>The Days Of Wi-Fi Scanning Are Numbered >Arik Hesseldahl, 10.31.02, 5:46 PM ET > >http://www.forbes.com/2002/10/31/cx_ah_1031wifi.html > > >NEW YORK - The trade group for wireless networking technology is about to >put an end to its members' favorite hobby, network joyriding. > >Computer geeks call it war-driving or Net stumbling: roving around with a >Wi-Fi-enabled laptop to scan for nearby Wi-Fi access points, then trying >to see if they can use them for free. The attraction is simple: If there's >a company with a wireless network within range of a favorite coffee joint, >why not borrow its fast Internet connection and surf while you sip. Those >who take part in it do so in a legal gray area. A recent FBI advisory >suggests that it's only a crime if it involves theft of service or trade >secrets and violation of other existing computer crime laws. > >But the joyriding may be over soon. The Wi-Fi Alliance, a trade >organization, today announced that is has adopted new security measures >designed to give network owners more control over who can access their >networks. > >... > >If it works as planned, and if network administrators use it properly >(that's always a big "if"), the opportunities for war-driving should >disappear within about a year. Scan while the scanning is still good.
Perhaps for corporations this may be true but less likely for consumers. Not only is there the "blinking midnight" phenomenon, but increasingly consumers are seeing their ability to openly and even anonymously share their broadband bandwidth are a community good. I do. steve When there is no justice a State is merely big scale exploitation, just like a gang of thieves is a miniature kingdom. -- Augustin
