Free Wifi
 

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[Closed] Free Wifi

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Do other people give false details when signing up for these, or is it just me being paranoid? Not really sure what the benefit is to me of giving away my real e-mail address etc. when I've yet to come across one which doesn't work with a load of random stuff (at some point I need to try entering a load of gibberish).

(posted using free WiFi under a pseudonym - and yes I do know STW isn't secure, so they could trace me if they really wanted)


 
Posted : 27/08/2014 10:33 pm
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I never use it any more. I use 3g/4gon my phone to browse essentials. The free wifi model is about raping your usage data, its insecure and often a bit nefarious.


 
Posted : 28/08/2014 5:04 am
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I pity the guy with the email "bob@hotmail.com"

Posted from frankfurt mcdonalds signed on as bob 😉


 
Posted : 28/08/2014 5:08 am
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he free wifi model is about raping your usage data

How?


 
Posted : 28/08/2014 5:56 am
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Cookies, browser history, current browsing, all saleable commodities.
Unless you are an artisan bikeshop,and offer free wifi to your customers by giving them gueest access to your network. I think given that the OP had to submit an email address just to log on tells you that he isn't in an artisan bike shop...

Its exactly the same here on stw, yourcookies guide the adverts, and mark and chipps make money from it. At least here we know who is getting the money and how many beerscat eurobike it gets them..


 
Posted : 28/08/2014 6:04 am
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Toys you do know what the law regarding providing wifi access in europe is currently right ?

Ok its badly implemented with the above loop hole still open but as a wifi spot owner your supposed to be able to provide a list of people who have accessed your system . If someones been up to no good on your public wifi spot its no longer good enough to give a gallic shrug and say i dont know who was logged on.


 
Posted : 28/08/2014 6:17 am
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I always use "bill@microsoft.com"


 
Posted : 28/08/2014 7:57 am
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Just create a new email address for the purpose if you are worried.

I use my main email address for the free WiFi on the tube which is very useful otherwise as I am on BT I use their hotspots (ie any BT router)


 
Posted : 28/08/2014 7:59 am
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I've been using fred@fred.com for 20 years!

OK, maybe not quite that long....


 
Posted : 28/08/2014 8:05 am
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if it's email addy, then fake addy
if it's PIN sent to mobile phone, then I tell it to forget the network
if it's pay for, then I'll do the same and roam on 3G for a whopping €1.99 per day

they have plenty of ways to track. have an ssh tunnel too via a UK VPS, which ought to improve security a little.


 
Posted : 28/08/2014 8:14 am
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I use trail rat email 😉


 
Posted : 28/08/2014 8:17 am
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What are you all surfing that you need to go to that length to hide ? Midget prawn ? Octo prawn ?

Ah bruneep that explains why ive been getting emails for hair rejuvanation treatments.....i thoughtt that was odd! Now i know why. It was your searching they were targeting 😉


 
Posted : 28/08/2014 8:17 am
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What are you all surfing that you need to go to that length to hide ? Midget prawn ? Octo prawn ?

Far worse than any of that, STW....


 
Posted : 28/08/2014 8:23 am
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The only thing I want to hide is the excessive subsequent flood of promotional spam.

And since I (and 10000's of others) would tend to use wifi when not in home country, it's a bit stupid when BT Openthingy send me emails wondering why I've not logged on at a Roadchef free wifi for a while.

Hotels make you pay a tenner, or just give full free access, and if requested by the authorities can/will just provide the entire guest list for that night (probably).


 
Posted : 28/08/2014 8:31 am
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trail_rat - you asked if people know what the law is regarding providing wifi access. What is it, then?

Rachel (who runs an open wifi connection at home quite happily)


 
Posted : 28/08/2014 8:39 am
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Top link on google


 
Posted : 28/08/2014 8:44 am
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trail_rat - but that act was largely ruled illegal by the EU themselves, hence the reason the government rushed in DRIPA which is an unholy mess and likely to get overturned yet again...

Rachel


 
Posted : 28/08/2014 9:05 am
 Drac
Posts: 50352
 

not@myinbox.com is what I use just so I don't get spammed.


 
Posted : 28/08/2014 9:08 am
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john@smith.com for me...


 
Posted : 28/08/2014 9:20 am
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I never use it any more. I use 3g/4gon my phone to browse essentials.

Good luck with that where I was when I posted the OP. Not even a 2G signal there.


 
Posted : 30/08/2014 8:54 am
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same for me last week. even international data roaming there was no signal. just about enough for GSM/SMS with all providers, but no data.
I guess the phone roams to the preferred or strongest available GSM signal and ignores the data capability of that provider?

fortunately there was free wifis in the evening back at base, but the square root of naff all out in the hills.


 
Posted : 30/08/2014 9:46 am

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