War Driving

[pacmania_2001]

Stumbled across a few articles about war driving and was interested to know if anyone here does it?

Anyone got some good links to a newbies guide on it?

[Capmaster]

What is war driving?

[bugster]

What is war driving?

Driving round with a Laptop and WiFi equipment look for unsecured access points.

[Guest]

I do just for my own use. I dont publish the coordiantes.

[Treebeard]

Never done it but I heard the program net stumbler would be helpful.

[Guest]

Never done it but I heard the program net stumbler would be helpful.

Thats the one I use.Good program.

[DVD_Ripper]

What is war driving?

Driving round with a Laptop and WiFi equipment look for unsecured access points.

And what would be done with these 'unsecured access points' Theft of service, data ... ?? I can't see anything good coming from this activity

[pacmania_2001]

How hard is it to setup your computer to do it? I might be getting an iPAQ or laptop for uni work so I thought I might as well check it out.

Purely out of curiousity, not malice.

[Guest]

What is war driving?

Driving round with a Laptop and WiFi equipment look for unsecured access points.

And what would be done with these 'unsecured access points' Theft of service, data ... ?? I can't see anything good coming from this activity

I just use it for an access point. I dont dig into the network drives.


Pac-Its real easy to set up.

[pacmania_2001]

Alright so I've done some more browsing about the subject.

What I understand so far on the subject is that you roam around the place with a computer or PDA which are WiFi enabled and using special software that picks up on networks (both secure and unsecure) in the area.

My question is, what happens after you detect these unsecure access points? Can you just connect to the network or do you have to enter settings so that your computer is configured to use that network or do you need specialised software?

[handyguy]

If the network isnt secure, then you can use it. Ever been to Starbucks? They have a network there.

[pacmania_2001]

Nope. Never used a wireless network before. They aren't that prevelant around here except for places like universities and in private homes.

[Conquest10]

You don't even need any special software. Well, at least I don't think so. I don't have any. I got a Centrino lappy. When it picks up a signal, it just asks you if you want to connect.

[tekkieman]

Honestly, if the user hasn't secured the connection, and you're only using the bandwidth, not snooping the network, or using the bandwidth for something malicious, I say "why not?".

[Treebeard]

If the user hasnt secured the network, then he shouldnt be running wireless. If they arent securing it, then its an invitation to ride their bandwidth.

[Guest]

If the user hasnt secured the network, then he shouldnt be running wireless. If they arent securing it, then its an invitation to ride their bandwidth.

Honestly, if the user hasn't secured the connection, and you're only using the bandwidth, not snooping the network, or using the bandwidth for something malicious, I say "why not?".

Ditto. I really dont feel bad about using bandwitdth. I had my security down for a week before I had time to reset it. I saw one of my neighbors was bandjacking and it didnt really bother me.

Pac-I think it depends on the deviceSome need their own drivers but most can use window drivers. As far as settings,these are usually minimal.Depending on your defaults,it might not connect to an unsecured netork for security reasons.U just have to manually ok this.

[stiltman]

Been war driving for about 2 years

We used to paint the edge of the curb. 90% of our fun too place in the downtown sector. You wouldn't believe all the unsecured netorks that were around a 1 1/2 years ago. They're a little harder to come by now. (I actually stopped doing it about 6 months ago). It became too much of a pain sniffing MAC and hacking their basic security. I used netstumbler for awhile too.

OT, I had an interview with a financial company about 9 month ago for Dir. of IT. During my visit I noticed that they had access points mounted to the cieling on just about evey floor. I ask if the access points were on a seperate network or behind a wirewall. They told me they had a Cisco VAR come in and install it for them. I asked them if I could try to gain access to their network from the parking lot. They said sure, I also requested that one of their staff be with me so as to cover my arse just in case I could get access, and that I didn't do anything to their data.

Took me about a half hour to plop a text document on the guys (CIO) desktop. I came back later for a third round of interviews and the wireless was removed from the building. I didn't get the job. Later I found out that it was the CIO that had them install the wireless systems throughout the building.

[Guest]

Been war driving for about 2 years

We used to paint the edge of the curb. 90% of our fun too place in the downtown sector. You wouldn't believe all the unsecured netorks that were around a 1 1/2 years ago. They're a little harder to come by now. (I actually stopped doing it about 6 months ago). It became too much of a pain sniffing MAC and hacking their basic security. I used netstumbler for awhile too.

OT, I had an interview with a financial company about 9 month ago for Dir. of IT. During my visit I noticed that they had access points mounted to the cieling on just about evey floor. I ask if the access points were on a seperate network or behind a wirewall. They told me they had a Cisco VAR come in and install it for them. I asked them if I could try to gain access to their network from the parking lot. They said sure, I also requested that one of their staff be with me so as to cover my arse just in case I could get access, and that I didn't do anything to their data.

