Question. If you had a good antenna to pick up wifi at places like Mcd's or Starbucks,would you use that as much as possible,or would you feel like that's not right,since you aren't at the location,buying something. This is like an ethics? question,if that's the right word to use.
Free wifi at places..Would you use them from home?
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Ethics aside, I'd be more worried about my data being visible to the owner of that router/access point from which you're getting the connection.
Im always leery about using wifi, especially for banking. Using free wifi means that its probably very easy for someone to capture all of the data that you are sending over the network. I dont even check email at free wifi hotspots.
Maybe im a bit too paranoid? No clue, but I did have my bank account hacked 8 years ago, so ive always been a bit nuts about internet security after that.
Maybe im a bit too paranoid? No clue, but I did have my bank account hacked 8 years ago, so ive always been a bit nuts about internet security after that.
Originally Posted By: FirstNissan
Im always leery about using wifi, especially for banking. Using free wifi means that its probably very easy for someone to capture all of the data that you are sending over the network. I dont even check email at free wifi hotspots.
Maybe im a bit too paranoid? No clue, but I did have my bank account hacked 8 years ago, so ive always been a bit nuts about internet security after that.
it is good practice to not do anything confidential over a public network. a lot of networks even warn you of this before you gain access.
Im always leery about using wifi, especially for banking. Using free wifi means that its probably very easy for someone to capture all of the data that you are sending over the network. I dont even check email at free wifi hotspots.
Maybe im a bit too paranoid? No clue, but I did have my bank account hacked 8 years ago, so ive always been a bit nuts about internet security after that.
it is good practice to not do anything confidential over a public network. a lot of networks even warn you of this before you gain access.
well if you are just surfing the net, checking out the news at CNN no real concern about transmitting your private data
just remember these free wifi sites usually are not encrypted, basically anyone can capture and view the data moving back and forth
for security reasons set your network settings to "public" if you don't other users on the network could see your hard drive as "shared" and steal data, passwords etc
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Choosing-a-network-location
and make sure windows firewall is on before you join the network
just remember these free wifi sites usually are not encrypted, basically anyone can capture and view the data moving back and forth
for security reasons set your network settings to "public" if you don't other users on the network could see your hard drive as "shared" and steal data, passwords etc
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Choosing-a-network-location
and make sure windows firewall is on before you join the network
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Ethics aside, I'd be more worried about my data being visible to the owner of that router/access point from which you're getting the connection.
so bounce it off an encrypted proxy, problem solved.
Ethics aside, I'd be more worried about my data being visible to the owner of that router/access point from which you're getting the connection.
so bounce it off an encrypted proxy, problem solved.
ok,safety aside,what about using their service from home instead of paying for service?
Originally Posted By: daves66nova
ok,safety aside,what about using their service from home instead of paying for service?
I think the word you're looking for is "stealing".
ok,safety aside,what about using their service from home instead of paying for service?
I think the word you're looking for is "stealing".
i did want to say stealing,but it's offered for free,unless they have something in writing on the home page of theirs
Originally Posted By: 2004tdigls
well if you are just surfing the net, checking out the news at CNN no real concern about transmitting your private data
just remember these free wifi sites usually are not encrypted, basically anyone can capture and view the data moving back and forth
for security reasons set your network settings to "public" if you don't other users on the network could see your hard drive as "shared" and steal data, passwords etc
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Choosing-a-network-location
and make sure windows firewall is on before you join the network
Very good tips.....particularly the Windows Firewall mention....I know back in the Windows XP days, the Windows Firewall gave EVERYONE [censored].....they just didn't "understand" it, because all the big guys advertised noisy firewalls that would warn you of every ping, probe, multicast target sent in your direction.....whereas, the Windows Firewall just sat in the background, and ignored any/all "incoming" connections which weren't "requested" (outgoing......)
But yea, that being aside, go ahead and use it for your youtube videos, MSN, ESPN, etc.....but AFAIK, most wifi hotspots don't allow file sharing, other than say megaupload.....since you don't have access to their router, you don't have the ability to port forward, etc....so no big deal there for p2p......
Sure, "ethically" it's probably not the right thing to do......BUT, if the restaurant were that worried, they could put in precautions, such as lowering their signal strength, respositioning their antenna (to say, the "middle" of the building.....rather than back in the back) so all patrons get "equal" signal strength, and the signal isn't being broadcasted outside the building as much
BTW, I don't see the big deal with Wifi......most sites I visit have HTTPS:// support, which makes your browsing encrypted.....other than any possibly "outbound" links (say, that funny bunny e-card your buddy posts on facebook.....) obviously won't be "secured" or "hidden" from view....but anything with an "HTTPS" which by now includes most any fortune 500 company......to include Yahoo!, Google, Facebook, MSN, all support HTTPS, at MINIMUM for logging IN.....
Gmail, you can even "force HTTPS" so that if say you manually key in "gmail.com" (notice, no "https://gmail.com") it will REDIRECT you to the SECURE, HTTPS site.....so basically, if they checked their "logs" they would see Joe User on their Android phone "visited" Gmail.com......
But long silence
Until of course they click on that penile enhancement free offer......that is one thing I've yet to see, an HTTP Secure (HTTPS), encrypted with SSL, Canadian fraudulent Pharmacy
well if you are just surfing the net, checking out the news at CNN no real concern about transmitting your private data
just remember these free wifi sites usually are not encrypted, basically anyone can capture and view the data moving back and forth
for security reasons set your network settings to "public" if you don't other users on the network could see your hard drive as "shared" and steal data, passwords etc
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Choosing-a-network-location
and make sure windows firewall is on before you join the network
Very good tips.....particularly the Windows Firewall mention....I know back in the Windows XP days, the Windows Firewall gave EVERYONE [censored].....they just didn't "understand" it, because all the big guys advertised noisy firewalls that would warn you of every ping, probe, multicast target sent in your direction.....whereas, the Windows Firewall just sat in the background, and ignored any/all "incoming" connections which weren't "requested" (outgoing......)
