Full Disclosure mailing list archives

Wi-fi. Approaching customers


From: "Gregh" <chows () ozemail com au>
Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2005 07:35:41 +1100

I have asked this on another list and there has been discussion but nothing that really seems like an answer so I am 
asking for help in here.

I did a war drive (and in MY terms that means just driving along gathering SSID data showing open and closed and 
nothing else BUT that) and found one HELL of a lot more wi-fi in my area than I had previously been aware existed. Most 
of the SSIDs broadcasted didn't openly identify the company involved though most of them were open. The idea in doing 
this was that I could note an area where wi-fi is and approach the company (or individual) and offer my services to 
LEGALLY lock their open wi-fi down. I realise that with open wi-fi, I could be doing anything I wanted to or with their 
systems but that isn't the point. I work in the area doing I.T. related work and so far have a very good reputation for 
an inexpensive service and I am self employed so doing the wrong thing would quickly kill all that.

My question is, then, how to approach someone to legally get work from them fixing their badly installed wi-fi and 
ensuring it is all locked down. If I turn up saying "Your wireless networking is open to hacking and I can fix it" that 
sounds somewhat suspicious to me if you look at it from the point of view of a user who knows nothing much about it 
all. Eg, I am telling them something they don't want to hear, for a start and then telling them that if they pay me, 
they can have it fixed on the spot. I already know how strange it can sound. I happened to pick up the SSID ToysRus 
which was open and realising they would have their own company employed I.T. people, I just rang them to do them a 
favour and wasn't I met with suspicion? Yep! All I did was say "You know you have wireless networking?" and they 
answered "yes...." and I added "It's open and unsecured. You better fix it before someone else finds it" and then got 
asked 100 questions including "How do YOU know?" blah blah by someone you would think KNOWS the game.

How do YOU approach prospective new customers to tell them their wi-fi is unsecured and needs attention and that you 
can fix it for a fee?

Any help appreciated.

Greg.
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