app for identifying unsecured networks

I saw a link to an app recently that replaces the airport drop down list in the menu bar with a list that actually identifies whether of the networks in range are unsecured.

I can't find it now... anyone know? thanks!

 

This article by David Pogue features the application you may want, but as you read in the article you also read that there's a problem with it...

http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/06/06/getting-the-most-out-of-your-wi-fi-menu/

There's probably more applications out there that do this, but see if you want to try out this one.

And there's WiFind found here: http://www.tastyapps.com/index.html, but it costs $8. There's probably some free alternatives out there.

EDIT: I found a few more for you:

http://coconut-flavour.com/coconutwifi/

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/networking_security/istumbler.html

 

Speaking of which, do you know if they made any improvements to the Airport interface in Leopard? Like showing signal strength and whether a network is secured or not from the drop down?

 

Thanks man, I'll give JiWire a miss but will look into the other three.

Have just spent the weekend marching around the city while apartment hunting and getting tired of trying networks at random until I find an open one

 

Looking through, I think Coconut WiFi and iStumbler are the best applications for detecting unsecured wireless networks and also signal strength, hoolyproductions. Those are the last two links I gave you.

 

Thanks, I just installed Coconut... it looked better to me because it's just a discreet icon in the menu bar. It is recognising my encrypted network at home just fine with no effect on signal strength. I'll try it out 'in the field' next week and post back

 

well coconut is cool and so is iStumbler which is also good for telling signal strength, handy for me because I am now having trouble with my connection at home... I prefer istumbler on balance but they both seem pretty good.

 

Nice find!
I gave both coconut and iStumbler a shot. I prefer iStumbler because it was it shows the signal strength and some more information.

 

I use coconutwifi, it's pretty cool for what I need it, just finding out if a network is secure or not.

 

does coconutwifi automatically let you join the networks? I have yet figured out a way in istumbler for it to connect me to the network. the join button doesn't seem to work.

 

no, coconut only identifies at present, you have to join via the airport drop-down...

I initially preferred coconut because of the menubar icons... until I noticed it doesnt auto-refresh you have to close and re-open to get it to update sometimes...

both are still useful for working out which of the surrounding networks are open though, although the signal strength meter on iStumbler can also give you a clue about whether it is worth trying