Unsecured WiFi router: should I try to let the owner know?

[joeekaitis]

 

 

 

Cathy's MacBook was connected to the internet just fine but she couldn't print to our WiFi laser printer. The MacBook had connected to an unsecured router in the neighborhood. After fixing her connection I used my computer to examine the unsecured router and was able to access the owner's DSL modem. I don't know if the owner is still using the email address associated with the DSL provider's login but should I try to let the owner know via email that the router is wide open?

 

[wayupnorth]

Unsecured is dangerous

All routers should be password protected. Someone could get your sensitive info very easy, like banking. And the password should be very hard to decode to someone other than you. If you know who this person may be, yes, I would inform them.

 

[joeekaitis]

 

 

Well, since my WiFi is well-secured and he won't be able to trace me back, I guess I should be a good Netizen (did I just type that?  Dear gawd) and try.

 

[mattl]

Some people leave their routers open on purpose.

 

[joeekaitis]

 

 

 

This one had been secured but is now wide open as if the owner secured it but didn't disable WiFi remote administration and someone got in and reset it to factory defaults.

 

[qualin]

It's a very simple solution.

If you can see the router, you may actually be able to administrate it. The default address is 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 on these routers. You can find the default password for it on the net. Usually something like "linksys" or "password".

If you can administrate it, you can set a few passwords up on behalf of the owner. Like, "IWILLNOTLEAVEMYROUTEROPEN"

> Someone could get your sensitive info very easy, like banking.

Actually, that's not true. That's not the problem. The problem is that a person who is using it could be using the internet connection to download really illegal things, like Child Pornography. It's very difficult to sniff HTTPS traffic.

Now the other issue is that if you have unsecured machines on your network and the gateway is bridging traffic to your LAN, you can face a situation where the person connecting to your wireless gateway can also see the entire contents of your hard drive and any other device. (In theory, being able to print to a network printer.)

There have been cases where the cops have busted down the door of people who had an open wireless gateway because it showed that child pornography was being downloaded from their IP address. It turns out that a really perverted neighbor was downloading it instead because they didn't secure their wireless gateway.

So, while it's great to share your internet connection, no good deed goes unpunished!