A Map of Wireless Passwords from Airports and Lounges

#1

Post by tzury » Thu, Aug 02, 2018, 4:42 AM UTC

A Map of Wireless Passwords from Airports and Lounges
foxnomad.com

Re: A Map of Wireless Passwords from Airports and Lounges

#2

Post by dfcowell » Fri, Aug 03, 2018, 6:03 AM UTC

Sites and tools like this simply encourage lounge operators, vendors and airports to add captive portals or SMS verification and make getting access to wifi harder.

Re: A Map of Wireless Passwords from Airports and Lounges

#3

Post by batiudrami » Fri, Aug 03, 2018, 6:08 AM UTC

Is there an android solution to automate registering and accepting T&Cs for free wifi? The log in process and unreliable connection make them barely worth using.

Re: A Map of Wireless Passwords from Airports and Lounges

#4

Post by izacus » Fri, Aug 03, 2018, 6:14 AM UTC

dfcowell wrote: post #2

Sites and tools like this simply encourage lounge operators, vendors and airports to add captive portals or SMS verification and make getting access to wifi harder.

Why? Why would an airport make connecting to the free WiFi they offer harder?

Re: A Map of Wireless Passwords from Airports and Lounges

#5

Post by jpatokal » Fri, Aug 03, 2018, 6:24 AM UTC

izacus wrote: post #4

dfcowell wrote: post #2

Sites and tools like this simply encourage lounge operators, vendors and airports to add captive portals or SMS verification and make getting access to wifi harder.

Why? Why would an airport make connecting to the free WiFi they offer harder?

Lounges often have wifi meant for guests only, and the bandwidth can't cope with everybody in the airport using it.

Re: A Map of Wireless Passwords from Airports and Lounges

#6

Post by jarofgreen » Fri, Aug 03, 2018, 6:26 AM UTC

Any comments on the tech behind this?

(I've done a few projects crowd sourcing and distributing information like this and I'm currently thinking about some tools in this space, hence my curiosity.)

Re: A Map of Wireless Passwords from Airports and Lounges

#7

Post by akerro » Fri, Aug 03, 2018, 6:31 AM UTC

batiudrami wrote: post #3

Is there an android solution to automate registering and accepting T&Cs for free wifi? The log in process and unreliable connection make them barely worth using.

I've seen an app for this in FDroid.

Re: A Map of Wireless Passwords from Airports and Lounges

#8

Post by peteretep » Fri, Aug 03, 2018, 6:34 AM UTC

izacus wrote: post #4

dfcowell wrote: post #2

Sites and tools like this simply encourage lounge operators, vendors and airports to add captive portals or SMS verification and make getting access to wifi harder.

Why? Why would an airport make connecting to the free WiFi they offer harder?

The WiFi isn't offered by the airports, it's offered by private lounges and restaurants, who offer it as a perk to their paying customers.

Re: A Map of Wireless Passwords from Airports and Lounges

#9

Post by peteretep » Fri, Aug 03, 2018, 6:40 AM UTC

Almost every item I see on here is using private WiFi connections intended for paying or premium customers, and precisely zero ones that are intended to be free.

This would seem to constitute "piggybacking", which is of questionable legality in many places:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legality_of_piggybacking

Given the dubious legality, seems odd to see this on HN.

Re: A Map of Wireless Passwords from Airports and Lounges

#10

Post by maym86 » Fri, Aug 03, 2018, 6:43 AM UTC

dfcowell wrote: post #2

Sites and tools like this simply encourage lounge operators, vendors and airports to add captive portals or SMS verification and make getting access to wifi harder.

I doubt they'll find out and even if they do I doubt they'll go to the effort and expense given the how few people will likely use a site like this vs the numbers of people traveling through an airport.

Even if they all do add some other security then it's just like going back to a time before this site so no great loss. The alternative is to not share the passwords on this site which is effectively the same to anyone trying to get on the wifi for free.