Wardriving

Wardriving is defined by Wikipedia as is the act of searching for Wi-Fi wireless networks by a person in a moving vehicle, using a portable computer, smartphone or personal digital assistant (PDA), however they are series of related terms relating to the mode of transport from warwalking to warflying. The term wardriving itself is generally considered to be derived from the term Wardialing which is where a modem was used to dial through a list of telephones numbers searching for computers, bulletin board systems and fax machines. A modern call centre uses a similar technique to dial numbers which if are answered by a human are put through to call centre staff, if an answer phone or other device is detected the call is dropped and the next number dialed.

Wardialing was popularised by a character played by Matthew Broderick in the film WarGames and it is thought that the term orginated from the film and the computer programs that followed the film emulating the programs used by Matthew Broderick in the film to dial numbers, 'WarGames Dialer' programs where found on bulleting boards and due to the restriction of the 8.3 dos names these files where called wardial.exe.

The activity of Wardriving is controversial and not helped as it is used in conjunction with or confused with piggybacking and warchalking. Warchalking is the drawing of symbols in public places to advertise an open Wi-Fi wireless network, similar to hobo markings in the USA and Gypsy marking used in Europe, the different marks left where a wireless network was detected  indicate how the encryption and SSID of the network. Piggybacking is where an unauthorised user connects to and makes use of a wireless network, in the UK this is an offence under the Communications Act 2003

Warchalking cymbols, image from the Wikimedia Commons

Wardriving and legality

Is Wardriving illegal in the UK, this is a question that Google does not seem to give a good answer to, and there is a variety of views on the subject. My own view is that wardriving itself is not illegal and I will explain why I think this.

Before I go into my reasons I would say that unauthorised use of someones network, whether it is protected or not is illegal. I would say unless it was very clear that public access had been granted ie. a public hotspot than access to a wireless network is illegal. Whether warchalking is legal or not I don't know the laws on Graffiti etc or whether it would be covered under a conspiracy to commit, or solicitation or incitement to commit.

I don't think wardriving is illegal as

1. WiFi operates in a licence exempt band to which anyone with appropriate equipment ie within specified parameters, can use to broadcast and listen, it in effect it is a public radio network.
2. Wardriving only uses the specific mechanism as defined in the IEEE 802.11 specification to identify the wireless network, ie. the management and broadcast frames of the access point.
3. It is using techniques that are built into all wireless devices to detect wireless networks, ie it listens for an SSID or broadcasts an SSID to get a response.

So wardriving is legal providing the following statements are true:-

Only equipment is used that meets the requirements for use on the wireless licence exempt band and has not been modified to increase performance beyond the requirements it is legal. The equipment does not need to meet WiFi or IEEE specifications, only the requirements of the licensing authority in a particular country and in the UK that is Ofcom.
The hardware and software used is operating within the IEEE specifications to access the management and broadcast frames as per the IEEE requirements.
The recording of data packets does not occur as that could be regarded as infringing a person's privacy.

Summary

• Wardriving is the location of wireless networks, often with the GPS location.
• Piggybacking is where an unauthorised user access a wireless network to gain access to the Internet.
• Warchalking is where chalk mark are used to indicate the type of wireless network

Follow up

I will be doing some posts on active and passive identifaction of wireless networks and a discussion on whether wireless packet sniffing is illegal.