Comments on: Receipt FAIL

By: Bugsy

Bugsy — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:53:29 +0000

I agree with Rick.

I did the reverse thing. I put a sticker on the door, and my wifi is 100% open, no key no nothing. (actually i have two wifi's, one open, one closed)
All our guests can use it for free, as well as those passing by.

By: Rick

Rick — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 20:16:40 +0000

I think this may very well be the lamest hack-a-day post ever. Congrats on not really hacking your local pub.

It's not like this local pub needs super uber security or something. Also, WEP is the most compatible and, really, they are just trying to keep people who aren't paying out. It's perfectly fine in this situation.

By: GR0B

GR0B — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 14:10:42 +0000

There is an easier way of getting the WEP key and all the other settings from a wireless printer, Hold the feed key and switch it on.

[GR0B]

By: ax0n

ax0n — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 04:41:48 +0000

My favorite coffee shop also reverted to this style, but the barista has a sticker he/she places on your reciept with the WEP key. It's 64-bit as well, which makes for a short key.

The reason for WEP? Daytime clientele use this coffee shop as a mobile office. I was there daily for almost a month when seeing if I could get a startup off the ground. The owner of the tae-kwon-do gym next door was downloading lots and lots of stuff, making the WiFi unreasonably slow for patrons.

The neighboring tenants are not savvy enough to crack 64-bit WEP, and the coffee shop employees know not to give the key to employees of neighboring shops -- not that it matters much these days, in a matter of weeks, the Tae-Kwon-Do guy got his own Internet connection.

By: bryan

bryan — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 17:31:14 +0000

nothing wrong with this. there’s a cafe around here that does the same thing. they want to provide free wifi to customers, while locking out people in other shops or on the street. it’s obviously not meant to be very secure, just prevent casual freeloaders.

By: happypinguin

happypinguin — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 14:52:11 +0000

There is a small coffee shop in my town that does exactly like this. You have to buy something to have the wifi password. The password is even randomized every day.

I'm sure this works well as regular costumers have internet and the shop attracts people because the internet.

The failure here could be the 64bit encryption that will allow you to crack the network key in a matter of minutes. But maybe its easier just enter the shop and buy some coffee than bringing your laptop with your super charged Atheros card or your hacked linksys router running at batteries.

By: Eric

Eric — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 11:23:06 +0000

I find that they are using WEP the failure.

By: juancubillo

juancubillo — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 11:08:17 +0000

I just don’t get it… or why is it even here @ hackaday… :S

By: steaky

steaky — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 10:47:19 +0000

strictly not a hack, but amusing.
The site has got a lot better so keep up the good work

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 10:09:02 +0000

Not sure what the hack is. Or the failure for that matter. Someone bought a coffee and pastry at a shop that offers wireless to customers?

-Jonathan

By: miked

miked — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 08:40:21 +0000

i do not approve of this post.

a picture of a receipt does not a hack make.

By: TheDonkey

TheDonkey — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 08:38:24 +0000

Blogfail is fail.

By: Pliny

Pliny — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 08:24:27 +0000

I call shenanigans. Looks like a reciept from a place that offers free wireless with purchase. Like, intentionally. The original post doesn’t provide any details, but the 64 bit WEP part seems like a giveaway.

I can see “accidently” printing a username and password. The encryption settings though? That’s gotta be intentional.

By: RT (Panzer Time!)

RT (Panzer Time!) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 08:22:35 +0000

what in the name of turing is wrong with these people?

By: Ryan

Ryan — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 08:17:24 +0000

I don’t see the problem here. I assume it’s just a cafe with free wireless for customers, and they give out the WEP key to that public network on the receipts.