Get into any locked wifi

[iCafe]

is there a way??
luckily my neighbor has wifi and i use their signal on my home pc
but sometimes with my iphone i get some locked signals i want to break through

[KNK]

is there a way??
luckily my neighbor has wifi and i use their signal on my home pc
but sometimes with my iphone i get some locked signals i want to break through


You must have some nice neighbors that do not have security settings. There is not any program that I know of that can do that. It is also breaking the law. Can you imagine if your neighbor had that software, and he went on the network and wiped out everything on your hard drive???

[JoeT]

is there a way??
luckily my neighbor has wifi and i use their signal on my home pc
but sometimes with my iphone i get some locked signals i want to break through


To echo and amplify the above, even if it were legal and moral, there are several different security methods for WiFi which range from stupid-easy to crack to, well, forget-about-it tough. All would be impossible to perform with an unmodified iPhone; I have no idea what tools exist for a jailbreaked phone. You'd also require some knowledge on the 802.11 protocol and the various security methods, which you apparently do not posses.

If you really want to get an idea of what's involved, Google the following:

Mac address filtering
cowpatty
aircrack-ng
802.11i

That will give you a small taste.

[medicdad2005]

I think this post should be deleted!

[gerstyd]

To echo and amplify the above, even if it were legal and moral, there are several different security methods for WiFi which range from stupid-easy to crack to, well, forget-about-it tough. All would be impossible to perform with an unmodified iPhone; I have no idea what tools exist for a jailbreaked phone. You'd also require some knowledge on the 802.11 protocol and the various security methods, which you apparently do not posses.

If you really want to get an idea of what's involved, Google the following:

Mac address filtering
cowpatty
aircrack-ng
802.11i

That will give you a small taste.

My neighbor had an unlocked wifi, and one night while having a few ****tails, I just put a sticky note on his desktop that said, you should lock your Wifi, its not safe to leave it open. he locked it the next day.

[jaydoc1]

How did you do that?! That's awesome!

[gerstyd]

How did you do that?! That's awesome!
Their computer has to be pretty unlocked.

Go into network settings, do a search for other computers on the network, and theirs will pop up. Go through the root menu's till you hit their desktop and drag and drop. Done. You can also see all their porn, music, etc. I didnt really do any of that because it is illegal, but I thought the little note was fun. Didn't actually transfer any of his files.

[JoeT]

Their computer has to be pretty unlocked.

Go into network settings, do a search for other computers on the network, and theirs will pop up. Go through the root menu's till you hit their desktop and drag and drop. Done. You can also see all their porn, music, etc. I didnt really do any of that because it is illegal, but I thought the little note was fun. Didn't actually transfer any of his files.

OH, the stories I could tell you. I was in the wireless security biz for years.

One buddy of mine would find access points that were in their default configuration - meaning he knew the IP address and login name and password. He would change the SSID to "dumbass" and change the password so that the owner would have to reset it to defaults, hopefully configuring it so that it wouldn't happen again - and hopefully turning on some security.

I've seen too many CompUSA/Best Buy/Wal-Mart employees telling people things to the effect of, "Take it out of the box, plug it in, and you're ready!" -- yeah, ready to get your wireless/network/PC compromised.


You should also be aware that while the odds are kinda low, people HAVE been arrested for using residential wi-fi without permission. I'm just sayin'.

[gerstyd]

Yes, getting arrested has happened. I remember once reading a story that a guy got arrested for boosting wifi, but he was dumb, and drove up in front of a house and started using it. The owner looked out and saw a weirdo with a weird glow in his car and called the cops. What a moron.

Even though my computer and wifi is locked up as tight as I can make it, I still check every few days for computers on my network just to be sure. Living in L.A. with so many people living around me I trust no one. Also the reason why I wear tin foil on my head.

[JoeT]

Yes, getting arrested has happened. I remember once reading a story that a guy got arrested for boosting wifi, but he was dumb, and drove up in front of a house and started using it. The owner looked out and saw a weirdo with a weird glow in his car and called the cops. What a moron.

Even though my computer and wifi is locked up as tight as I can make it, I still check every few days for computers on my network just to be sure. Living in L.A. with so many people living around me I trust no one. Also the reason why I wear tin foil on my head.


