Wireless Internet

DonGotti

I just brought a laptop and with it came a 802.11g USB. I connected it and it automatically detected a wireless network connection, which i'm using to surf the net now.

It must be a neighbours internet connection. How do I find out who's it is as I feel bad using it without their permission, and is it safe on both sides?

albertross_2

Well it's illegal, and no it isn't safe, if they or you have a worm infestation, then it can get transmitted to every pc on the network, also all your communication are unencrypted, which means people can read your emails, see which websites you visit, and may be able to get at your files.. These people don't have to be connected to the network or be the owner, all this info is going up and down your street for anyone in range to sniff out of the air.

You may be able to find who it is by using the power strength signal or netstumbler and walking up and down the street. The neighbourly thing to do would be to tell them to encrypt it.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=2471408&postcount=37

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=2471410&postcount=38

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=121274

Tallymanjohn

It's illegal (& immoral) to use someone elses's broadband - there have been prosecutions over such cases. Unfortunately your neighbour obviously isn't savvy enough or aware to set up encryption. Only feasable way you can find out is to knock on neighbour's doors & ask if they recognise the SSID (if they know what it is). You can then ask their permission to use it but they would still be best to set up encryption of some sort.

phill79

DonGotti wrote:

I just brought a laptop and with it came a 802.11g USB. I connected it and it automatically detected a wireless network connection, which i'm using to surf the net now.

It must be a neighbours internet connection. How do I find out who's it is as I feel bad using it without their permission, and is it safe on both sides?

Sometimes people call the SSID the name of them or the house or some other identifying name (remarkably).
You could then see if you can ping any other machines, this will allow you to connect to another machine (\\192.168.0.2\ etc), you could then see what folders they have shared and see if they have any names on them, or even send a print out to the printer!! I won't go into any more detail than that though.

Or you could do it by signal strength and locate it that way.

NET SEND may also work, as long as messenger is not turned off, then broadcast a message to alert them.

smcaul

I did it by typing in the router address - normally 192.168.1.1 or .0.1 etc, working on the assumption that if they left the network un secured the chances are the router would be as well, then once into to the router I could tell from the username who it was - it turned out to be my other halfs best friend quite a few doors away!!!! They still have an open connection even though I have offered to secure it for them!!

DonGotti

Fair enough, but i want to know who it is so I can pay them some money to share the broadband. But now that you've said that a virus can find its way to my laptop and that they can read my emails, I'm put off doing this

espresso

DonGotti wrote:

Fair enough, but i want to know who it is so I can pay them some money to share the broadband. But now that you've said that a virus can find its way to my laptop and that they can read my emails, I'm put off doing this

So are you still using it now?

:eek:

DonGotti

No of course not! However i do think it's silly both of us paying for a broadband connection that we could share. But now I've been told here that it's unsafe and could lead to viruses being passed on, I won't bother trying to find out who's it is and if we could split the costs

espresso

DonGotti wrote:

No of course not! However i do think it's silly both of us paying for a broadband connection that we could share. But now I've been told here that it's unsafe and could lead to viruses being passed on, I won't bother trying to find out who's it is and if we could split the costs

It's only unsafe if it is an non encrypted wireless connection! WPA-PSK is very secure when used with a long random 64 character hex passphrase.

:wave:

DonGotti

That's far too technical for me....but thanks for letting me know!!!!

superscaper

DonGotti wrote:

No of course not! However i do think it's silly both of us paying for a broadband connection that we could share. But now I've been told here that it's unsafe and could lead to viruses being passed on, I won't bother trying to find out who's it is and if we could split the costs

Even if you got the neighbour's permission they would almost definitely be breaking the terms and conditions of their ISP. ISPs are pretty strict with who you share your broadband with and certainly limit it to one household.