For the most part, a person who wishes to have a Wire-Less Home Network will either have someone else actually perform the work, or just decide to do it himself or herself. They justify this by reasoning How hard can it be? So they drive to their local favorite place of purchase, or just log onto the Internet if they already have an established Wired Home Network, but a WiFi Access Point or Residential Router [hopefully they are aware of the difference], plug it in fail Read the Quick Setup [because they read the complete manual as often as they read a EULA], connect their Smart Phone or Tablet or whatever their desired Wire-Less Device is, maybe read a little more of the Quick Setup Fold-Out, connect to the Internet, and start smiling - a lot.

After a long period of self-satisfaction, without any further reading, they take their new-found WiFi connection out for a Test-Drive, connecting to all of their favorite Web Sites, using what is most likely their only UnserName and Only Password, maybe even a few Bank Account PIN Numbers, they grow tired of their recent success and seek-out new worlds to conquer.

They do not realize that since they have not changed their SSID, everyone now knows not only the manufacturer of their WiFi, but have easily Googled their Default Password and UserName that they never changed on it. They have not established any WiFi security, any MAC Filter, any Power Reduction they have, in fact, basically performed the equivalent of connecting a long CAT-5 cable to their network and thrown it out to the street complete with Flashing Neon Signs displaying FREE INTERNET.

But seriously, just how often are open WiFi networks discovered? Enter wiggle.net (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site." in the URL of your favorite browser. Now enter your Home address or your Campus address in the Search Address area located in the upper left-hand of the map and ZOOM in or out as necessary with mouse thumbwheel or the + or - button located to the right of the Web Page. Surprised?

Assignment Questions

Provide at least one response for each of the following issues.

Is your location on the map? Is the information display [if any] accurate?

THIS MEANS WAR! This information is accumulated by a number of methods, the most common is known as War-Driving, but there are also other methods listed below. Select one [or more] and briefly evaluate how feasible that method would or would not be in your area.

War-Biking

War-Walking

War-Chalking

War-Jogging

War-Railing

War-Training

War-Kitting

A variation is known as WAP-Kitting

What is your opinion of the legality of not only gathering information in this manner, but also publicizing it on Web Sites as this? Invasion of privacy? Freedom of Speech?