racoma.com.phJ. Angelo Racoma on technology, economics, writing, problogging, and getting things done

It’s either you’re not that well-versed in wireless technology or you’re a really generous person. But since your router says “default” as its access point name, I reckon it’s the former!

I’m at our new apartment right now, since we’re transferring some of our stuff (hey, it’s only three houses down after all, so a gradual move would do). I was actually surveying the scene again for active WiFi hotspots and this time I brought the PowerBook, and this time I found a signal. It was a bit weak, though, and it only reached the room facing the back of the lot. Hey, at least I’m connected. And it’s at the right place, since this is where I intend to set up my new home office, anyway.

I got tired of holding the laptop in my arm with the Cardbus (the one that pretends to be an Airport Extreme card because it has a Broadcom chipset ) facing the window, so I thought of using the USB WiFi adaptor instead. The advantage? It’s obvious—I could extend the “antenna” by connecting the adaptor via a USB extender. So if you see a USB dongle dangling off the second-floor window, that’s probably mine.

Repeater

I can theoretically set up the desktop here to connect to the live access point and run the second (PCI) WiFi adaptor as an access point. I’ll then set up Windows NAT sharing so I can share the ‘Net across the computers via WiFi—sort of like a repeater.

Of course, if Bayantel beats me to it, then even better! I’ll be sending in my application forms tomorrow, and hopefully I’ll get connected within a few days. I’m thinking of signing up for the lowest plan for now—PhP 899 per month for the 384 Kbps plan. I’ll only have to add PhP 300 to bundle in the telephone connection.

We’ll be completing the move in a few days. So I won’t have to worry about connectivity for the time being. I’m looking forward to getting better work and living space. Watch out—my productivity meter will be shooting through the roof in the next few weeks. Maybe I’ll get that million-dollar idea by then!

By the way, if you’re wondering about the legal and ethical implications of WiFi leeching (and even leaving unprotected WiFi hotspots out in the open), I have a post about this dating from last year.

In the end, those who own and operate the access points should be
responsible for securing their systems. There are various means
of doing this, such as limiting access to specific MAC addresses, use of WEP, WPA, or even a simple http firewall.

After all, perhaps one of the better wardriving tools is Windows XP’s Wireless Zero Config! So anyone with WinXP SP2 can be a perpetrator, or at least his/her computer has the propensity to.

Isn’t an ounce of prevention better than a pound of cure?

I’m taking a short break from blogging momentarily (and yes, I’ll be offline). A blogger can have writer’s (or blogger’s?) block, too, you know. And I need to catch up on my ZZZs. You may be wondering about the title, as this post’s dated Tuesday, the 16th. Well, let’s just say it’s not the 16th in all parts of the world yet—and my days usually extend well into after midnight, and my body and mind’s clock usually gets confused with this more-than-24-hour day setting (for instance, Sunday was an all-nighter—extending well into Monday).

In the meantime, let me direct you to a few blogs/writeups I find interesting (okay, some of which I’ve written):

• On bTelevisions, I write on my kid, the TV addict.
• Yuga has thoughts on disabling right-clicking (I agree—don’t!).
• Mon talks on social engineering (don’t fall victim to scams!).
• Mikey needs a health check.
• RM talks on the sustainability of regulation.
• Kira muses on beauty and fashion.
• Corsarius is in a void.
• Here’s Ia’s interesting site on, umm, interesting Web 2.0 names.

That’s about it for now. I’m signing off. Hope to see you in a few hours (of course, by the time you read this, I’ll probably be back already).

Global Knowledge Associates will hold a seminar on Ethical Hacking this Friday, March 3, from 1 to 5 p.m.

If you’re interested, please get in touch with Sandra at (632) 637-3657 / 683-0969 or via email at Sandra@globalknowledgeph.com />

Course fee is PhP 500.00 and will include materials, snacks, CD & certificate.

(via email from Sandra Medalla)

Global Knowledge Associates slashes its Ethical Hacking and Countermeasures course fee by almost 60% for Pinoy.tech.blog and the J Spot readers! Check it out at PTB.

Just when you think the only trouble you can get from vieweing pictures on your computer is getting caught by your boss while viewing pics deemed NSFW (or worse, getting caught by your wife), here comes the Windows Metafile (WMF) exploit.

Just any attempt to display images, even those teensy thumbnails (info on which are actually contained in the WMF) makes you vulnerable. You don’t even have to click on anything to be infected. Just viewing an image on a website or inline in an email message makes you vulnerable.

Check out my latest post on Pinoy.tech.blog.