That case was here in Florida. As with many criminals, a failure to fire the right neurons contributed to the arrest. :)

What's funny is how many people claim that it's fine to use someone else's wifi without permission if they are able because "they left it open" - construing it as an invitation - but are somewhat reluctant to apply that standard towards their own car or home.

[gerstyd]

Thus the reason you use your little brothers computer, and you can laugh when the cops drag him away! HAHAHAHA

[x999x]

Apartment buildings and Business offices are always great places to find free wifi connections. One simple thing to do is educate yourself on the default settings for the majority of Wifi-enabled routers on the market. When you happen to find one with default settings you recognize, ITS ON LIKE DONKEY KONG!!!

I just don't broadcast my SSID at home, and I restrict access to mac-addresses. I've had so many Wifi enabled devices over the years, I honestly forgot which IPs granted access are still in use... Oh well, so long as I've got enough bandwidth to post and download iTunes movies I'm fine with what I've got.

Sometimes I like to look at the flip side of security, and wonder "Am I trying to keep people from getting in, or me from getting out?"

[eTEK]

Their computer has to be pretty unlocked.

Go into network settings, do a search for other computers on the network, and theirs will pop up. Go through the root menu's till you hit their desktop and drag and drop. Done. You can also see all their porn, music, etc. I didnt really do any of that because it is illegal, but I thought the little note was fun. Didn't actually transfer any of his files.
where do you go to do a search for other people on the network?

[Youngbinks]

When I'm at school in Gainesville the number of Wifi spots in the apartment complexes are staggering and every so often I see an unlocked one and just laugh at how unaware they must be to outside threats.

[patrickj]

I've mentioned this one before on a similar sorta thread, but this guy's approach to neighbors trying to steal wifi access is *superb* - very funny:
http://www.ex-parrot.com/~pete/upside-down-ternet.html (http://www.ex-parrot.com/%7Epete/upside-down-ternet.html)

[iCafe]

hey guys , I never saw the harm in using others wifi, when I turn on my CPU I get like 5 different unlocked wireliess signals, I was unaware that I can access others files through their wifi... I now will only pick my own wifi off if the list, thanks for the knowledge everyone
p.s no I don't think my neighbor are generous they are just ghetto and uneducated

[KNK]

hey guys , I never saw the harm in using others wifi, when I turn on my CPU I get like 5 different unlocked wireliess signals, I was unaware that I can access others files through their wifi... I now will only pick my own wifi off if the list, thanks for the knowledge everyone
p.s no I don't think my neighbor are generous they are just ghetto and uneducated


Good for you, that is what I like to hear.

[JoeT]

no I don't think my neighbor are generous they are just ghetto and uneducated



Well, in all honesty, most would never notice and some might not care, but taking advantage of someone's lack of knowledge is usually a bad thing; karma and all, 'ya know? Heck, you could always ask your neighbor if you could use their wireless; maybe in the event that you have a service outage. I've heard of neighbors making that sort of arrangement with each other. If I really wanted to, I could cancel my internet service and sponge off the neighbors without them knowing it indefinitely - and I know enough to get around their security - but that doesn't make it the right thing to do. If you can afford a $400.00 phone, you should be able to afford your own internet/wifi....


At the very least, you probably shouldn't be posting in public that you're doing something that might be (or is, depending) illegal; it could always come back to haunt you (http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2006-04-05-myspace-arrest_x.htm).

[gerstyd]

where do you go to do a search for other people on the network?

I use windows based machines so I go to my network places. Not sure on a mac.

[Tinman]

That case was here in Florida. As with many criminals, a failure to fire the right neurons contributed to the arrest. :)

What's funny is how many people claim that it's fine to use someone else's wifi without permission if they are able because "they left it open" - construing it as an invitation - but are somewhat reluctant to apply that standard towards their own car or home.
Using an unprotected WiFi network is nothing at all like stealing someone's car.

For starters I don't know of any operating system that advocated stealing cars. But that is similar to what happens when an OS allows automatic joining of open WLANs--and Apple created such an OS.

Moreover, even on my iPhone if I join an unprotected network such as "linksys" it will auto-join any unprotected WLAN named "linksys." How many WLANs are names "linksys?" Many. How many cars work like that? None that I know of.

I won't get into the moral implications but suffice to say I look at it more like rural areas that are required to have fences and/or signs in order for "no trespassing" to be enforced. In fact I could go even further and say the owner of the WLAN is practically trespassing by sending RF radiation onto other people's property.

