How to get into a Wireless Network

[oneblackcombdrive]

I just got a wireless adapter for my notebook, and I would like to know how I can join someone elses netowrk. There are a lot of business in my area and I know some of them have open networks.

[oneblackcombdrive]

No, they are open networks. There is one a Starbucks but I can't seem to get into it.

[Knight']

Ok so they are open, you just can't get into them? This either means they're not open, on a different band to you.

Edited April 27, 2004 by FlishFun

[inz0]

i was setting up my wireless router lastnight at my new place and accidently kept connecting to someone's router nearby b/c they had their ssid as linksys and i had it set in my settings b/c of a lan at my friends.

[Hell-In-A-Handbasket]

starbucks also has directions on how to connect to their network, i know this for a fact.

and because he said " There are a lot of business in my area and I know some of them have open networks. " hes not talking about starbucks

[oneblackcombdrive]

  Knight said:

Ok so they are open, you just can't get into them? This either means they're not open or you're just to dumb to connect to it.

Dude what is your problem. This is where people go for help. I'm not hacking anything so just cool yourself down. If you don't like the question, take yourself on to another part of the board. :no:

[FlishFun Veteran]

Be nice, this is about legal hotspots, NOT hacking. I've removed and edited the offtopic posts.

[Knight']

What did I *just* say?? - FlishFun

[oneblackcombdrive]

See this is why I don't like coming here. I ask a question, and get flammed for it. Just forget it.

[SintaX]

Wireless cards would only have an SSID if it were running in AD-HOC mode, also.. most client software tools scan all channels, so being on a different 'band' is not a problem, it would adjust to connect, but if a router or AP doesn't have DHCP on, you either might have to get lucky guessing that information to specify depending on the manufacturer of the device, or if it does have DHCP you're in luck and if the signal is strong enough you will connect and it will assign you an IP and you're good to go, and like someone else mentioned, Netstumbler is a nice tool to 'scan' for networks in range of your card, but it doesn't connect for you, it simply scans, and I don't think you can connect with any other software while netstumbler is in scan mode, you can just tell it to stop, then try to connect. www.wardriving.com is a good site that maybe can get you started whether you want to just drive around and surf the net or not =] I like to walk around with my iPaq and surf the web heh

[+John Teacake MVC]

Im sure I posted in here before ???

[ThunderRiver]

Typeically, minimally secured routers have MAC address filter, so even if they broadcast their network SSID (or so called Open network), you still can't get in there.

Net Stumbler 0.4.0 will not get you anywhere inside the network. It will just tell you that there is an access point and its signal strength is such and such.

There is no known Windows hacking tools to sniff the authorized MAC address (maybe Ethereal). The most famous Airsnort on BSD/*NIX platforms will take a significant amount of time to crack WEP depending on the number of authorized users on the network. If the target network only has 4 or less authorized users on it, chances are, it will take more than 6 month before you can crack into it. (Note that's the case for routers with WEP enabled).

For MAC filter based routers, it should take less time to get in, but it still going to take time. Besides, there can be only one machine with exact MAC address to access the network. If the authorized user has his or her machine closest to the AP, you would have no chance of getting in until they are offline.

For intro, you can check out the video from thebroken.org and they have a little tutorial on it.

There is no such thing as Open Network unless the routers don't even have WEP or MAC filter enabled. If that's the case, Windows Xp should be able to login to the network automatically. No changes to SSID is necessary.

[idbuythatforadollar]

If you are looking at how hard it would be to crack your own network, then I suggest AirSnort. Google it.

[ThunderRiver]

  oneblackcombdrive said:

See this is why I don't like coming here. I ask a question, and get flammed for it. Just forget it.

What do you expect really? It has been this way with Neowin for a long time. I got banned before. That's how awesome this place is.

So my advice to you is that stop complaining. You ask a question and ignore the flame. If no answers replied, give it up. Neowin is not the only place on earth.

[PseudoRandomDragon]

Starbucks has their SSID broadcasted with no encryption. If you set the SSID to ANY (all capitals), it will automatically pickup the SSID. T-mobile hot spots and some hotels can be connected in similar ways, but your browser will be redirected to a login site.