anyone across from me (in crockett or the other side of town for example) -- could just aim one of those things at my house...

Or one of the hundreds of other places along the bayside...

Then they could break the 128bit hex password, again no big deal obviously -- because it's WEP and SSID broadcasting and no MAC filtering.. yeah they'll definitely have an easy time..

Then instead of just exploiting the easiest windows machines in the area they could also come across a few machines with ssh, sftp, and a few other odds and ends running, with some funky OS that doesn't take any of their usual exploits..

So they can find that one OS X exploit that doesn't even work on 10.4.2.... then maybe they'll brute force my accounts... using up a ton of bandwidth and hard disk activity that would show on my menumeters.. finally once they DO get through, they'd be able to look at my encrypted virtual memory and put up a keylogger to get passwords to my store accounts -- which have no credit card info saved to them -- and random other bits of info.. like *GASP* my email and *choke* AIM accounts!

I'm shaking in my boots violently at the mere thought of this.

And you're going to load up on more overhyped security BS.

Why put a dozen locks on the front door when a brick through the window would be just as efficient?

[nredman]

right now in my apartment there aren't too many networks...but before all the college kids moved out of the apartment there were at least 5-6 all the time - linksys was one of them too

[screamingFit]

My Yagi antenna pulls in about 20 networks.

When the cost of Comcast internet in my area got to $70 a month, I told them to screw off. Getting DSL wasn't much cheaper (phone line + DSL = $50) so that wasn't an option, either. I wasted too much time screwing around on the internet and the break was good and I'm able to get a lot more done at home and not feel that I don't have enough time like I used to. I use the Yagi when I'm expecting an important email or need to download a driver and that's it.

I surf the internet at work now

[☺]

Originally Posted by Link

If someone was in reach of my network I'd see them -- and resultantly go and kick their ass.

Make sure to bring your sword.

[Randman]

I think Linksys is a Masonic network. It's everywhere.

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by ☺

Make sure to bring your sword.