Remember: Internet piggybacking (using Wi-fi connection without the owner's permission) is illegal almost all over the world. I suggest You to find a legal way to browse the Web.
I'm not referring to the use of the Internet by a customer of a hot-spot providing a Wi-fi access, such as a hotel or cafe. Many such locations provide wireless Internet service either with or without an extra charge.
I'm talking about many people leaving their Wi-Fi access-point unsecured (no password required to gain access to that network) allowing you to use it to surf the Internet.
There are two common reasons why Internet users have the motivation to piggyback:
- they can't afford a monthly subscription to an Internet service or they are regular subscribers to their own service, but they are away from home
- they do not have their own connection available at all or at an agreeable cost.
Less often, a user will piggyback in order to mask illegal activity, such as downloading illegal material or to engage in identity theft. Thanks to these users the concern regarding the practice of piggyback is raising.
Once you start piggybacking and connect your computer to a Local Area Network by cable or using a Wireless connection you are revealing a lot of details of your computer. You may think that if someone isn't protecting their Wi-Fi connection, there's a good chance that they won't even realize you're stealing their connection and that they must not be very bright since didn't secure the network.
But now imagine that the user who is giving you the access calls a friend (more expert) to secure its network and to find out who is the "bad guy" that has stolen his bandwidth.
What can be discovered about you from a computer expert just using tools (like port scanners and packet sniffers) available on Internet ? The answer is: enough details that could take you to court (in case that the connection's owner decides to sue someone for "stealing bandwidth"):
- your Wireless card unique MAC address
- your computer name (you can discover it here)
- the name of the Windows user logged on
- if you left your Windows Administrator password blank (none) he/she can have total access to your hard disk. This also happens if you created a Windows user with administrative privileges but without setting its password
- if you decide to use this connection to buy something or to access your email account, your credit card number and your online passwords could be discovered too
- your windows serial number
So, how can i just piggyback and Relax ?
- Don't use your computer wireless card, buy a USB Wireless Adapter and disable your internal Wi-fi card. Probably you have already read about changing the MAC address of your Wireless card. Don't do it.
Buying a wireless USB card and leaving its MAC address unchanged makes you more "innocent": changing a Wi-fi card's MAC address could be seen as an astute and blamable behaviour to hide your identity. - Don't pay your equipment with credit card. Buying a USB Wireless Adapter with credit card creates a clear link between you and your Wi-fi card.
- If you didn't pay your laptop computer with cash or you did register it with your real name to the manufacturer in order to activate the warranty you have to reinstall windows using a different serial number. There is a link between the Windows OEM Version you found pre-installed and your computer. With your Windows licence serial number it's possible to find out what is your computer serial number (and vice-versa).
- If you can't surf without writing your password around, protect you against traffic analysis attacks surfing (anonymously but slowly) with TOR. You can download TorPack he re.
- Don't use too much bandwidth downloading illegal material with P2P or Bittorrent
