EFF Releases Wireless Router Firmware For Open Access Points

klapaucjusz writes: The EFF has released an experimental router firmware designed make it easy to deploy open (password-less) access points in a secure manner. The EFF's firmware is based on the CeroWRT fork of OpenWRT, but appears to remove some of its more advanced routing features. The EFF is asking for help to further develop the firmware. They want the open access point to co-exist on the same router as your typical private and secured access point. They want the owner to be able to share bandwidth, but with a cap, so guests don't degrade service for the owner. They're also looking to develop a network queueing, a minimalist web UI, and an auto-update mechanism. The EFF has also released the beta version of a plug-in called Privacy Badger for Firefox and Chrome that will prevent online advertisers from tracking you.

Re:The point?

[binarylarry]

Do you really trust your mobile telco much more than a random wifi router?

I dont.

Re:The point?

[Anonymous Coward]

> What I don't get is why on earth you'd want to give any of your internet bandwidth to the public if you're living in a private residence.
> I see absolutely no benefit to me in running one.

I do it because it costs me nothing to help out someone.

> What's the point of 4G and shit like that if in the end you're sill relying on peoples' free wireless access points?

Indeed. What is the point of paying for 4G by the bit when you can use free wifi instead?
I think you've answered your own question.

Re:liability?

[Anonymous Coward]

Making it public is what makes you immune. If it's not public, then you're verifying that all activity from your IP is your own. Making your connection free for others to use re-anonymizes your IP address.

Firstly, running an open wifi point would be against my TOS
Secondly, being in breach of point the first, the police would then turn your argument round on it's head...running a public access point sir?, must be trying to bury your illegal traffic in amongst everyone else's..You're fuckin' nicked, me old beauty!

immunity my arse...you do realise that the upstream monitoring logs and classification of the traffic which led them to you in the first instance will then be produced in a court of law against you, and you'll then have to account for it?
I don't know if you've noticed, but the old innocent until proven guilty thing doesn't really apply when it comes to certain classes of crap nowadays, especially online, especially if there's a whiff of terrorism or paedophillia..