Schneier Says 'Steal this Wi-Fi'

apolloose noted Bruce Schneier's latest entry on Wired where he talks about insecured wifi networks, and suggests that you Steal this WiFi. Basically, since insecure WiFi is everywhere, why not? You're helping make the world a little better for someone else.

Yeah, but...

[Serenissima]

If I opened up my network, anyone could start downloading pirated movies and music and use up all of my bandwidth that I want to use for downloading pirated movies and music!

Stealing is illegal

[Anonymous Coward]

I'd suggest you don't take the access point, just let your computer communicate with it.

Re:Steal Wi-Fi?

[dattaway]

That's like saying we should "steal" music files

I thought that's how most people seal music files and do P2P: one of their neighbor's open networks.

Re:Yeah, but...

[Anonymous Coward]

In Soviet Russia, pirated music steals you!

Re:how do i crack a WEP password?

[fastest fascist]

Excuse me? He uses an iMac, therefore he must be used to paying through the nose.

"Insecured" Wi-Fi

[wcrowe]

"Insecure?". Yeah, nobody wants a clingy Wi-Fi.

Re:how do i crack a WEP password?

[Anonymous Coward]

So then he's just a bastard?

Re:Beware of strangers bearing gifts

[garcia]

My public facing wireless AP has a SSID that reads, "I_SNIFF_AND_LOG". I generally find that no one is using my network and instead probably chose to use one of the 8 open "linksysfoo" APs around me.

What what WHAT?

[Quiet_Desperation]

Slashdot would suck if everyone had to call Rob before they felt they were allowed to use his web server.

Wait! You mean I don't? Shit! All those wasted phone calls!

Re:Yeah, but...

[fictionpuss]

Apparently the words 'wired ethernet' mean nothing to him either.

Re:Beware of strangers bearing gifts

[Tim Doran]

Brilliant! The tech-savvy will know that means and avoid your WiFi.

The non-tech savvy will find it ambiguously gross and avoid you, your property, your children, your dog...

Re:Yeah, but...

[Anonymous Coward]

Well you wouldn't have a difficult time finding a security expert to testify at your trial about how MAC filtering, using an alternative IP range, and disabling DHCP are pretty fruitless in adding security to your wireless network. So to your defense, you're not doing as good of a job as you think. Maybe you need another advanced degree.

Re:Yeah, but...

[Atti K.]

In Soviet Russia, your WiFi opens up YOU!

Re:Beware of strangers bearing gifts

[zymurgyboy]

Which to your Average Joe Wifi-thief probably translates to:

"He snorts coke and has a commercial lumber company."

Or

"He has cold, and probably a clogged toilet."

I'm surprised you don't more traffic.