The Joys of Wireless
We are enjoying the benefits of wireless broadband after toning & probing our apartment phone line and getting rid of my improvised wiring setup. I've long pondered the merits of sharing wireless. For a couple of weeks we were enjoying an unprotected access point adjacent to our residence. It offered reasonable speed and reception, and was free. We really appreciated it till it vanished. Hmm...
I considered opening up my access point (AP) when our broadband was activated. My AP (Linksys WRT54GS) offers Wireless Isolation, which prevents wireless users from snooping on the traffic of other users or accessing other machines on the wireless network. This would provide a reasonably safe way of allowing others to use my wireless network. But would they abuse the bandwidth? It's hard to say.
It'll be great when individuals and communities open their networks to create a single, redundant network accessible from outside the boundaries of the home or workplace. But, just as in the days of medieval fiefdoms, open doors represent an open invitation to hostility. It'll take a change in the attitudes of users (sense of community and trust), and improved security features (doors with locks but open roads and gates) to get us there.