Finally, with technology comes responsibility--for both sides. The owner of a WLAN, kinda like the owner of an "attractive nuisance" has some responsibility to protect it. I don't really like having a fence around my swimming pool but I do because it is required of me and if I didn't have it I could be sued if God-forbid a neighbor's child died in my pool--even if they were in it without my permission. In the same vein my automobile insurance policy won't cover me if I leave my keys in the car--and leaving the keys in the car or leaving the car running is not even legal in some areas. Owning a car or pool come with responsibilities. I think owning a WLAN does too--and pleading ignorance doesn't cut it. You want to use technology? Then learn how to use it right...


--
Mike

[gerstyd]

oh yeah, and in NO WAY am I condoning breaking onto someone elses machine. I do not want to break anyones privacy or trust. The night I put the post it on his desktop thats all I did. I didnt look at his files etc. And dont suggest you don't either. Looking into someone elses life is not cool and kinda creepy. I can't say thy when I am traveling and see an open wifi I don't hop on and check the news, but don't look into someone hard drive because they don't know any better and honestly, you might find something you dont want to see. Just want to clarify. Now if you know the neighbor and he is your pal, and you want to put a note on his desktop that says funny things I love a good joke. Just dont take it too far, be respectful and let them know it was you. If they are like me they will laugh with you...then call the Feds.

[gerstyd]

trespassing by rf radiation? Thats a bit of a stretch Tinman. LOL.

[Tinman]

trespassing by rf radiation? Thats a bit of a stretch Tinman. LOL.
While it was written tongue-in-cheek it's no different than equating the use of a wide-open WLAN with auto-theft.

And the fact remains as I sit here in my own home there are at least two unprotected WLANs radiating onto my property!!! But seriously I am not complaining about them, heck my WLAN travels to their property too. But if they want to come on my property and also want protection they shouldn't leave the things wide open in the first place.



--
Mike

[gerstyd]

While it was written tongue-in-cheek it's no different than equating the use of a wide-open WLAN with auto-theft.

And the fact remains as I sit here in my own home there are at least two unprotected WLANs radiating onto my property!!! But seriously I am not complaining about them, heck my WLAN travels to their property too. But if they want to come on my property and also want protection they shouldn't leave the things wide open in the first place.



--
Mike

I agree tin, I just got this picture of a redneck with a shotgun yelling "get off my property wifi or I'll shoot!! Dang nabbit!"

[Tinman]

I agree tin, I just got this picture of a redneck with a shotgun yelling "get off my property wifi or I'll shoot!! Dang nabbit!"
Hmmm, that just gave me an idea: WiFi glasses! I could sell 'em to the redneck crowd and make a mint.

Want to get in on the WiFi revolution but have no computer?
Want to see if your pesky neighbors are radiating your property?
Want some fun with the wimmen' folk?
Wi-Eyes are for you!!!


--
Mike

[JoeT]

Using an unprotected WiFi network is nothing at all like stealing someone's car.


True, but it's also not like taking a sip from the neighbor's garden hose either. However, you still are using something without permission that you're not paying for and that isn't yours. Analogize it to whatever you like...


But that is similar to what happens when an OS allows automatic joining of open WLANs--and Apple created such an OS.


As did MS. However, the feature was designed to find LANs that you have permission to use - the fact that it also finds LANs that you don't have said permission to use is irrelevant. Just because the technology makes it easy to do something improper doesn't make DOING it proper - just like the original Napster made pirating MP3s easy and BitTorrent made pirating, well, anything easy.


Moreover, even on my iPhone if I join an unprotected network such as "linksys" it will auto-join any unprotected WLAN named "linksys." How many WLANs are names "linksys?" Many. How many cars work like that? None that I know of.


The linksysl conundrum aside, the point I was making was that it's much easier to condone something that isn't targeted at yourself; the car was a metaphor for something you'd object to someone using without permission.

I read a signature once that read: "I just discovered the world's largest wireless LAN. The SSID is 'linksys'..."



I won't get into the moral implications but suffice to say I look at it more like rural areas that are required to have fences and/or signs in order for "no trespassing" to be enforced. In fact I could go even further and say the owner of the WLAN is practically trespassing by sending RF radiation onto other people's property.


