FON: Google-eBay venture promoting free Wi-Fi with sale of $5 routers

[engine]

FON, a company funded by Google Inc. and eBay Inc. to promote free wireless Internet access, will start selling routers for $5 to encourage consumers to share their Web connections with others.

Consumers buying the routers, which usually cost about $60, will need to let others use their Internet connections and in return will be able to connect for free to other wireless hot spots that are part of the network, said Juergen Urbanski, Madrid-based FON's U.S. general manager.

Google-eBay venture promoting free Wi-Fi with sale of $5 routers [seattlepi.nwsource.com]

[dillonstars]

I guess it depends on how blindly they are investing. I'm not even sure it's an ethical vs unethical issue since some ISPs might not have a problem with it. I just see it leading to some bad outcomes.

I agree. I'm sure Google are aware of the issues - and i suppose with funding comes responsibility - but FON is a seperate company. This thread was starting to make it sound like FON is simply a branch of Google, which it clearly isn't (yet?).

[whoisgregg]

Anyone reading the referenced article at below hyper skim speed

Wait... You actually read the article? ;)

[StupidScript]

More importantly, how many have gone to FON.com and read what they say about their own technology?

I highly recommend visiting the Boards, there, and reading, in particular, the thread about 'WiFi Sharing Prohibited By Law'. Amusingly, the thread quickly devolves from a mention about one state's legislation into a discussion about the difficulty of securing the 'FONero' hotspots.

I reiterate that my biggest problem with this 'solution' is having all of these individual routers out there connected to who-knows-who's rogue terminals running who-knows-what kind of packet scraping/intrusion programs. Better not log into your bank account ...

And anyone who thinks that their unsecured router is not a danger to their own network hasn't been paying attention. You give some people a line into your intranet, you risk giving them access to same. It ain't rocket science ... why not string a CAT5 out the door for anyone who wants to plug into? Same thing, security-wise.

Bad idea, big G/e. Keeping your 'free' wifi costs low by enlisting the public to expand your node base is foolhardy. We may never get a handle on zombies if this plan gets any traction.

[StupidScript]

It turns out that the FON network IS piggybacking on existing broadband connections. So that's a correction to my earlier comments.

AND, it's only 'free' to others who have bought and installed a FON-enabled router. General users need to register and pay a fee, depending on how long they expect to be using the network. (~US$3 for 10 hours, for ex.)

So ... not really 'free' and be sure to check your bandwidth sharing allowances with your broadband ISP.

Still not a good idea, IMHO.

[whoisgregg]

why not string a CAT5 out the door for anyone who wants to plug into? Same thing, security-wise.

Similar thing, but not the same thing. Every wireless router I've installed (maybe 15, representing a few different manufacturers) has different privileges for wireless connections than wired connections "out of the box." Still a risk, don't get me wrong, but less of one than having an aggressor hard wired into your lan.

[StupidScript]

Agreed.

But even my lowly Palm Tungsten C has programs that can sniff out whatever's attached to a wireless router. The sky's NOT falling, though caution is still recommended.

[webwit]

There may already be an answer for this question, so don't get mad at me if this answer is obvious.

What would stop people logging on through your account from doing illegal things with your personal internet connection?

Examples: Hacking, sending spam email, illegal MP3 music sharing, downloading illegal porn, running illegal gambling operations, money laundering or terrorism.

Could you be held accountable in any way for these actions since your contract is between you and your ISP?

[IanKelley]

Nothing and that's a good point. But then hackers using Wi-Fi connections is nothing new. There's always your local starbucks/airport/etc... Generally the provider of the connection isn't liable unless they are made aware of the problem and do nothing about it.

[StupidScript]

Check the thread noted above at FON.com.

While it is dependent on what country you live in, in general, if you have not taken reasonable steps to ensure that your connection can only be accessed by authorized users, you may very well be the end of the trail that the authorities find. If they come a-knockin' and say, "Your router's IP address is where the request for kiddie porn came from" and you can't give them any other data ... call a lawyer.

After all, you are NOT an ISP, technically, and so you would not be protected by law like they are.

FON insists that all users are logged and traceable, however there are still bugs to work out and security concerns to address.

[perfidus]

Now they are sending to some people the Routers for free.

Yesterday I received an email with the subjetc "FON te Regala un Router!". Some friends of mine also have a similar email.

We are in Spain and we signed up for an account one year ago but we don't have a Social Router yet