Aaron Schwartz explains why I run an open access point in my apartment. All my systems are secure, so if someone wants to leach a bit of cable bandwidth off me, I'm fine with that.

Sadly, people keep talking about how wireless networks are "insecure" and "open to attack" and how we should secure them, to keep people out. In fact, we should do just the opposite: we should secure them to let people in.

Exactly

Posted by jzawodn at December 31, 2002 09:31 AM

Reader Comments
# Dave Smith said:

Aaron misses a key point: The "attack" can be indirect. Someone using your wireless can either cause you to violate your provider's terms of service, or they can do something using your broadband connection that gets traced back to you, resulting in the police showing up at your door instead of theirs.

on December 31, 2002 09:51 AM
# Stewart Vardaman said:

I tend to agree with Dave on this. I'm not much worried about someone getting into my PCs through the AP, but some bozo sending spam from my IP address, or using my AP to hack other people's stuff.

on December 31, 2002 04:42 PM
# Gerald said:

Isn't it like opening your house and let people come in? And as you have installed safety locks and other security building measures you are sure that nobody will abuse or break into your facilities. I don't feel confident when housebreakers and other guests with lock pickers in the jacket make their house visit.

on January 3, 2003 05:30 AM
# Jim said:

Jeremy,
I am having problems with my Wireless network. Is this the right forum to discuss.

on August 28, 2003 06:18 PM
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