Well, not really, since legally trespassing can only be committed by a person, not an inanimate object or non-physical thing. However, you could also make the same argument against the cell providers, radio and tv stations, etc, etc. And you'd still lose.

"No Tresspassing" signs are required when the average person would not be able to reasonably determine that there is no public license to enter said property. You have public license to enter private property at will and you use it all the time - every time you go to a store or walk up to someone's front door - but that license has limits. You can't just waltz into someone's house just because the front door is open; and you can't just walk into the storeroom at Wal-Mart. But this is largely immaterial as Federal and most State statues prohibit unauthorized access to computer networks - so the "No Tresspassing" sign is already posted, as it were.


Finally, with technology comes responsibility--for both sides. The owner of a WLAN, kinda like the owner of an "attractive nuisance" has some responsibility to protect it.


Well, not a responsibility, exactly, but it is prudent. I have no "responsibility" to have locks on my doors, but it's certainly prudent, no? Why? Because not everyone obeys the law. Same with WiFi. Mine is locked down not so much to prevent the neighbor from getting his hotmail as it is to prevent some pedophile from using my internet connection to swap his kiddie porn - which activity could be traced back to ME. Similarly, I don't lock my doors to prevent my neighbor from borrowing a cup of milk so much as I am trying to prevent someone from making off with my iPhone or harming my family.


I don't really like having a fence around my swimming pool but I do because it is required of me and if I didn't have it I could be sued if God-forbid a neighbor's child died in my pool--even if they were in it without my permission.


Different story, since in many cases you are legally required to have it. I know that we are here in FL. But yes, even if it wasn't required, it would be prudent for the reason you cite. And frankly, it's statistically more likely to be YOUR kid if you have any.



In the same vein my automobile insurance policy won't cover me if I leave my keys in the car--and leaving the keys in the car or leaving the car running is not even legal in some areas. Owning a car or pool come with responsibilities. I think owning a WLAN does too--and pleading ignorance doesn't cut it. You want to use technology? Then learn how to use it right...



But you are talking about your financial risk (insurance company won't pay) and ignoring the real issue - the criminal culpability of the car thief. Even though you didn't take the steps a responsible person would to help prevent the theft of your car, your car was still stolen. The thief, if caught, will be prosecuted, right? It's the same with WiFi; Even if you don't lock it down, it's still illegal for unauthorized people to use it.

[Tinman]

True, but it's also not like taking a sip from the neighbor's garden hose either. However, you still are using something without permission that you're not paying for and that isn't yours. Analogize it to whatever you like...
As for the garden hose analogy, that is usually used when the hose is sitting out in public. My neighbors never place their garden hose in my yard. But if during watering their lawn they sprayed water onto my yard too I would have zero problem standing in my yard drinking it.

The real question is, would I want to? Of course not, I have my own water. I also have my own WiFi network.


As did MS. However, the feature was designed to find LANs that you have permission to use - the fact that it also finds LANs that you don't have said permission to use is irrelevant. Just because the technology makes it easy to do something improper doesn't make DOING it proper - just like the original Napster made pirating MP3s easy and BitTorrent made pirating, well, anything easy.
The auto-joining I was talking about was indiscriminate--it joined anything that was open, and even if that WLAN was never connected to before. I have never seen a version of Windows operate like that, nor does OS X today. I have no idea what that has to do with Napster et al, as it was automatic, but suffice to say I don't agree with that comparison at all.


The linksysl conundrum aside, the point I was making was that it's much easier to condone something that isn't targeted at yourself; the car was a metaphor for something you'd object to someone using without permission.
You can't just brush it aside, it's a 100% valid point. Please explain how that could happen to a car or house.


"No Tresspassing" signs are required when the average person would not be able to reasonably determine that there is no public license to enter said property. You have public license to enter private property at will and you use it all the time - every time you go to a store or walk up to someone's front door - but that license has limits. You can't just waltz into someone's house just because the front door is open; and you can't just walk into the storeroom at Wal-Mart. But this is largely immaterial as Federal and most State statues prohibit unauthorized access to computer networks - so the "No Tresspassing" sign is already posted, as it were.
That contradicts your first sentence in the above paragraph. If a statute is all that is needed for notification then that should also apply to trespassing. But as you yourself wrote above it does not. Moreover the statutes in question almost always predate WiFi and were not written with WiFi in mind. It's obvious to a casual observer that this is not seen as an everyday prosecutable "offense." The number of casual WiFi use prosecutions is practically nil--and the two that I know of both had unusual surrounding circumstances.

