General Discussion

Xithras

(16,191 posts)

46. I used to be a member of the Open Wireless Project

Tue Nov 13, 2012, 07:44 PM

Nov 2012

Around 2000 there was a serious movement by many people, backed by the EFF, to do exactly that. We opened our routers, listed the locations on the website, and began our idealistic quest to make the Internet free and open for everyone. OWP died by 2002 after a couple of members got into legal trouble, and many others had their connections cut by their telcos. Predictably, the connections attracted the worst elements of society, became magnets for Napster and Limewire users, and in a few cases bulk spammers and kiddie porn afficionados. It died with a whimper.

The EFF actually restarted the project last year (now called the Open Wireless Movement), but I have no interest in joining again. I set up a 10db homemade cantenna to provide wifi to a poorer family that lives a few hundred yards from me and can't afford it themselves, but that's as charitable as I'm getting. It's just not worth the effort. Abusers WILL find your system, and YOU WILL end up taking heat for it.

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Please consider opening your WiFi for others. [View all] MineralMan Nov 2012 OP

Thumbs up. leveymg Nov 2012 #1

Yeah, we do that, too. MineralMan Nov 2012 #15

Please self-delete this OP. Occulus Nov 2012 #45

Yes it is. proud2BlibKansan Nov 2012 #67

Both thumbs emphatically DOWN. Occulus Nov 2012 #43

Strongly agree with you REP Nov 2012 #58

Agreed. A very bad idea. DavidDvorkin Nov 2012 #71

The SSID "FBI Surveillance Van" is fun to use jberryhill Nov 2012 #2

Yup. Ours has that capability. MineralMan Nov 2012 #17

PM sent Glitterati Nov 2012 #3

Reply sent. MineralMan Nov 2012 #8

None of them are truly safe sharp_stick Nov 2012 #4

Life isn't safe, frankly. MineralMan Nov 2012 #5

Locked doors also repel rapists and murderers. WinkyDink Nov 2012 #60

I can tell you (almost) exactly what happened... Marmitist Nov 2012 #54

You can't get the admin screen without negotiating with the router. joshcryer Nov 2012 #80

Yes, but if the password is left on the manufacturer's defaut setting... Marmitist Nov 2012 #87

So true! But if you have that a 'hack' is unnececessary! joshcryer Nov 2012 #88

Anyone who leaves the default password is getting what they asked for. hobbit709 Nov 2012 #90

WPA/WPA2 is generally quite secure, but if WPS is enabled they found a hack for it. joshcryer Nov 2012 #81

This is a great idea, except... RevStPatrick Nov 2012 #6

Yes, I get that. MineralMan Nov 2012 #11

Yep, you do get that. RevStPatrick Nov 2012 #40

Accessory to Theft krawhitham Nov 2012 #75

A user with an open access point successful won a case recently. joshcryer Nov 2012 #82

Nice sentiment but it can get you in trouble Jersey Devil Nov 2012 #7

And I'll demonstrate that there's none of that on any MineralMan Nov 2012 #12

If you want to take that risk it's fine by me but I won't and my lawyer does not work for free Jersey Devil Nov 2012 #16

How is requiring a password access to your wifi any defense? hunter Nov 2012 #42

"Demonstrating" your innocence might mean having every computer, smart phone... Silent3 Nov 2012 #23

You trust a SWAT team executing a 5 a.m. search warrant for your devices... Earth_First Nov 2012 #34

You will demonstrate nothing. jeff47 Nov 2012 #55

But I guarantee it won't come back in one piece. defacto7 Nov 2012 #77

you do realize you have to go to jail first before you go to court to "demonstrate" datasuspect Nov 2012 #94

And what if some kid uses your network to download songs or movies, Nye Bevan Nov 2012 #9

Everyone has a different level of risk aversion. MineralMan Nov 2012 #14

Having an open network is not legally negligent. lumberjack_jeff Nov 2012 #66

Wonderful suggestion War Horse Nov 2012 #10

thank you for a most excellent, and thoughtful, idea. this is what being a community is all about. niyad Nov 2012 #13

If I were more flush, I'd order a second cable line with MineralMan Nov 2012 #19

That's real nice but it won't protect you from all the problems that they spoke of in posts above. xtraxritical Nov 2012 #27

