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

A salesperson gave me two cards for free while I was surfing at a local cafe a couple of weeks ago. Thing is, I have an unlimited Airborne Access account good until next year. So I thought of keeping it just in case I find someone to give it to, or for some reason I need to connect using prepaid.

But I just realized recently that expiry will be today, April 30th, 2006! They’ll be good for about 23 hours from now.

So whoever wants them, please do email me by posting a comment below (WordPress will automatically notify me), or send me and SMS (my number’s posted at my sidebar) and I’ll give the first two to contact me the login details.

The cards are worth PhP 300 each, and are good for up to five hours WiFi access (not necessarily contiguous) at any Airborne Access hotspot.

I’ve been experiencing bad connection speeds with my WiFi provider, Airborne Access, lately. Actually, the connection’s all right. It’s the latency that’s getting to be bad. So imagine the websites you visit do load quickly, but only after your waiting a couple of minutes for the network to respond to your browser’s request.

Maybe it’s just with the specific location I’m connecting from–Figaro cafe along Congressional Avenue, Quezon City.

Is anyone else having speed problems with Airborne Access?

I have some insights posted on WiFi Wireless on cafes’ WiFi-related business models:

I wonder whether WiFi-enabled joints get to recoup their investment in setting up hotspots at all, if their WiFi business model relies heavily on the sale of goods instead of selling the WiFi service itself. For instance, where I come from, most cafés rely on third-party providers for their networking needs, so only a fraction of the revenue from the WiFi service—such as prepaid card sales—actually goes to the café. And since I have an unlimited subscription with the provider, the café doesn’t earn from my access at all, save from what I order from the counter.

Sometimes I wonder if they get to earn at all from their having WiFi hotspots, or if this increase in revenue is only marginal. This is especailly so, with only a small minority of Filipinos having wireless-enabled laptops and gadgetry.

Still, having public WiFi is undeniably cool!

If you’re using a WiFi-enabled computer, then better check on your settings. Microsoft has confirmed that the ad-hoc networking feature of Windows 2000, XP and 2003 is vulnerable to attacks when left unguarded.

The threat exists once you set up an ad-hoc or peer-to-peer connection (i.e. without a WiFi infrastructure or access point). Your system starts to re-broadcast the SSID (the wireless network ID), which can then be picked up by other WiFi users or systems. Cool idea, right? You can wirelessly network even without an Access Point. Well, not exactly.

Problem is, your wireless-enabled computer or laptop continues to broadcast the SSID even when the ad-hoc network has been disconnected. Your system is now practically an open-access WiFi hotspot (if the ad-hoc network was not set up to be encrypted in the first place). Hackers and malware can now take advantage of this flaw and connect to your PC as if it were in a local area network–and third parties can gain access to your files, printers, and settings.

How to protect yourself? Easy. Simply set your system to access “Access point (infrastructure) networks only” by opening your wireless network’s Property sheet and clicking on Advanced options.

Of course, it pays to have your Windows Firewall enabled, and your system up-to-date with the latest service pack and patches.

Microsoft says users who have their Windows Firewalls activated and who regularly update are at less risk. MS will be releasing patches for this particular vulnerability in the next Patch Tuesday.

All right. I’m running out of neighbors to offer my free WiFi access to. If you’re ever within my area (near the Mini-Stop convenience store along Maginhawa street, UP Village, Quezon City, Philippines), see if my signal can reach you. Drop me a line so I can send you back my wireless encryption pass key.

If you’re dining at any one of the small restos and eateries in my vicinity (Ababu, Pixie’s, Nanette’s, etc.), then you might want to surf for free, too.