[MLB-WIRELESS] Open Season on Wireless LANs

[Barry Park]

Interesting. Aims to put the onus of securing a wifi AP on the AP's owner.
While it doesn't endorse wardriving, it does suggest that passively
connecting to an AP may not be regarded as criminal if ignorance is use as a
defence. I would like to see this tested in a .au court though.
- Barry

Open Season on Wireless LANs

Wi-Fi-based wireless local area networks are spreading like wildfire among
homeowners, businesses small and large, and such public entities as
libraries and government offices. But most users pay little attention to
security, inviting penetration of their networks by anyone within range
(about 300 feet) of an unprotected access point.

And such intrusions occur all too often. In fact, "war driving" is becoming
an increasingly popular practice among mobile computer geeks. War drivers
cruise the streets with laptops rigged for WLAN  broadband  connectivity
searching for open access points.

Typically, they mark a new find with graffiti that flags the spot for other
Wi-Fi  users. All most of these war drivers are interested in is getting
free Internet use. However, leaky WLANs also give network intruders with
more nefarious motives easy entry.

A law wending its way through the New Hampshire legislature could have broad
implications for anyone operating a wireless LAN by offering a measure of
protection for war drivers and would-be hackers. In effect, the legislation
puts the onus on businesses and consumers to protect themselves.

More at http://www.newsfactor.com/perl/story/21529.html



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