Wireless (In)security
Jan. 2, 2005
This vacation is the first I have ever taken with Kim's new wireless-enabled laptop. At each stop, I pull out the laptop and search for unsecured access points nearby. So far, I have been able to connect to the Internet at every single place we have stopped. Kim's mom's house, Kim's dad's house, even Kim's dad's workshop all had someone nearby running an unsecured AP. Most of them at least changed the default password on their routers, but the one near Kim's mother's home didn't. I could have easily made the router inaccessible to its owner, but work perfectly for me.
I have to say I do appreciate the free Internet access. Kim's mother only has dial-up, and even with broadband I would rather connect with my linux enabled laptop than borrow a pc from a relative. Without the unknowing kindness of neighbors, I might not even have been able to write this post.