Wireless at Starbucks

Filed in archive Lifestyle on June 5, 2007

I have not been to a Starbucks recently so I thought I would go and try to connect wirelessly and do a post or two at my local Starbucks. So today was it.

I know from about three months ago my local telecom provided a Wi-Fi hotspot at Starbucks and would be using that hotspot for connection. But what I was most surprised about was that compared to three months ago there was no less than twenty (20) wireless networks and some of the networks with the unlikely names: Heart, OceanSprout, ZipAlong, Wickerd (sic), WhipLash, and more . . .

AND then there was the three that stood out . . . one was called "Linksys", another "DLink" and another "Linksys2" . . . most unimaginative! Systematically I tried every network to see if I could linkup without using any form of protection key like a "WEP" (Wired Equivalent Privacy).

WOW, out of the twenty networks available only three required some method of payment and/or a WEP. Total freedom on all th rest. I sat on "Linksys" for about an hour and a half and no hint of being kicked off or speed reducing, or anything like that.

SO what are network owners thinking about when installing these wi-fi networks? Here is an opportunity, to go and seek fees for educating network owners about the vulnerability of their wi-fi networks. Trouble is, a network connection like this is quite difficult to identify the owner/provider. There are tall buildings, offices, and homes all around here.

WHAT about your network? Have you secured it?