But yea, that being aside, go ahead and use it for your youtube videos, MSN, ESPN, etc.....but AFAIK, most wifi hotspots don't allow file sharing, other than say megaupload.....since you don't have access to their router, you don't have the ability to port forward, etc....so no big deal there for p2p......
Sure, "ethically" it's probably not the right thing to do......BUT, if the restaurant were that worried, they could put in precautions, such as lowering their signal strength, respositioning their antenna (to say, the "middle" of the building.....rather than back in the back) so all patrons get "equal" signal strength, and the signal isn't being broadcasted outside the building as much
BTW, I don't see the big deal with Wifi......most sites I visit have HTTPS:// support, which makes your browsing encrypted.....other than any possibly "outbound" links (say, that funny bunny e-card your buddy posts on facebook.....) obviously won't be "secured" or "hidden" from view....but anything with an "HTTPS" which by now includes most any fortune 500 company......to include Yahoo!, Google, Facebook, MSN, all support HTTPS, at MINIMUM for logging IN.....
Gmail, you can even "force HTTPS" so that if say you manually key in "gmail.com" (notice, no "https://gmail.com") it will REDIRECT you to the SECURE, HTTPS site.....so basically, if they checked their "logs" they would see Joe User on their Android phone "visited" Gmail.com......
But long silence
Until of course they click on that penile enhancement free offer......that is one thing I've yet to see, an HTTP Secure (HTTPS), encrypted with SSL, Canadian fraudulent Pharmacy
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Originally Posted By: Brons2
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Ethics aside, I'd be more worried about my data being visible to the owner of that router/access point from which you're getting the connection.
so bounce it off an encrypted proxy, problem solved.
Doen't work that way. The data is passing through the wifi first before it hits the proxy.
Now techincally https should be relatively secure. However there are far too many poor implementations where the data is sent https but the initial password is sent in plain text.
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Ethics aside, I'd be more worried about my data being visible to the owner of that router/access point from which you're getting the connection.
so bounce it off an encrypted proxy, problem solved.
Doen't work that way. The data is passing through the wifi first before it hits the proxy.
Now techincally https should be relatively secure. However there are far too many poor implementations where the data is sent https but the initial password is sent in plain text.
Originally Posted By: buickman50401
Originally Posted By: Brons2
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Ethics aside, I'd be more worried about my data being visible to the owner of that router/access point from which you're getting the connection.
so bounce it off an encrypted proxy, problem solved.
Doen't work that way. The data is passing through the wifi first before it hits the proxy.
Now techincally https should be relatively secure. However there are far too many poor implementations where the data is sent https but the initial password is sent in plain text.
Your post contradicts itself. Ever heard of an SSL web proxy?
Read this, it's older, but the principles still apply:
http://www.sans.org/reading_room/whitepa...ementation_1055
Originally Posted By: Brons2
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Ethics aside, I'd be more worried about my data being visible to the owner of that router/access point from which you're getting the connection.
so bounce it off an encrypted proxy, problem solved.
Doen't work that way. The data is passing through the wifi first before it hits the proxy.
Now techincally https should be relatively secure. However there are far too many poor implementations where the data is sent https but the initial password is sent in plain text.
Your post contradicts itself. Ever heard of an SSL web proxy?
Read this, it's older, but the principles still apply:
http://www.sans.org/reading_room/whitepa...ementation_1055
I think what you're wanting is a VPN.
And, no, I wouldn't have an ethical dilemma with it. If they let it be used without a password or any user agreement, they're giving it away for free. Now, if there's any kind of expressed or implied user agreement that might be understood to restrict its use, then there might be an issue.
And, no, I wouldn't have an ethical dilemma with it. If they let it be used without a password or any user agreement, they're giving it away for free. Now, if there's any kind of expressed or implied user agreement that might be understood to restrict its use, then there might be an issue.
From an ethical standpoint, I agree that it's stealing and I would not use it unless I were patronizing the business.
But then I don't live anywhere near any such business, nor do I patronize them. So in my circumstances it's a moot argument.
But then I don't live anywhere near any such business, nor do I patronize them. So in my circumstances it's a moot argument.
In the US we have a right to receive unencrypted radio waves due to a 1930s act establishing the FCC. (In England, to contrast, you need a license to own a TV.)
I consider using a neighbor's wifi "stealing" as much as if they have a bright yard light that spills on your property and you read a magazine by the window, using photons they paid for.
I consider using a neighbor's wifi "stealing" as much as if they have a bright yard light that spills on your property and you read a magazine by the window, using photons they paid for.
Originally Posted By: eljefino
In the US we have a right to receive unencrypted radio waves due to a 1930s act establishing the FCC. (In England, to contrast, you need a license to own a TV.)
I consider using a neighbor's wifi "stealing" as much as if they have a bright yard light that spills on your property and you read a magazine by the window that you pilfered from their recycling bin, using photons they paid for.
There, I fixed it.
In the US we have a right to receive unencrypted radio waves due to a 1930s act establishing the FCC. (In England, to contrast, you need a license to own a TV.)
I consider using a neighbor's wifi "stealing" as much as if they have a bright yard light that spills on your property and you read a magazine by the window that you pilfered from their recycling bin, using photons they paid for.
There, I fixed it.
Places like that imply that it's for paying customers -- it's a tool to attract business or make the lives of their customers a little easy. But since there is no physical or virtual limit (i.e. the access is not confined to a specific location or there is no password to limit access) then most probably it's not stealing.
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