Free pulic wifi???

ok, im afraid to connect to this cause who knows, but is this like safe? or is it a hacker.... i dont wanna mess my computer up.....

 

It's possible to give any name to a network.

 

Yeah, anyone can name that...and I'd say having that kind of name makes it even more suspicious, as it seems that the hoster wants to lure those in...

 

If you see that network at your house, I wouldn't use it. If you see that network in an airport, that's different. So, where were you when you saw that network?

 

this is in my house, i made a satilite dish of my wifi antenna, lol

 

DSL these days is $15 bucks a month, compared to high-speed a year ago which was closer to the $50 range. There's really no reason to use someone elses wireless network while at home.

 

I have the same thing at my house, except it's in all lower case instead of proper like that. I wouldn't advise to connect to it, not a smart move.

 

and yea, the second i saw that im like "SWEET, i can cancel my net subscription now!!!" but then i thouht that i was kinda sketchy and decided to ask you

 

well, darn hackers.......... i should warn my neibors not to use it......

 

You're not sure - at all - that it's a hacker. I have a few friends that set up "public wifi spots" just because they want to "rebel" against companies charging for internet. It makes them feel better until I go mess with them.

 

Well, that's rare. And if you happen to live there, you would be lucky.

 

Given that it's an upper-middle class neighborhood where practically no one secures their wireless, their argument for "rebellion" goes over my head.

 

When I was at my brother's old apartment in Encino, California, I went down to the corner coffee joint to get some internet access, and found something that had the same icon and name. It gave me an IP, but wasn't able to get online with it.

The coffee shop had pay-by-the-hour internet, and I was pissed. Ended up driving to the Panera in Studio City for my net access.

So, perhaps it's a honey pot trying to lure people in, so be careful trying it out. Either way, I would not downgrade from having your own DSL/Cable to some wireless a block away.

 

I'd actually go for it. I mean come on guys, what's the worst that can happen? With a decent firewall everything should be alright. Just stay away from shared files called "sexy sexiness .exe", and you'll be alright

 

I'd drop into Linux if you've got a dual boot before doing so, just for extra safety precautions.

Of course, if it was in my neighbourhood, I'd be curious to who owned it... I live in a neighbourhood full of idiots.

 

I'm sure that's a sniffer. Forget hacking you're computer, forget virus' and forget the free lunch.

I've seen that plenty before and it's ad-hoc. That's a HUGE tip off.

What you do is you connect to it, you can surf and do everything normally however the computer is now collecting all your data packets and then will be able to look at some of the plain txt stuff or hang on and slowly crack it and eventually get your Credit card info, banking info, but since those are hard how about they just steal your WoW account, Steam or EA game acct then sell it.

How will Linux help make it any safer? Like with windows if you got something to share Linux ain't doing crap. It's about what you're doing not how you're doing it. It's like saying ok you're driving off a cliff. Get a toyota instead of a Kia because it has 1 more star in the impact tests.

 

Well, in my case, I don't have any sensitive info on my linux boot. Most people that dual boot are the same way, and use linux for apps that require it. If I'm gonna buy something online, my last thought is "I better drop into Ubuntu before I order my RAM".
Plus there are less exploits out there for linux regardless of what the purpose of the network is.

As for the Toyota/Kia thing... You're talking to a guy from Michigan. I wouldn't be caught dead in either of them

 

Hey my whole family drives GM, I'm the kinda guy who would take Pontiac G6 over a Jag X-Type. I know how you feel.

 

I've seen a network with the exact same name and icon from my house - it disappeared shortly. I wouldn't be surprised if yours did the same.

 

it comes and goes every now and again.... why is this?

 

It's ad-hoc it goes down when the guy turns off his computer or he figured he's sniffed enough for one day and shuts it down.