moral dilemma

While setting up a new dual channel WAP at home I decided to do a little survey of wireless networks around. I live in a fairly densely packed group of apartment blocks, so there are about 10 wireless networks that I can see sitting in my own home.

I checked the security settings on my own home WAP, and then had a minor freak out when I saw an unsecured wireless network with the same MAC address as my own router. Becuase I'd just set up a dual channel WAP I assumed that my existing router was also dual channel and one channel was not secured.

After connecting to the unsecured wireless network I finally realised that it belonged to someone else, who just happened to have exactly the same model of wireless router as me and the MAC address was very similar, not the same. I immediately disconnected.

The moral dilemma is: What should I do here?

Should I try to track down the owner of the unsecured network and help them to enable WPA2, or should I just ignore it and pretent I didn't see anything?

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Comments

netsysllc

Log into their access point/router and change the ssid to something humiliating? where is that option? just kidding

Darril

This is actually quite a common issue, though more and more wireless networks are locked down. In the past, it was common to see as many as 50 percent of the wireless networks running open. You're seeing only 10 percent.

I don't think you have a moral responsibility to track down owners and inform them of unsecured networks. Your assumption is probably correct that the owner doesn't realize the risk and doesn't know how to lock it down. However, it's also possible that the owner is running it in the open on purpose. For example, many businesses run it in the open for customers (though they will typically change the name). Similarly, some owners choose to run it in the open so visitors can easily connect. Also, malicious people have been known to leave wireless networks open to attract users and then capture all their data passing through.

From a moral/legal perspective, users should not use wireless networks that they aren't authorized to use. But since you're setting up your own wireless network, this really doesn't apply to you.

Good luck on your Security+.

Slowhand

I suppose there's a line between trying to be helpful and putting in more effort than it's worth, in a case like this. If I could reasonably guess which neighbor it was, I'd be at their door in a heartbeat to help them out and make sure they don't get taken advantage of. On the other hand, if we're talking a block full of apartment complexes where it would be a logistical nightmare to track this person down without knocking on dozens of doors, I probably wouldn't be as eager to help. Ultimately, it's not your problem and you have no obligation to fix the issue. . . but if you are able and willing to find the owner of the unsecured WAP, there's nothing wrong with doing a good deed for the day.

Roguetadhg

Let it be. Sooner or Later, it'll get changed, probably.

ptilsen

If you feel so inclined, tell them, but I don't feel you have a moral imperative to do something. There are undoubtedly far more serious problems in your community that you could turn your efforts towards, if you're feeling like a good Samaritan.

There's definitely nothing wrong with helping them out, but I wouldn't lose sleep over it.

spicy ahi

I'm late to the party, but agree. If you can reasonably guess where the owner is, then certainly help them out. Putting in more effort than that, while laudable, may not be the best use of your time.

Akaricloud

If you are close with your neighbor then definitely help them out but otherwise you're not obligated to do anything. You could also drive down the street looking for unsecured network owners to help out but would you?

I'd let it be and maybe one day they will learn from their mistake.

Deathgomper

If I knew the neighbor personally I would help them out. I have made the mistake of helping a neighbor I didn't know very well in an apartment complex I lived in. It didn't take long and people I didn't even know (just knew of) were asking for help with every little computer problem they had. I put an end to it and was pretty much labeled an arse by some of the residents. I really could care less about what neighbors think of me but the whole drama and dealing with it up to that point sucked. I vowed to not let that happen again.

Psoasman

If it was one of my neighbors, I would point it out to them and let them take it from there.

draught

There's an open network in my neighborhood with the SSID of P00P00H3AD it's kinda of annoying to see on the wireless network list. Point is someone is going to end up messing with their network eventually and it's not your problem just leave it be.

pumbaa_g

My vote is to tell them in person so that they can change it. You never know how it could be misused so its always better to let the owner know about it. Most of the time they don't really know what they are doing and the consequences.
On the flip side you may meet someone interesting, any Victoria's secret models staying nearby?

lsud00d

Setup MAC filtering by time of day

Glyphic83

My personal opinion is that this should be left alone. You could be opening a whole can of worms here that you don't want to deal with, ranging from this neighbor coming to you with every IT problem under the sun (like what happened with Deathgomper) to them simply not trusting that you're acting with good intentions. You could very well find yourself in a situation where the neighbor believes that you're trying to scam them in some way, and no amount of explaining that you do will convince them otherwise (I've had this one happen as a result of attempting to help people).

panik

Darril wrote: »

Good luck on your Security+.

Thanks Darril, I am taking my exam tomorrow, and have been using your books and the 'Learn Zapp' android apps for studying

Sounds like the concensus is to ignore the open WAP, which is what I'm going to do.

joshmadakor

Cancel your own internet and use theirs for free.