Using public wifi

E

europhile

Registered User
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803
I have wireless broadband at home using my MacBook via Airport but could somebody please tell me what I have to do if I want to use wifi hotspots in hotels, airports, etc. Many thanks.
 
You just turn it on and it'll detect the wifi hotspots and you simply select the wireless network you want to get on. If you have to pay it'll redirect you when you open your browser and you'll enter payment details.
 
daveirl said:
You just turn it on and it'll detect the wifi hotspots and you simply select the wireless network you want to get on.
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Thanks, Dave. Under which menu do I find this information? What do I click?
 
Click the Wifi icon in the top right of your screen, just to the right of your Time/Date etc.. It's a image of 5 lines of increasing size. It should list the Wireless networks in whatever area you are in.
 
Thanks, Dave. So if I'm in the Gresham, for example, it might say Gresham up there.

I'm at home at the moment and, apart from my own (which is secure), there are another four listed there. By the way, would these be secure if I can see them?
 
europhile said:
Thanks, Dave. So if I'm in the Gresham, for example, it might say Gresham up there.

I'm at home at the moment and, apart from my own (which is secure), there are another four listed there. By the way, would these be secure if I can see them?
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They may be secure even if you can see them. I'm not sure about a Mac but on my laptop the Linksys software normally indicates whether it is unsecured or using an secure method such as WPA or WEP beside the networks it finds. There may be other networks within range that have the SSID switched off for additional security. Public wifi would I expect normally have the SSID on otherwise you won't be able to see it without knowing the SSID (casual users anyway), if you have to pay as mentioned you will normally be redirected to a payment page when you open your browser.
 
I live in an apartment in DUblin and have free access to broadband through someone in the building who has his SSID switched on for some reason?? Signal is weak a lot of the time but it's fully functional.

Not complaining mind..........as free is always good.

I also have it back home at the mothers house in Kerry. 2 houses across the road have wireless broadband and I can pick up both of them when I sit in the front room.

Why don't the installers inform the people of this (the two across from me are pretty old and not what you would call computer savvy) and encourage them to turn off the SSID so people cannot piggyback onto their broadband?

I'm moving houses next week now and I'm hoping I will have similar neighbours in my new home!!! Probably couldn't be that lucky again though.

Anyway, moral of the sotry is, if you have a wireless laptop, turn it on at home for a few hours in the evening and see if you can pick up anything before you go ordering. Might save yourself a few bob.
 
Ballyman said:
Anyway, moral of the sotry is, if you have a wireless laptop, turn it on at home for a few hours in the evening and see if you can pick up anything before you go ordering. Might save yourself a few bob.
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That's hardly moral.
 
It's not my fault someone is allowing me to use their broadband now is it??

I'm only offering this nugget of advice to others
 
They aren't allowing you to use it-have they given you permission?

Similar to someone leaving their front door unlocked-does that mean you can walk in and rob their house?
 
CCOVICH said:
They aren't allowing you to use it-have they given you permission?

Similar to someone leaving their front door unlocked-does that mean you can walk in and rob their house?
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Yea, this is the same alright.

Watching their Sky Sports through the window I think would be more apt.

Anyway, who cares. I have free broadband
 
Ballyman

The practise of piggybacking on people's unsecured wireless networks has been resulted in the piggy backer being prosecuted in the UK and the US.

C
 
Capaill said:
The practise of piggybacking on people's unsecured wireless networks has been resulted in the piggy backer being prosecuted in the UK and the US.
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Was this as a result of new legislation being set up to tackle this issue specifically, or was it as a result of existing laws on theft etc. being used to prosecute?
 
There are also security issues about using someone else's wireless network. His network isn't secured against you, but he could just decide to start monitoring who is using his network, and what they are doing. I'm not sure to what extent he would be able to monitor your usage, but it's not generally a good idea to do any credit card purchases on unsecured wireless networks.

It doesn't even have to be the owner of the wireless network. If you can access it, so can any happy hacker in the neighbourhood. Not only can they access it, they can possibly start installing all sorts of nasties on that network.
 
Ballyman said:
Excellent. Last time I checked I was living in Ireland so it's not an issue.
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Irish law is based on the UK common law (like the US) and there may be similar laws here that allow for prosecution they just might not have been tested yet. If they were extending existing laws on theft or trespass an Irish court while obviously not bound by foreign precedent might be influenced by it.
 
CCOVICH said:
Was this as a result of new legislation being set up to tackle this issue specifically, or was it as a result of existing laws on theft etc. being used to prosecute?
Click to expand...
CCOVICH

I have highlighted this issue before on other posts. See http://www.askaboutmoney.com/showthread.php?t=25506&highlight=wireless+police and http://www.askaboutmoney.com/showthread.php?t=13849.

Basically a lot of "computer crime" here and in other countries is prosecuted under existing legislation e.g. theft, trespass, etc. unless it falls under specific legislation such as those laws pertaining to child pornography and trafficking. This is because technology changes much faster than the specific laws do, so charges under existing laws are often brought to bear.

In the UK case the individual was found "guilty of dishonestly obtaining an electronic communications service and possessing equipment for fraudulent use of a communications service". See
[broken link removed]

Details of a case in the US [broken link removed]

So basically yes you can be prosecuted under existing law. It is interesting to note that if you look at the annual Garda report you will see very few crimes under "computer crime laws". Very often individuals are brought ot court under other legislation.

Ballyman as Dam099 has pointed out Irish laws are based on UK common law. And as also has been pointed out using someone else's wireless access is hardly moral nor necessarily secure for you to use either.

C
 
Capaill-many thanks-you have confirmed what was my own understanding of the issue.
 
The Gardai are on top of computer crime, with their superior knowledge of IT systems as demonstrated by the impressive PULSE system.
 
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