up vote 2 down vote favorite
share [g+] share [fb]

Our small store has for years put up an open unencrypted wireless router with the SSID storename-public, as a community service, with the 'public' in the SSID so that users would know not to transmit sensitive info across it.

Recently we noticed a dramatic slowdown and realized someone nearby has put up an extender with the SSID storename-public_EXT.

We have several problems with this:

  • The first being of course the impact on our own throughput.
  • Another problem is the possibility that they are actually capturing private info and we will get the bad rep.
  • The third problem is the simple fact that they are using our network in an unauthorised manner.

We'd like to keep the open wireless up. Is there a way to block the extender without requiring passwords on our own router? What would be the effect of changing our SSID to something 32 chars long; would that stymie their extender? The extender apparently clones our own MAC address so I can't block that.

link|improve this question
Where do you live? What model is your router? – KCotreau Jul 23 '11 at 13:30
2  
Regarding private info - blocking extenders really won't help with that. WiFi is just radio waves, after all, and anyone with a laptop can capture traffic. – grawity Jul 23 '11 at 13:45
1  
Major issue is not really the possible capturing of private info - if someone is dumb enough to transmit over a network that says it is public it's their own risk. The essence of the private info issue is (1) the extender spreads the availability of the private info beyond our own building and (2) it has our name associated with it. For that matter I don't even know if it's possible for them to independently capture data sent via the extender. The main problem for us is not the private info issue it's the bandwidth burden. – Richard Jul 23 '11 at 14:43
1  
As @KCotreau said, it would help to know more about your hardware. This essentially determines which options you have from your router's side. – slhck Jul 23 '11 at 15:27
As @grawity said, I was not even sure you could limit this, but I still wanted to know more before I was committal. – KCotreau Jul 23 '11 at 15:36
show 1 more comment
feedback

1 Answer

up vote 2 down vote

Can't see how you can do much about this unless you implement some form of user or device access control - check the options in your router's setup. If you are offering a free wifi service, some access management companies, for example Worldspot, will give you a free account to setup a ticketed access system, although you will have to check whether your internet access device is compatible - it certainly works with anything running DD-WRT

As an aside there are legal implications in many countries in offering a public wifi hotspot so do make sure you know your obligations and liabilities.

link|improve this answer
We live in Vermont. Router is a Rosewill 54M - a $39 Newegg special that replaced a multi hundred dollar Netgear that lasted exactly 6 months, a couple of years ago and has soldiered on gamely ever since. It has very few utilities built in. We're aware that public networks are risky and are willing to assume that, but don't want some third party extending that risk without our input. – Richard Jul 23 '11 at 19:58
I'm willing to buy a more elaborate router that might have settings that could accomplish this (block the extender) if someone has knowledge of such. – Richard Jul 24 '11 at 4:06
feedback

Your Answer

 
or
required, but never shown
discard

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.