[PDLM]

The Government has just introduced free wifi access at their premises (libraries, district offices etc). They are building up to 350 hotspots over the next few months.

Details here.

[PSMaverick]

If I remember correctly, Cafe O's had free wifi... Megabox's got it on most floors

[pin]

Originally Posted by grandcider

The Fon concept sounds interesting, but they don't seem to have any spots in Hong Kong so it would be of little use.

I also pay a good deal for Netvigator & NOW services at home. The $58/month for WiFi access was a tolerable money-grab, but at $158, it is seeming outrageous.

I'm looking into getting Fon, and looking at their maps, it seemed to suggest there were loads of hotspots in HK.

[KnowItAll]

Doubt it ... I could never understand the model that Fon was trying to create.

1) Give people some hardware
2) Get them to share their bandwidth
3) Anyone who shares bandwidth gets access to others bandwidth

4) Create an alternative WiFi network with NO SLAs or performance standards
5) Try and then sell subscriptions to that network ...

Snake oil I tell you ...

[PDLM]

And what happens when someone does something illegal over the bandwidth that you are freely giving out? It's you the police will come and visit and the onus will be on you to prove that you didn't do it.

[hk.com]

Same applies to any Wifi open router.

Even if they are not open, sniff their traffic, wait until they have turned off their PC, take over their MAC address then start hacking into HSBC or what ever you fancy.

One of the things that surprised me most when I came accross Wifi access points is that the wifi radio is not an actual interface, it is a bridge. This means that the RJ45 and the wifi "space" are in fact one and the same thing. Hence its security architecture is flawed.

This is why most proper access points now go strapped to a router or are a module with an interface that can properly separate the wifi network from the network. Or you need to plug your box wifi access point into a Ethernet port on a firewall/router to being able to police it properly.

I think it would be a fun project to analyze and document the PCCW Wifi-No-where and HK Gov's wifi network security.

[georgebing]

Originally Posted by KnowItAll

Doubt it ... I could never understand the model that Fon was trying to create.

1) Give people some hardware
2) Get them to share their bandwidth
3) Anyone who shares bandwidth gets access to others bandwidth

4) Create an alternative WiFi network with NO SLAs or performance standards
5) Try and then sell subscriptions to that network ...

Snake oil I tell you ...

I'm not sure about selling subscriptions to the network, I'm a long-term FON user and I use it frequently in starbucks and around central. Over a year ago i was one of the first ones and coverage wasn't there but it's pretty big now, I get it almost everywhere. It works well for me today.

The online maps itself are a lot of residentials so no real public use, but I'd suggest you to check out freewifi.com.hk which is a hotspot locator for public spots.

No need for subscriptions, it's free if you are a member. I don't know anyone who'd pay for it frankly speaking. I personally think they make money selling the router.