Where we live a few houses have wireless. Ours is Eircom and is secured so to access on a laptop you need the 24 bit code. HAve noticed that other networks come up on our list of available networks and some not secured. Recently neighbours noticed car across the way with 2 people in with laptops. Thought nothing of it at time. Then neighbour got warning letter from their internet service provider saying they were over their download allowance and charged them for excess. Last weekend car was across road again and we clicked.....they were freeloading on the unsecured networks. Got neighbour to shut down their wireless and next thing car took off , they realised they were spotted. ( for what its worth have car details, reg etc. although probably no use )
Anyway, the point is I then went around town yesterday with laptop and found a lot of unsecured networks. From the time and samples taken I would say about 20% were unsecured. People are leaving themselves open to being caught here. Why don't ISP''s give secured systems automatically? Can you encrypt an unsecured network. Anyone with wireless should check their systems and be sure its secured and if not get onto their ISP and see how to secure it. I'm sure that the people we spotted are not the only ones out there.
Separately, what surporised me was the range that one could pick up wireless networks over, some were available over several hundred yards.....including a hotel "hot spot" which was unsecured. Are we all being fried to toast from the emissions from these things !!!
Anyway, the point is I then went around town yesterday with laptop and found a lot of unsecured networks. From the time and samples taken I would say about 20% were unsecured. People are leaving themselves open to being caught here. Why don't ISP''s give secured systems automatically? Can you encrypt an unsecured network. Anyone with wireless should check their systems and be sure its secured and if not get onto their ISP and see how to secure it. I'm sure that the people we spotted are not the only ones out there.
Separately, what surporised me was the range that one could pick up wireless networks over, some were available over several hundred yards.....including a hotel "hot spot" which was unsecured. Are we all being fried to toast from the emissions from these things !!!