It could easily be argued that the act of protecting a WLAN, even if just part of the SSID, is much more akin to a "no trespassing" sign than a barely-applicable statute.

Moreover you are talking about a "crime" without complainants. Show me the thousands of complaints about stolen WiFi and maybe I'll care about this issue. Right now I have better things to worry about.

And since it's not a big issue the chances of appropriate statutes getting written and passed are remote. Ditto for testing current statutes as applied to WiFi.


Same with WiFi. Mine is locked down not so much to prevent the neighbor from getting his hotmail as it is to prevent some pedophile from using my internet connection to swap his kiddie porn - which activity could be traced back to ME.
That's only one ramification. What if instead the pedophile used your WLAN to contact and meet a child, harming the child? Still think you have no responsibility to protect a wide-open WLAN? The equipment makers, for leaving the default wide-open?

Indeed if something like this were to happen and gain national attention I wouldn't at all be surprised to see legislation written making it illegal to leave a WLAN wide-open.


Different story, since in many cases you are legally required to have it.
Bingo. It's my pool, but I am required to protect it. WiFi should be the same.


But you are talking about your financial risk (insurance company won't pay) and ignoring the real issue - the criminal culpability of the car thief.
That wasn't my only point, though I certainly don't want to pay higher premiums due to my insurance company paying out claims for stupidity.

My other point was that it is illegal in many areas to leave your vehicle running (outside your own property) with the keys inside. You don't need to, indeed it would be unlikely to, have your car stolen to be cited for this offense.

All of this nonsense when there is a simple solution: don't leave your keys in your car. And don't leave a WLAN unprotected.


--
Mike

[Griffinaz]

Hmmm, that just gave me an idea: WiFi glasses! I could sell 'em to the redneck crowd and make a mint.

Want to get in on the WiFi revolution but have no computer?
Want to see if your pesky neighbors are radiating your property?
Want some fun with the wimmen' folk?
Wi-Eyes are for you!!!


--
Mike

Well Heckems, my Sister/Wife would certainly wants to get me a set of them. :wink:

[gerstyd]

All of this nonsense when there is a simple solution: don't leave your keys in your car. And don't leave a WLAN unprotected.


--
Mike[/quote]

And, dont forget dem dar wiredless internets glasses fer dem darn kids and their rock and roll music. Can you get dem googles on the goggles?

I would like to sum up this really long post for your ADD kids out there like me.

1. Protect your WLAN
2. Lock your car
3. Wear a condom

This thread was brought to you buy the National Security Agency, The Number 802.11 and Tinman industries making fine products since...well about 8 hours ago. :laugh2:

[Lincoln]

I was born in California. When we lived there, there was a really scary guy down the street who stole cable, music, you name it. We had another neighbor who had a Wi-Fi router, but didn't have it locked because she didn't have a clue about technology.

The guy thought it would be funny to take every file on her Hard Disk and delete them. Turns out that some of those files were serious medical records that took forever to be recovered. I think the guy's still in prison.

My Wi-Fi router here at home is, of course, locked, and so is the one attached to my Mac at work. However, I have a separate router, unattached to the Mac, that I keep unlocked for customers to use.

- John

[meiphones_brill]

The place we rented this year for a holiday had a (WPA2 secured) WiFi connection - I commented to the owner of the place (who lives next door) that he was very brave sharing his connection - and with it his network - with strangers. His jaw hit the ground when I showed him on my laptop how I could access not only his PC, but also show him what websites he was visiting.

He's now installing a separate line and DSL for the holiday home.

I wish schools would teach this stuff.

[patrickj]

I think nobody is catching the really important point here. Tinman has a pool! Where's the Pool party invites??? :smile:

[gerstyd]

I think nobody is catching the really important point here. Tinman has a pool! Where's the Pool party invites??? :smile:

You have a really good point.

[KNK]

I live in a great area, but there are several pesky young boys, that always try to crack into my other neighbors, and I tell them to make sure they have security on. But still I see some with none and they are just targeted. Dave, my neighbor next to me goes and repairs their wifi and what ever.

Some people just arn't that savvy. They are new to the world because they just bought computers and do not have a clue.