3 Idiots Connected to My Network Who Did Online Banking.

Yep-

Time and again since I've secured my wireless, every so often I'll leave it open to see who connects, and what they do. What I DONT understand is why the hell would you log in to information sensitive sites such as email, banking, etc. I was able to capture the information they were sending, and it is very disturbing.

Should I go to the police, or let them know that what they are doing is wrong? Not just for me, but anyone else. Because identity theft = GG. All the data I captured, I deleted.

I do not support "free" internet from people, but if you end up doing it anyways, please don't be stupid.

What should I do

 

Don't leave it open?

Just ignore it and continue on with your surfing. Change the passwords every so often, possibly 1 month.

 

It's good to see honest people like you. I assume its your neighbors that connected? I personally would tell each one what's happening so they no longer put their personal information out there for everyone and their mama to see. I wouldn't tell them you were able to capture all their banking/email information, just because they'll freak out and might accuse you of something. You could just inform them that their using your connection illegally, and the possible consequences of doing so(identify theft etc)

I admit I've connected to other people's networks, but just for regular surfing.

 

I don't normally leave it open. Occassionally I'll leave it open to see if and how many people take advantage of open networks. I saw activity and then re-secured it, but want to notify my neighbors of what they are doing and the seriousness of it, thats all.

 

I'm curious as to why you'd go to the police? Is it because they were using your unsecured network or because they were using it for illegal activity of some sort?

Yes, using secure information over an unsecure network is not a bright idea but it doesn't seem like they commited a crime unless I'm misunderstanding something. Both my mom and dad use to have open wireless networks and while I had my computer connected to them I was able to see who was connected and what they were doing. I told my parents and made sure to secure them for them. My main reason was because it was a major security risk but one that was easily resolved.

 

Yeah cut the police part out. I'll just let them know individually. Thanks folks.

 

You're a good person.

 

Something else i thought of is that you could set your computers to use static ip addresses and then any ip out of your range to open a default webpage of something that says they are useing your internet illegally and anythign they do you will watch and record. If they continue to use it you can also set it so that any webpage is fliped upside down, mirrored, or inverted colors (to be annoying).

 

I would mention it to your neighbors, but you really should just keep your network locked up 24/7; it's not your responsibility to police the neighborhood, nor is it your place to view their data. They will possibly become upset with you
and tell you that you were "invading their privacy," even though you're trying to do the right thing.

 

Nizzy, that's pretty clever...that would certainly scare a lot of people away from using an unsecured network. lol

 

Good point, thanks bud.

 

I believe that the people who leave a wireless internet connection open and unsecured are the negligent ones, not the opportunistic folks who connect to those networks.

 

I am too lazy to read every persons response, but as far as I could gather from some readings and what not, if you own the network and/or are the administrator, you are breaking no laws by capturing that information. Same thing seems to be the case for unsecured public wifi networks as all the information is being broadcast out and you dont even have to be connected to that network for get that info. The illegal part is if you log in to their accounts or use that information. Really, all you can do with it is have it and not even think about using it, sharing it, etc. What would probably be best is to talk to the people about it. I think you can go to the police, but I would not as the law tends to complicate things and what not. A case comes to mind where some ordinary guy stumbled upon a serious security vulnerability in a company's system [something having to do with the apache server communicating with the SQL server that caused some security vulnerability...if you wanted to know] and the guy, being the nice man he was, sent the company an email explaining what he found by accident and how he did not look for this *insert more attempts to show his innocence/helpfulness* and they called the internet police and the man was arrested.

BUT, since this is your network I do not think you are in the wrong by having it or telling them.

I have a server that I use as a gateway [its plugged in to the cable modem and it routes traffic/bandwidth out to the NAT box (router)]. I do this so I can keep the server always up with 4 monitors running with traffic monitoring programs/utilities so that I can keep an eye on it at all times. When I see people stealing wifi, I use one of my utilities to re-route their traffic to one of my locally hosted HTML pages that displays their IP, MAC, OS, browser, screen resolution, location, computer name and manufacturer. It also tells them that I do not appreciate them stealing my internet and would be happy to share it if they paid me a fee every month. It goes on to explain to them that all of their internet traffic was captured and explains the danger of such activities. The page is a new thing I just started and am looking for legislature regarding stealing internet and the legality of having their info. Once I find what I am looking for, Im going to edit the page to include that in there and what not. The page also gives them an email address where they can contact me at if they so desire. Once their MAC gets on my redirected list, it stays there until they pay me to take it off. It has been rather effective as the 10 or some people I have caught have either never tried to connect again, emailed me, and 3 actually pay me a small fee monthly [which allowed me to up my internet package with out using any more of my own money].

Long but just my thoughts and experience with such things...

 

Maybe they are computer illiterate...just close the port...problem solved...

 

lol thats an idea for stealing info from dumb computer people.

seriously you should do that scare tactic.i think il try it later

 

That is the best way to go about it if you can. Im not sure of the legalities of reselling your bandwidth thought...

