In the Chicago Tribune today (free registration required):
About 90 percent of the free wireless broadband connections available at O’Hare International Airport are not true Wi-Fi hotspots and some could be traps laid by fraudsters, a computer security firm asserts.
Apparently, what some hackers do is go to the airport, log onto either a free or fee-based broadband connection with their laptop. “The hacker laptop then broadcasts the wireless signal as free Wi-Fi, hoping to lure travelers as they log online to read their e-mail, check their bank balances or otherwise catch up with work.”
If your laptop is set to automatically search for and connect to Wi-Fi, just turning on your computer could allow hackers could steal your info without you even knowing it. I wonder if anyone would try that here in Peoria once muni Wi-Fi is set up….
…and those hackers have purchased tickets so that they can get past security and into the secured areas of the very long ORD terminals? WiFi doesn’t broadcast far enough for this to be a real story. Sounds bogus as everyone knows ORD doesn’t have have any free Wifi.
I totally believe it. 90% seems a little (lot) high, but I’ve read of similar things happening at Starbucks and other ‘internet cafes’.
I think it would be better if they just handed out free newspapers at the terminals.
No no no! Free universal WiFi is the key to solving all of the world’s problems!
You’re right, Vonster… you’re absolutely right. I should know better, but once in a while, my archaic limestone lined thoughts just go, well… they go “retro.”
Free Wi-Fi INDEED will cure all of the world’s ills… the sooner it hits us, the better. Because, as everyone is aware, you can trust EVERYTHING on the internet, so the sooner we lay it in EVERYONE’S laps, the sooner World Peace will be here.
Bill’s gonna think we’re being “snarky”.