"Free Public WiFi" - is this real?

Serendipity
Serendipity Posts: 6,975
edited July 2008 in The Clubhouse
A while back when I was in an airport, I noticed tons of "Free Public WiFi" wireless connections in the waiting room, boarding area, and lounge. I never connected to any of these networks, thinking that it was a way for an attacker to exploit your PC, and also due to the fact that they were computer to computer networks (not your usual wireless connections).

Now I've noticed more and more of these "Free Public WiFi" connections everywhere - even in my dorm room at school, on trains, and in other public places.

Can somebody tell me if this is a real, trustable WiFi connection? I seem to see the SSID "Free Public WiFi" everywhere!
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  • Demiurge
    Demiurge Posts: 10,874
    edited July 2008
    http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Free+Public+WiFi
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  • ND13
    ND13 Posts: 7,601
    edited July 2008
    All the McD's and Starbucks have it now.
    "SOME PEOPLE CALL ME MAURICE,
    CAUSE I SPEAK OF THE POMPITIOUS OF LOVE"
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  • Serendipity
    Serendipity Posts: 6,975
    edited July 2008
    Demiurge wrote: »
    http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Free+Public+WiFi

    Okay, I've read the first few links and apparently it's a feature of Windows.

    But this doesn't make sense - why don't I see SSID's named "linksys" and "NETGEAR" everywhere like I see the SSID "Free Public WiFi"? If it indeed is a feature of Windows, shouldn't this happen ALL the time?
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  • brettw22
    brettw22 Posts: 7,623
    edited July 2008
    In the airports, most have converted to a billed out Boingo plan, which is a rip IMO.

    There are a few that are free here and there, but in all of my travels I haven't run into many that have free wi-fi anymore.
    comment comment comment comment. bitchy.
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  • Serendipity
    Serendipity Posts: 6,975
    edited July 2008
    brettw22 wrote: »
    In the airports, most have converted to a billed out Boingo plan, which is a rip IMO.

    There are a few that are free here and there, but in all of my travels I haven't run into many that have free wi-fi anymore.

    The one I was talking about turned out to be fake. The billed plans you refer to are real WiFi - no dangers there.
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  • brettw22
    brettw22 Posts: 7,623
    edited July 2008
    There is free wi-fi here and there........it's not a fake thing.

    There are parks around your town that have free wi-fi that you can take a laptop, or MP3 wi-fi enabled device...........

    Wi-fi isn't really 'safe' unless it's your own network and you have it locked down. Also, as long as you keep your firewall up you should be fine.
    comment comment comment comment. bitchy.
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited July 2008
    I love it when airports have FREE wi fi. Esp if you have a long layover or delay in your flight. it's the only thing to keep you sane in the long waits.

    Airports and hotels that charge for wi fi can all SUCK IT!
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited July 2008
    Make sure you are not sharing files, or printers, and that your firewall is on!!! when using open networks.
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • Demiurge
    Demiurge Posts: 10,874
    edited July 2008
    If you care about your PC security, pay for your own Wi-Fi.

    If not, use the "free" stuff out there.

    This is really simple.
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited July 2008
    May I add make sure your PC is password protected on the admin account, and yours;)
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited July 2008
    Ben, is there software which could "Klock" your computer for shared stuff?

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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited July 2008
    disneyjoe7 wrote: »
    Ben, is there software which could "Klock" your computer for shared stuff?

    Apply password protect to your shared files. I have to go(daughter's fifth birthday!), but I'll post some tips later.
    Ben
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • shadowofnight
    shadowofnight Posts: 2,735
    edited July 2008
    Back when I was still using wifi, when out and about with the laptop I would turn off sharing ( Important files still password protected ) and then only use it for email or talking with the wife or friends....never purchasing anything with a credit card.

    Now I just use my broadband wireless cellular enabled new laptop ( Had a usb cellular adapter first...worked great but external sucked...built in much better )
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  • Serendipity
    Serendipity Posts: 6,975
    edited July 2008
    brettw22 wrote: »
    There is free wi-fi here and there........it's not a fake thing.

    Did you read the info in the link that Demiurge posted?

    The SSID for the ad-hoc wireless connection "Free Public WiFi" is fake!! Ad-hoc wireless connections (or computer to computer wireless connections) are not real WiFi.
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  • Demiurge
    Demiurge Posts: 10,874
    edited July 2008
    All I did was post a google search result list for "Free Public WiFi," so that hopefully it would answer your questions.
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  • Serendipity
    Serendipity Posts: 6,975
    edited July 2008
    Demiurge wrote: »
    All I did was post a google search result list for "Free Public WiFi," so that hopefully it would answer your questions.

    It turns out they are "At best, they're a radio signal to nowhere; at worst, they could be someone looking for a vulnerable PC to compromise."
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  • Demiurge
    Demiurge Posts: 10,874
    edited July 2008
    Where are you trying to use the free WiFi? You might want to ask them about the details if you're concerned about it.

    We have parks in the city designated as "Hot Zones." I think they're paid for by the city (grumble) but I am not 100% sure.

    I still think that if you're worried about security you should just pay for and regulate your own connections. It's the safest way.
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  • Serendipity
    Serendipity Posts: 6,975
    edited July 2008
    I'm talking about in places like airports, trains, etc.
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  • exalted512
    exalted512 Posts: 10,735
    edited July 2008
    what is the computer to computer free wifi?
    -Cody
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  • Serendipity
    Serendipity Posts: 6,975
    edited July 2008
    exalted512 wrote: »
    what is the computer to computer free wifi?
    -Cody

    The computer to computer thing is fake WiFi. Say you're in an airport like I was (Charlotte, NC) and you open up your laptop. You look in your list of wireless connections. There's a real wireless connection from the airport, and ANOTHER computer to computer wireless connection that says "Free Public WiFi." The one that says "Free Public WiFi" may be an attacker trying to compromise your system.
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  • Serendipity
    Serendipity Posts: 6,975
    edited July 2008
    This is an example of one of the fake "Free Public WiFi" connections:

    free.public.wifi.png
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  • goingganzo
    goingganzo Posts: 2,793
    edited July 2008
    i got free high speed i just hack my neibors network

















    j/k
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  • bigaudiofanatic
    bigaudiofanatic Posts: 4,415
    edited July 2008
    Shoot I trust them I even go to the library the have fast internet. Also my doctors office has a sign free wireless internet access so i went back to the car and grabed the laptop. FAST AS H*** I think it was fiber optic.
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  • Sami
    Sami Posts: 4,634
    edited July 2008
    appadv wrote: »
    This is an example of one of the fake "Free Public WiFi" connections:

    The icon already is an obvious giveaway not to connect. However there are public free wi-fi connections out there. F.e. San Diego airport has one, it's free unlike many others. I just used it yesterday.
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  • Serendipity
    Serendipity Posts: 6,975
    edited July 2008
    Sami wrote: »
    The icon already is an obvious giveaway not to connect.

    Yeah, that's the one I'm talking about. It's everywhere though - I've once spotted it on an airplane!
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  • Serendipity
    Serendipity Posts: 6,975
    edited July 2008
    It seems like lots of people are observing the same thing:

    2232565240_46f03eda4b.jpg?v=0
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited July 2008
    I don't like it. Computer to Computer No way.

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  • Airplay355
    Airplay355 Posts: 4,298
    edited July 2008
    I've only encountered those stupidddd tmobile hot spots.

    What about free wifi in a hotel? I've used that. I have a Mac though and it's all locked down so I'm never too worried. Chances that theres an expert Mac hacker staying in my hotel and wants to break into my comp are slim. Plus even if he does break in, there's not anything good to steal.
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