WiFi Hotspot the best anonymity?

[WiFiQuestion]

I read in some of the newsgroups that the closest thing one can get to anonymity on the Internet these days is to use a laptop with WiFi and access from wherever. It could be the parking lot of a restaurant, bookstore, or just somebody's unsecured wireless system in some neighborhood.

Thinking on this, I don't believe I can come up with better anonymity. Are they right? Thoughts?

[Kye-U]

{QUOTE-> I read in some of the newsgroups that the closest thing one can get to anonymity on the Internet these days is to use a laptop with WiFi and access from wherever. It could be the parking lot of a restaurant, bookstore, or just somebody's unsecured wireless system in some neighborhood. <-QUOTE}

That is probably true since you are using someone else's connection, but in some cases, it may be illegal.

"somebody's unsecured wireless system in some neighborhood" <-- also known as Wardriving, and is illegal

One thing to consider is to protect your computer from being accessed by someone else on the WiFi network.

[securityx]

Hi Kye-U,

Actually wardriving is not illegal, per se. In the United States at least, it would only be illegal if you hacked a password to gain access. This article from Money and CNN sums it up:
http://money.cnn.com/2005/08/08/technology/personaltech/internet_piracy/index.htm?cnn=yes

It really is akin - legally - to watching a neighbors cable TV through their open windows. That may change, but as of now, hopping a ride on the neigbor's unsecured Wi-Fi internet connection is not illegal.

As for the original question, yes, it's probably the greatest anonymity you can ask for in today's world. Even a hotspot at someplace like IHOP that requires no registration, fees, etc. would be good.

[Cscampxp]

Anonimity! yup! in a way but for Security reasons? No! Joining an unsecured network is really not the most secure thing to do. Remember that means you become part of his/her network. He/she can simply log in his/her router and and know your assigned ip address...and oh yeah! you didnt disable File and print sharing. There goes your Privacy!!! AHHH! Anonimity???....Be very careful when joining an unsecured network.

[tailspin]

Just watch out for the light coming off your computer screen, it's a dead givaway especially at night! ;)

[ILikeLemonPie]

I learned from someone off this forum about hotspotvpn.com . I joined soon after I read the post and studied up and have been a member ever since. If you use your notebook at Wi-Fi hotspots it, or something like it, is a must. I pay about seven dollars a month. Well worth it for the encryption from my notebook to the hotspotvpn servers. The biggest threat with public hotspots are packet sniffers. Most use WAPs which do not allow for file sharing so having stuff swiped is a worry mostly while your info is between your notebook computer and the AP. With hotspotvpn that can't happen.

The original post asked about anonymity and I agree it's as anonymous as you can get jumping on a WAP hotspot or an open unsecured router. As someone already said it's not illegal in the USA.