 

How exactly can you see what they are searching anyhow? I know with my D655 it would show IP addresses of anyone connected (before I secured it) but nothing else? One issue I used to have with my old SMC router was that it would lose the connection constantly and many times my laptop would simply connect to another network and I wouldn't notice for a while, then go upstairs to reboot my SMC router and log back on. Had no idea people could actually see what I was doing!

 

I absolutely agree to this. I was a little confused with the OP stating he opened hi network got mad at people logging on and comtemplated on telling them to get off his wirelss open network. That's jsut confusing.

 

is it technically illegal to join an open network?, if you pay for internet service, and set it up to be completely open, some people may be using it without even realizing it, as some systems will connect to the nearest open network, depending on their specific settings.

you have specifically opened up a network and intentionally collected personal data, just opening up your network would in no way leave that type of personal information to be recorded, unless specifically intended. while it may have been unintentional or experimental in this case, you provoked it and monitored their actions.

 

I would go around with a wifi detector and then knock on the neighbours door and let em know that their network isn't secured and should be. then for a small fee, ensure that they're secured and that any PC on their network logs into ONLY their wireless and nobody elses good way to make a few extra bucks!

 

When you are using someone else's network you have no right to privacy. You are running under the rules of the provider of the network. If he wishes to peek into their data transfers then that is his right. They shouldn't be doing private transactions on an otherwise public network.

 

Now that's pretty stupid of them to do such personal things on it. Just leave it secure and change your password once in a while if you are seeing others accessing the network without your consent.

 

Undetermined. There have been convictions, even in some cases where the network owner allowed it and refused to press charges.

 

what about the open networks found in McDonalds or airports?

 

Why would lyou allow someone to be on your network. I have mine secured. I don't believe on free internet from others. they might be downloading and that's slow down your computer. I guess it is better to have a secured network then an open network.

 

It sort of begs the question as to whether securing an unsecured network would also be a crime, doesn't it?

 

I keep my network secured with WPA2 even though there's no difference between WPA2 and WPA. But hell, it's better than WEP and all my neighbors use WEP. Their passwords are crackable in about 15 minutes for me. I even went over to warn them, but still, WEP. Tisk tisk tisk.

 

I have a question acutally.
How do you know people are connected to your network and what they send over it?
I just want to know how to track it for my own network.
Thanks.

 

How would you do this? Also, how do you view who is using your network?

 

Is it technically legal? Think of it this way. Say I find a wireless unsecured network. I ask (DHCP) for an IP address. I am given an IP openly. Is asking for something in the open (unsecured) illegal? Since i was given permission, is it illegal.

Also, the signal is most likely infiltrating my house. Is this tresspassing??? A stretch, I know, but something to think about.

 

trespassing is the light tresspassing?

i don't think that would stand in court.

 

Just something to think about. I remember a couple of years ago Florida making it illegal to connect to a wireless network that was not yours. The subject of signals "tresspassing" came up. I do not remember if that law passed though. This is just for discussion.

 

lol tons of ppl have it unsecured then the rest have the user and pass still at default.

 

Here's what's known:

1. A man got arrested and sentenced to 8 years for using unsecured WIFI outside of Starbucks. He was parked outside in his truck, using a laptop.
2. If people partake in illegal activities while using your unsecured WIFI, you can be held legally responsible.

Everything else has yet to pass through the courts, however, if you're smart, you will:

1. Secure your wireless network.
2. Not use unknown, unsecured wireless networks.

 

???????????????? Please help, cos I think someone may be using my network

 

Set up WPA like normal people.

 

Sorry to barge in and be an ass (or conversely, make an ass out of myself), but I found something interesting while I was reading the blag over at xkcd. Many of you probably don't even go there, but there was the 5-part webcomic title " 1337", and I think it was the author (I'm not sure) also put up a guide (it doesn't seem all that detailed, but still) about how to actually get Upside-Down-Ternet working.

Upside-Down-Ternet

If anybody bothers to read the two links I posted, I hope you enjoyed them =)

@OP: Gotta need more people like you

 

8 years? People get shorter sentences for fatal hit-and-runs where I live.

 

Starbucks can afford better lawyers than district attorneys.

 

But I wanna scare them and stuff!

 

Then do the Upside-Down-Ternet. XD. Woo~ .

 

it turns the pages upside down but they can still sniff ""your"" packets?

 

Anyone can always sniff packets. If you use a form of encryption it encrypts them, however, so they are harder to read.

If one must really mess with people, the best way to do it is set up 2 networks. One for you, one for them.

The one for you should have WEP at a minimum but WPA ideally. Static IP addresses with dhcp turned off and the max number of IP's set to the exact number of static IP's you handed out to your machines. Then have mac address filtering on, and broadcasting of your SSID turned off. This should get you a fairly protected system that wont let anyone use your internet.

As for the other open network, you don't even have to have it connected to the internet. Just an open router maybe make the SSID something like "Free Internet". Otherwise i would just say to leave them alone and worry about yourself