EFF To Unveil Open Wireless Router For Open Wireless Movement 184
hypnosec writes A new movement dubbed the Open Wireless Movement is asking users to open up their private Wi-Fi networks to total strangers – a random act of kindness – with an aim of better securing networks and facilitating better use of finite broadband resources. The movement is supported by non-profit and pro-internet rights organizations like the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), Mozilla, Open Rights Group, and Free Press among others. The EFF is planning to unveil one such innovation – Open Wireless Router – at the Hackers on Planet Earth (HOPE X) conference to be held next month on New York. This firmware will allow individuals to share their private Wi-Fi to total strangers to anyone without a password.
Reckless (Score:5, Insightful)
Recommending this to users who don't know exactly what they are doing can only be described as reckless. Without significant changes to the law and/or the way the internet works, opening up your network to complete strangers is a minefield and a lawsuit waiting to happen, even if you keep the public Wifi separate and only allow internet access. Please don't put "civilians" at risk to further your cause.
I am fine with sharing as long as QoS and firewall (Score:5, Insightful)
I am fine with sharing my network and wi-fi bandwidth, as long as two conditions are met
1. That the open public Wi-Fi is QoS, so it cannot max out my connection, and starve my own private WPA2/AES wi-fi of needed bandwidth (So yes, I will share, but am gonna be a bit frugal on how much I am willing to share. Don't want someone streaming HD movies for free, but email and regular web browsing bandwidth is OK.)
2. That the open Wi-Fi is fully firewalled and separate from my own home network.
Problem #1: Usage Cap (Score:5, Insightful)
My current router allows me to grant guest access to my cable modem with no fear of the guests accessing my local network. Unfortunately thanks to Netflix and Amazon, I'm barely staying within my usage cap with Comcast as it is. Comcast is looking for any excuse to automatically "upgrade" my monthly service for an additional fee, and I'm not going to make that possible by giving away free internet access.
Don't do it in totalitarian USA (Score:1, Insightful)
This country is out of control. No other country on Earth puts large number of its own citizens in jails. Streets are filled with security forces like in some banana republic.
Two of my sons are welcomed by cop at the entrance to school. It is the same at grocery shop and movie theater. Police is buying military equipment and heavily trained forces in Iraq are under direct control of Washington administration in case people will unleash their unhappiness on the street.
North Korea man, it is freaking North Korea.
Re:Problem #1: Usage Cap (Score:5, Insightful)
Problem #2: Liability
In my country, the owner of a router can be held liable for the data transmitted throught it. If some anonymous user uses an open WiFi connection to download child pornography or hacks the pentagon servers, the owner of the router can be held atleast partly responsible. I don't know about regulations in the USA, but I'd damn well make certain the law protects the owner of a router before advising them to open up the connection.
Re:Reckless (Score:5, Insightful)
This. If I didn't have to worry about people torrenting movies or downloading kiddie porn, I'd be happy to share some bandwidth. Unfortunately, the real world dictates I not even consider this.
Re:Reckless (Score:4, Insightful)
Just wait till someone sends a bomb threat using your Wifi and you find police at your doorstep wanting to arrest you! The legal framework and the enlightened enforcement do not exist as yet for sharing your internet connection safely with strangers.
Re:Doesn't this violate TOS? (Score:2, Insightful)
Frankly, if ISP's want to prevent overuse of their networks they should impose transfer caps. Within those caps it shouldn't matter whether I want to deliver my own bits or bits on behalf of someone else.
Re:Doesn't this violate TOS? (Score:4, Insightful)
I'm sure at least some ISPs stipulate in their terms of service that a subscriber cannot provide internet access to the general public without upgrading to some other (more expensive) plan. Surely we can move towards a more secure internet without strongly hinting that people should violate their contracts.
I pay for my bandwidth. What I do with it once I've paid for it is none of my ISP's goddamned business. They aren't my parents, they aren't the government, they aren't the police. They're service providers. So let them provide the service that's paid for, then shut the hell up. If they don't like it they can suck eggs, because I ALREADY PAID FOR IT.
I am literally a block away from my ISP. I've been running an open access point for more than 5 years. And it's a good signal... they can probably see it in their office.