automagically connect to open ap's
 

the thing that bugs me most about internet tablet is why do I have to manually select AP every time I want to connect? It is okay for a laptop, but from convergence device as it is I would have expected that by the time I unlock my n810 it already found open network with best signal and verified that it's not one of those paid APs e.g. it's possible to resolve dns and make tcp connections to remote servers...

is there any reason it can't be done?

Re: automagically connect to open ap's
 

Maybe because it's (potentially) illegal? Unless the owner allows you to access their network, you are breaking the law by using some random wireless network. Hence, the described behavior would be quite undesirable. At least you should make the conscientious decision to break the law.

Re: automagically connect to open ap's
 

Or how about that most open AP's I've found are crap. They are broken, or are VPN'ed, are captive portals, or a million other little things.

Re: automagically connect to open ap's
 

I leave open 3 ap's for many reasons ,and if people wanna take the chance to connect and look up something or find directions or any other info, im all for an open network. i get through some free advertising on while they get the pleasure of logging on to the net. If yah got it, share it. If your worried about getting hacked or used secure your wifi network!

Re: automagically connect to open ap's
 

I set a bunch of default ap names as trusted..
like linksys, belkin, defalut, etc..

that way it automatically associates if it finds any of those..
not perfect.. but many times my Nokia will lock onto a random one and have new email waiting for me when I didn't even realize that it had a connection.

Re: automagically connect to open ap's
 

Make sure it IS using SSL though. Or else you might get more than you bargained for...

Re: automagically connect to open ap's
 

ok, so here are arguments against doing so:
1. legality
2. quality
3. security

it is first time I hear that connecting to open network is illegal, care to provide link to laws that forbid that? so while #1 is highly doubtful it is also hardest to solve technically.

#2 makes a little sense to me - i'm regularily playing with my n810 while commuting and it is always able to find several open ap's with decent signal quality even from the street.

#3 is a serious issue but it doesn't matter whether we connect automatically or manually, risk is still the same. use of application level security is a must those days regardless of connection method.

so all in all pretty lame excuses for not doing great thing.

Re: automagically connect to open ap's
 

Laws regarding unauthoriized access of computers and computer networks are nothing new. It's up to the courts as to whether or not leaving a network unsecured is to permit public access, and the trend seems to be toward "not".

You can dislike it. You can disagree. You can make analogies showing you're in the right. You'll be modded up by the script kiddie wannabes on Slashdot, but a quick Google search shows people being found guilty.

I've no interest in being the guy on the Group W bench for pulling lolcatz through a factory fresh Linksys.

Re: automagically connect to open ap's
 

Most home users who have a wireless router setup by a lazy installer could have an open network. connecting to that open network without permission is illegal. In NY it would be considered theft of services. Consider it is the same as jacking into your neighbors cable or electrical service without permission. Just because there isn't a wire doesn't make it any less illegal. Imagine sitting on your neighbors deck and plugging into his Ethernet jack just because he has one there and freely browsing the internet without permission you should understand that would be illegal. Why would you think its legal to use that same service wirelessly?

Re: automagically connect to open ap's
 

It is also illegal in Arizona to have more than two dildos in a house or to hunt camels. Find this and more Dumb Laws at http://www.dumblaws.com. Also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dumb_laws

So when was last time you asked for permission to connect to wireless network at <insert your local restaurant, cafe, bus stop, ... name>?

Re: automagically connect to open ap's
 

Note the difference between old, unenforced, and unlikely to ever be enforced laws still on the books and people currently being found guilty of charges.

Re: automagically connect to open ap's
 

I think the user of a device should be the one to decide wether or not he wants to automatically connect to open ap's. That's better than not having this feature, or having it turned on by default like in Windows.

Re: automagically connect to open ap's
 

You missed the point with your flawed analogy. We're not talking idiotic "obscenity" laws-- we're talking theft of services, as has been pointed out very clearly. There is no logical relationship.

And personally, when I check into a hotel that provides unsecured wifi there's a prearranged agreement that I am entitled to that service. Same goes for other businesses. On the other hand, I'm not some freeloading lowlife who's going to squat on the sidewalk and glom onto service to which I'm not entitled. I have no problem with paying for services rendered, overtly or tacitly.

Quite frankly, I don't understand this bizarre mentality that everything should be free regardless of its original cost. Maybe in some hippie utopia, but not in capitalist societies...

I actually think it's great when people do this. However, I would recommend you name the ap something that makes its openness obvious.

I tried leaving mine open for a while, too-- but one of my neighbors decided that I made a great fulltime service provider and he freely tacked his entire network onto mine. Once he got comfortable, I pulled the plug. Unfortunately, he was putting too much a drain on performance.

Re: automagically connect to open ap's
 

Texrat,

While I agree with the sentiment that not everything is, or should be, free I do disagree with the theft of services issue. If I find an open, unencrypted AP with a broadcast SSID I feel that is enough of an invitation to use the service for light work. I would never depend on such networks without a proper invitation from the network owner.

I personally think that connecting to random open AP's is an invitation for trouble, but not for legal reason. Security is my first concern, I would say a majority of open AP's are open because their owners don't know how to operate them, and those are the same people that are infected with who-knows-what and possibly with malware affecting the AP as well.

So I would rather use known WiFi points and BT DUN for gaps rather than make promiscuous connections to every open AP I can find.

Re: automagically connect to open ap's
 

Brontide, I wasn't speaking from opinion, but the logic behind the law.

You can disagree with that rationale all you like, and act as you wish-- just don't be surprised when officers of the law rudely dismiss your personal explanation. ;)

Re: automagically connect to open ap's
 

It'd be interesting to see how they could catch you though. Especially as devices get smaller. I suppose they could find you by MAC address (though that would require talking to the hardware makers as well). But then again there's also MAC spoofing.

Re: automagically connect to open ap's
 

People have been and are being caught now.

Re: automagically connect to open ap's
 

Yes, but how? With laptops, it's rather easy to identify (well it also depends on where the AP is. If it's in a crowded area it's alot harder then finding someone squatting in front of your house).

But with the penetration of devices into everyone's lives as they become more pocketsized, I wonder how people get caught. As far as I can recall right now, when you connect to an AP, the router gets information. But the only information I can think of that could be useful is the MAC address (which is supposedly unique for every networked hardware). But like I said, you can spoof them.

Unless router's also get things like the FCC approval ID or something like that?

Re: automagically connect to open ap's
 

Actually in NY it's quite legal ( except in westchester ) ;) . In other states any decent defense lawyer could get the case thrown out because very few states specifically define what "unauthorized access" means if people decided to fight, but most pled to a simple fine if they were convicted at all.

A few enlightened states are even moving to push the burden to the WiFi operator such as California and New Hampshire, with more states following suit. Due to proliferation of WiFi devices more states will have to deal with the issue of open networks. They can choose to criminalize what is the default behavior for most Wifi devices or they can choose to blame the AP operator when they, ignorant or not, leave access open.

Re: automagically connect to open ap's
 

brontide, understood-- I was generalizing in reference to where it is illegal. Sorry... I thought that would be self-obvious.

I expect this issue to eventually be elevated to, and resolved at, the federal level here in the US... one way or another.

Re: automagically connect to open ap's
 

Well, I checked up on that dumblaw.com site, for a number of countries, and for some of them every law listed as "dumb" wasn't dumb at all. And for some countries some laws _are_ dumb, but I don't know what's wrong about a law against peeing in an elevator..
And I for one would welcome a law in my country making it illegal to throw chewed bubble gum on the sidewalk.