Reporting Unsecured Wireless Access

Here I am on a Sunday afternoon sitting in a local coffee shop enjoying a mocha while I wait for my oversized comforter to dry in the local laundry mat. I have Mac laptop with me, it jumps on the free coffee shop wireless access point and I’m on the net.

Out of curiosity I view my local network and behold I see a computer called REGISTER. With just a basic knowledge of Windows authentication I click on the REGISTER and log in with the username ADMINISTRATOR and I leave the password blank. Boom, access to the local cash register with all the credit card data a hacker or ID thief would enjoy.

I understand that the vast majority of people are clueless when it comes to setting up wireless networks, so I ask myself… “do I talk to the manager? The owner?” And then I wonder about the legal ramifications.

I feel it is my duty to tell someone how to fix the security hole but with the general lack of understanding over wireless networks will the person I tell misunderstand my goodwill and consider me a hacker, trying to steal their data?

I’m sure I’m not the only one out there who has faced this dilemma.