"Public" wireless

ianrob · 22 August 2005 at 6:51AM

I am told some cities have a free "public" wireless availability.
Does anyone have any information on this?
Can you connect to Internet via this?
What about security?

Browntoa · 22 August 2005 at 7:22AM

like this ?

http://www.freenetworks.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_community_network#United_Kingdom

ManAtHome · 22 August 2005 at 9:33AM

Or this http://www.hotspot-locations.com/modules.php?name=HotSpots&op=listall&ccc=GB

As to the legalities - not that clear at present. Somebody has been done http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000400051561/ but general opinion seems to be that it would be difficult to prove deliberate use of a non-public signal http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/index.cfm?go=news.view&news=4954

glosman555 · 22 August 2005 at 9:51AM

A man was convicted in July for accessing someone else's wireless internet connection and was fined £500; also had his computer forfeited and a conditional discharge imposed.

Rex_Mundi · 22 August 2005 at 9:54AM

There are no doubts at all about the legallities of using using someone elses wireless network without their permission. It's most definately illegal. You will be stealing someone elses bandwidth.

It may not be the easiest thing in the world to prove, but, for sure it's against the law.

EvilMonkey · 22 August 2005 at 10:03AM

This may be rubbish, but apparently if you see a graffiti'd @ symbol on a wall somewhere it indicates that someones found an unguarded wifi betwrok accessable at that point...

Weird if true....

Hard to prove (or even detect) if its a one off "just passing through" thing....

Browntoa · 22 August 2005 at 10:09AM

the ones I posted are legit.....

ManAtHome · 22 August 2005 at 10:23AM

EvilMonkey wrote:

This may be rubbish, but apparently if you see a graffiti'd @ symbol on a wall somewhere it indicates that someones found an unguarded wifi betwrok accessable at that point...

This'll be the 'warchalking' thing - was a bit hip+trendy a couple of years back, but more a US thing and started as a way for people to advertise their own open network. You can make your own direction-finder with a Pringles tube apparently...

The big problem with WiFi is trying to distinguish between intentionally and accidentally open networks. Until there is some convention on open network SSIDs, it will be difficult for users to know whether they are legal or not.

ps

Browntoa wrote:

the ones I posted are legit.....

So are the ones in the 'hotspots' list - mix of chargeable and free ones, nominated/advertised by their owners.

Tharweb · 22 August 2005 at 9:56PM

...sorry if I'm repeating some. I posted this on another board for someone last week http://intel.jiwire.com/search-wifi-hotspots.htm?command=&ssid=&city_id=0&address=&hotspot_name=&city=&location_type_id=0&country_id=226&provider_id=0&state_id=0&pay_free=free&technology_id=0&zip=&radius=5.0

martinraul · 23 August 2005 at 4:14PM

I dont have computer, is there any other way to try to locate a wireless signal, maybe with a cellphone.? i hear about the keyring however im pretty hardup and dont have enough money to afford this

pin · 23 August 2005 at 5:20PM

martinraul wrote:

I dont have computer, is there any other way to try to locate a wireless signal, maybe with a cellphone.? i hear about the keyring however im pretty hardup and dont have enough money to afford this

Why would you want to find a wireless signal if you don't have any way of accessessing a wireless network?

"Public" wireless

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