Warcabbing in Oakland...

Novilio · 07-19-2002

I see that it's been mentioned here a time or two, but for those who haven't tried it, I recommend it: Next time you have a significant cab ride in the big city, boot the laptop and see what you catch...so you can watch it *while* you catch it.

Driving in Phoenix/Scottsdale is hazard enough without constantly making eye-contact with your laptop screen, so I've been wardriving with the IBM in the back seat and the FAB 4.5 dbi blade hanging from a clear plastic suction cup stuck to the rear window. I can hear NS bonging when it catches something, but I always wait until I'm destinated to see what's in the net.

But this afternoon I was getting clear of a sales meeting in Berkeley and hopped a taxi to the Oakland airport. It's a 25 minute ride, so I booted the IBM and just held the blade up to the cab window (forgot my suction cup!) while propping the laptop up on my knees. It must have looked pretty silly, but it was a fascinating run. 38 APs total, only one third using WEP, and a little less than a quarter having obvious default SSIDs.

Now, all of this was on a white-knuckle run down the center lane of I880 with some maniacal middle-eastern cabbie, and I was surprised at how far away we could be from some of the office buildings and still pick up several APs. It seems to me that I have to be a *lot* closer to a residential AP to pick it up at all, so those guys must have been running amps or something.

The most fascinating thing was watching how quickly they come and go when you're traveling at 70 MPH. Almost Bong! and it's gone.

At one point (I think in the thick of all the bongs) the cabbie looked over his shoulder at me and said something (in a very thick accent) like, "Ahh, you are surfing the wireless Web!" I thought for a second and then said, "Yup." Perhaps at times the obvious is better than the true...

My point: It's very cool to be able to focus on the NS display while the APs come thick and fast. Definitely give it a try sometime if you haven't already.

--73--

--Novilio

blackwave · 07-19-2002

Quote:

Originally posted by Novilio
My point: It's very cool to be able to focus on the NS display while the APs come thick and fast. Definitely give it a try sometime if you haven't already.

Thanks for the experience, I am sure there will be a few people at DefCon's Wardriving Contest or at least to run recon before the contest starts...

zuez2k1 · 08-12-2002

yea i know im live oakland........their are alost of networks here to tap into

07-19-2002	#1 (permalink)
Novilio ScrivenStumbler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 254	Warcabbing in Oakland... I see that it's been mentioned here a time or two, but for those who haven't tried it, I recommend it: Next time you have a significant cab ride in the big city, boot the laptop and see what you catch...so you can watch it while you catch it. Driving in Phoenix/Scottsdale is hazard enough without constantly making eye-contact with your laptop screen, so I've been wardriving with the IBM in the back seat and the FAB 4.5 dbi blade hanging from a clear plastic suction cup stuck to the rear window. I can hear NS bonging when it catches something, but I always wait until I'm destinated to see what's in the net. But this afternoon I was getting clear of a sales meeting in Berkeley and hopped a taxi to the Oakland airport. It's a 25 minute ride, so I booted the IBM and just held the blade up to the cab window (forgot my suction cup!) while propping the laptop up on my knees. It must have looked pretty silly, but it was a fascinating run. 38 APs total, only one third using WEP, and a little less than a quarter having obvious default SSIDs. Now, all of this was on a white-knuckle run down the center lane of I880 with some maniacal middle-eastern cabbie, and I was surprised at how far away we could be from some of the office buildings and still pick up several APs. It seems to me that I have to be a lot closer to a residential AP to pick it up at all, so those guys must have been running amps or something. The most fascinating thing was watching how quickly they come and go when you're traveling at 70 MPH. Almost Bong! and it's gone. At one point (I think in the thick of all the bongs) the cabbie looked over his shoulder at me and said something (in a very thick accent) like, "Ahh, you are surfing the wireless Web!" I thought for a second and then said, "Yup." Perhaps at times the obvious is better than the true... My point: It's very cool to be able to focus on the NS display while the APs come thick and fast. Definitely give it a try sometime if you haven't already. --73-- --Novilio

08-12-2002	#3 (permalink)
zuez2k1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 3	oakland yea i know im live oakland........their are alost of networks here to tap into

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