How do hotel hotspots work?

mashugly · 10-02-2004

I'm new to wardriving and the whole wifi scene, and I've picked up a lot hotel wireless hotspots that you have to pay for. This is the kind where you bring up IE and it takes you to their homepage where you pay for the wireless service. I was just wondering how they have their systems set up - WAP? WEP? MAC filtering? Combination? How do they know who has paid and who hasn't? Don't worry, I'm not going to crack their networks (I wouldn't know where to begin)- I'm just legitimately curious. Thanks for the info!

Clyde Vargus2 · 10-02-2004

I imagine you'd have to pay for the internet access at the front desk and they give you a password good for a day or something like that.

Mr.White · 10-02-2004

Google for "captive portal".

10-02-2004	#1 (permalink)
mashugly Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 3	How do hotel hotspots work? I'm new to wardriving and the whole wifi scene, and I've picked up a lot hotel wireless hotspots that you have to pay for. This is the kind where you bring up IE and it takes you to their homepage where you pay for the wireless service. I was just wondering how they have their systems set up - WAP? WEP? MAC filtering? Combination? How do they know who has paid and who hasn't? Don't worry, I'm not going to crack their networks (I wouldn't know where to begin)- I'm just legitimately curious. Thanks for the info!

10-02-2004	#3 (permalink)
Mr.White OH such tacos will I give Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,049	Google for "captive portal". __________________ A good way to threaten somebody is to light a stick of dynamite. Then you call the guy and hold the burning fuse up to the phone. "Hear that?" you say. "That's dynamite, baby." -Jack Handey

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

10-02-2004	#2 (permalink)
Clyde Vargus2 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 28	I imagine you'd have to pay for the internet access at the front desk and they give you a password good for a day or something like that.