Don't people who commit crimes on the internet try to use other's wifi Motown_Johnny Nov 2012 #18

Well, in most places, they'll have plenty of unprotected MineralMan Nov 2012 #21

Then why risk opening yours up too? Motown_Johnny Nov 2012 #26

Yours is a better idea... TeeYiYi Nov 2012 #61

My iPad won't work with my system secured, I think. Michigan Alum Nov 2012 #86

We're set up for a separate guest access signal so that's what I named it Care Acutely Nov 2012 #20

Yup. Even the cheap wireless routers these days let you do that. MineralMan Nov 2012 #22

I get my wifi from nearly 3/4 of a mile away and I share that connection with my next door neighbor Fumesucker Nov 2012 #24

Try some "Son of A Gun" on your rollers, maybe a lite coat of rubber cement. xtraxritical Nov 2012 #30

What do you want to do with your router? Fumesucker Nov 2012 #31

Are there any specific resources you would recommend for the uninitiated to begin learning? Incitatus Nov 2012 #63

I would say the best resource is DU Fumesucker Nov 2012 #85

ty Incitatus Nov 2012 #91

Yes but No... Ichingcarpenter Nov 2012 #25

wonderful! Blue_Tires Nov 2012 #28

Mebbe a good idea to share a connection among neighbors, but Snarkoleptic Nov 2012 #29

No fucking way. Too many adolescent males in the neighborhood. HopeHoops Nov 2012 #32

Wifi should be free everywhere. nt Polldancer2012 Nov 2012 #33

I agree. The USA built an interstate highway system... hunter Nov 2012 #92

Check out your ISP's terms of service before you do this. NYC Liberal Nov 2012 #35

Yep that's what I was thinking Lokey Nov 2012 #38

Please consider getting a visit from the feds... TroglodyteScholar Nov 2012 #36

I can't even freaking believe Aerows Nov 2012 #39

Those visits from the feds are fucking scary. Mariana Nov 2012 #78

Oh hell no Aerows Nov 2012 #37

Thanks. This is just begging for identity theft, among other things Dash87 Nov 2012 #64

Don't see why creating a Virtual AP for everyone else is risky cprise Nov 2012 #69

Wow you are generous, and a nice neighbor! Alleycat Nov 2012 #41

I was told by my computer tech to NEVER do this. I live madmom Nov 2012 #44

I used to be a member of the Open Wireless Project Xithras Nov 2012 #46

good for you denese Nov 2012 #47

I do that for one of the renters next door. She's a law student at my alma, and msanthrope Nov 2012 #48

Good of you to do that Shankapotomus Nov 2012 #49

Not a good idea. Renew Deal Nov 2012 #50

If you want to give Sgent Nov 2012 #51

Reading this thread I see we live in a police state. hunter Nov 2012 #52

This thread was your first clue about our police state? WinkyDink Nov 2012 #59

Police state? TroglodyteScholar Nov 2012 #62

+1 joshcryer Nov 2012 #83

I figure if I can't share something it's not mine. hunter Nov 2012 #93

No nt NoGOPZone Nov 2012 #53

Nevermind ecstatic Nov 2012 #56

In the immortal words of GHWB as done by Dana Carvey: "Nuhgundoit." WinkyDink Nov 2012 #57

It also confers a degree of deniability in case of infringment. lumberjack_jeff Nov 2012 #65

+1 joshcryer Nov 2012 #84

Thank goodness for my like minded neighbors -they have one SSID up for them, and another SSID marked HipChick Nov 2012 #68

I allowed my neighbor Tallulah Nov 2012 #70

*tipofthecap* to MineralMan. flvegan Nov 2012 #72

Extremely poor suggestion argiel1234 Nov 2012 #73

Thanks so much for helping the kids with their homework! SaveAmerica Nov 2012 #74

Good for you. There is really no need to be greedy about it. Nika Nov 2012 #76

I honestly wouldn't expect that from you. I'm very happy to have been wrong. Egalitarian Thug Nov 2012 #79

No good deed goes unpunished... PCIntern Nov 2012 #89

One of the worst ideas EVER! And when someone MicaelS Nov 2012 #95

Yeah, I think this is a really problematic idea. Security and legal implications... nt Romulox Nov 2012 #96