Took me about a half hour to plop a text document on the guys (CIO) desktop. I came back later for a third round of interviews and the wireless was removed from the building. I didn't get the job. Later I found out that it was the CIO that had them install the wireless systems throughout the building.

How secure is MAC filtering?

[pacmania_2001]

So do you guys use external antennas to boost your signal or do you just rely on the internal antenna to acquire your access points?

What setup do you use?

[Guest]

So do you guys use external antennas to boost your signal or do you just rely on the internal antenna to acquire your access points?

What setup do you use?

Buy external do u mean a PCMIA card?

[Treebeard]

So do you guys use external antennas to boost your signal or do you just rely on the internal antenna to acquire your access points?

What setup do you use?

Buy external do u mean a PCMIA card?

No i think he is referring to roof antenna for car, or some sore of home made antenna (cantenna)

[pacmania_2001]

What Treebeard said.

[Conquest10]

I use the intenal. I get faster speeds on the jacked signal than on my dsl connection!

stiltman, that's messed up man. You should have gotten that job.

[Capmaster]

OT, I had an interview with a financial company about 9 month ago for Dir. of IT. During my visit I noticed that they had access points mounted to the cieling on just about evey floor. I ask if the access points were on a seperate network or behind a wirewall. They told me they had a Cisco VAR come in and install it for them. I asked them if I could try to gain access to their network from the parking lot. They said sure, I also requested that one of their staff be with me so as to cover my arse just in case I could get access, and that I didn't do anything to their data.

Took me about a half hour to plop a text document on the guys (CIO) desktop. I came back later for a third round of interviews and the wireless was removed from the building. I didn't get the job. Later I found out that it was the CIO that had them install the wireless systems throughout the building.

Is there such a thing as being "too good" at what you do? They should have at least hired you as a wireless security consultant

[Guest]

Ditto.Thats all you really need.

[D_Knife]

Nope. Never used a wireless network before. They aren't that prevelant around here except for places like universities and in private homes.

Pac I'm pretty sure your in Brisbane yeah?
There are a couple of networks around the Paddo Pub
At least there were a month or so anyway...
I think they are unsecured personal networks
Grab a cheapo USB card from officeworks - they are about the cheapest in Bris and check it out

[DVD_Ripper]

OT, I had an interview with a financial company about 9 month ago for Dir. of IT. During my visit I noticed that they had access points mounted to the cieling on just about evey floor. I ask if the access points were on a seperate network or behind a wirewall. They told me they had a Cisco VAR come in and install it for them. I asked them if I could try to gain access to their network from the parking lot. They said sure, I also requested that one of their staff be with me so as to cover my arse just in case I could get access, and that I didn't do anything to their data.

Took me about a half hour to plop a text document on the guys (CIO) desktop. I came back later for a third round of interviews and the wireless was removed from the building. I didn't get the job. Later I found out that it was the CIO that had them install the wireless systems throughout the building.

Is there such a thing as being "too good" at what you do? They should have at least hired you as a wireless security consultant

I agree... .you made the CIO look like a fool .... He thought he was all that and then some... you should have dropped a "pic" in his windows folder and changed his desktop background

[pacmania_2001]

Nope. Never used a wireless network before. They aren't that prevelant around here except for places like universities and in private homes.

Pac I'm pretty sure your in Brisbane yeah?
There are a couple of networks around the Paddo Pub
At least there were a month or so anyway...
I think they are unsecured personal networks
Grab a cheapo USB card from officeworks - they are about the cheapest in Bris and check it out

Will do. I thought I might stumble across a few if I ventured into the inner city more.

Just gotta find a cheap laptop now to go roaming with.

[Guest]

Many places like restaurants and bars have these intentionally unsecure so you will come in and use them. do a search to find some in your area.

btw- you dont need a laptop to do this. They make a $30 key chain that alerts u to wireless networks.
http://www.marware.com/WiFySpy.html

[Doramius]

Most Starbucks have it available. Even some Quizno's, Applebee's, Chili's, and a few of the local coffee shops here have them unsecured on purpose. It brings in customers who buy coffee and food. I have mine set up unsecured at home unless I'm doing something that needs a lot of bandwidth. Then I'll secure it, get my downloads done quickly and open it up again. It doesn't bother me at all. I pay $30 a month, might as well get every penny out of it. If I felt like being a dick, I could secure it and charge my neighbors for their use. But I don't want to get caught subletting. I have other firewall protections to keep people off of my computers, so again, the bandwidth use is not a big issue to me.