anonymous on wi-fi?

rhodopsin · 07-14-2005, 09:15 PM

On a wireless network is there any way for the wireless administrator to find the identity (eg.name) of the persons on it (assuming they are using their own laptops on it)? I would guess the MAC address - but MAC address can be spoofed to be something other than the official, unique one. So, MAC address is out. Is there anything else anyone can think of?

Spookster · 07-14-2005, 09:22 PM

One way would be if the person logs into anything on the Internet that could trace back to them. The ISP would be able to track what they logged into and whoever maintains the site/server they logged into would have that persons information.

Ben@WEBProp · 07-14-2005, 09:25 PM

Well, I don't think MAC Address is all the way out. Sure you can spoof yours, but if there is a super-admin out there who knows all of the MAC addresses that are supposed to be on at any given time, or at least how many MACs are supposed to be on at one time, then the admin could tell if there are any extras.

As far as telling who it is exactly, I am not sure how to do that. Most Wi-Fi routers act as DHCPs, so IP address identification would not work. Maybe if you could somehow limit the amount of IPs assigned by the router, you could prevent any other from accessing the network that way (unless one is being unused).

I think that to get the persons name, you would have to counter-crack their machine once it accesses your network and search for some kind of registry or identification.

Makes you think about how anyone could get caught wardriving...

_Aerospace_Eng_ · 07-14-2005, 11:13 PM

What router do you have? My router lists the name of the PC, and the mac address, but what I've done once was drive around the neighbor hood to see how strong my signal was. I pick up another wireless network, think its like the house right behind me not sure though.

JamieR · 07-14-2005, 11:31 PM

Wouldn't the admin panel of the router tell you all the connected users? However if it did (of which I'm not too sure) it wouldn't be too reliable in places like my school - where there are a high number of wireless access points around.

Spookster · 07-15-2005, 03:15 AM

Of course then there are always the really bright ones that get caught like this:

http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/07/07/wi....ap/index.html

He apparently didn't realize that you can pick up most wireless broadcasts a block or more away.

Sitting in my house here I can pick 6 different wireless signals in my neighborhood. 4 of those 6 wireless networks are not WEP enabled and can be freely accessed.