This happened to me last week at O'Hare - and now, today, in LAX. I opened my laptop in the terminal and checked for wireless networks. I noticed that there was a "computer-to-computer" network called "Free Public Wifi" available. I didn't try to connect, because I know that such networks generally can't provide internet access if there's no other connection available. Does this mean there are folks trying to socially engineer gullible wireless users? What could they gain? Would Windows be more vulnerable than Macs? AND how would a curious samaritan figure out who, amongst the dozen or more folks with open laptops in the vicinity, the culprit is?
posted by soulbarn on Feb 23, 2006 - 33 answers

I owe a great debt of gratitude to all the noobs in my neighbourhood who keep open, unsecured wireless networks. It's because of them that we can blog from the laundromat, blog from the waterfront park, blog from... well, you get the idea. How can I make my network 'open' to others without compromising the security of my computers? [more inside]
posted by optimuscrime on Nov 21, 2005 - 35 answers

I'd like to get a handle on computer security. Where should I start? I'd like to stress that I am NOT talking about spyware and viruses here, but the more interesting things like authentication and authorization. [more inside]
posted by ChrisR on Sep 11, 2005 - 13 answers

Secure networking question: I am hoping to set up a remotely accessible wiki running on my home computer, but I'm a networking doofus. [MI] [more inside]
posted by monju_bosatsu on Nov 29, 2004 - 2 answers