One solution to the privacy problem is running OpenWRT with cjdns [1] on the routers and clients, and using its IPTunnel feature [2]. The list of supported platforms is steadily growing [3], and it'd be something that runs alongside the existing IPv4/DHCP setups just fine.<p>[1] <a href="https://github.com/seattlemeshnet/meshbox" rel="nofollow">https://github.com/seattlemeshnet/meshbox</a><p>[2] <a href="https://github.com/cjdelisle/cjdns/tree/master/tunnel" rel="nofollow">https://github.com/cjdelisle/cjdns/tree/master/tunnel</a><p>[3] Desktop/Server Linuxes, Android, OpenWRT, OSX, FreeBSD. Even Windows support is being worked on.
<p><pre><code> "Someone's been committing crimes from your network."
"It must be someone using my open wireless point."
"Sorry to bother you sir, have a nice day."
</code></pre>
I can't see it happening that way somehow.
Some other things to worry about, if you sell anything on ebay or amazon as a hobby. They have pretty complex systems to detect linked accounts. If someone was to log into a "banned seller" account on your network. It can be a nightmare to convince ebay or amazon that it wasn't you. and you can most likely be banned on their systems forever (to sell). Just seems like a lot more to worry about.
Open does not necessarily mean insecure. See e.g. <a href="http://www.riosec.com/articles/open-secure-wireless-20" rel="nofollow">http://www.riosec.com/articles/open-secure-wireless-20</a>
I love the idea, though the paranoid security conscious developer in me is really worried about the security for average users. I'm not worried about the individuals opening up their routers, there is always a risk, but that can be mitigated. I'm more worried about average people thinking that whenever they see an openwireless.org hotspot, they'll think it's safe. And it's obviously not, or I wouldn't know about my neighbours banana fetish. (joke, please don't arrest me) I know people sign in to any open network regardless, but this has a brand that can be exploited and then blamed.
How about we make a wifi tax so that everyone pays for it and then have open networks ?<p>How about WiMax?<p>How about asking the ISPs to implement the free WiFi and flat subscription rates with no tiers?<p>How about asking the mobile companies that already cover urban areas to make HSDPA/UMTS/LTE free?<p>Plenty of more efficient ways to do this than this open network movement. And yet you're asking the individual who has like the smallest bandwidth fraction of all these players and the one one who pays the most per MB of bandwidth to make it free? Not. gonna. happen.
Is there a reason for recommending an insecure network? Would suggesting a global default password for an encrypted network be better. It can be as simple as 'openwireless'.
Actually IEEE 802.11u implements something like EAP-UNAUTH-TLS where the client auths the server but the server does not auths the client.<p>After that, the best would be to push the whole traffic throug tor (Or even to run a tor exit node, if nobody can say from which side of the network the requezst comes from ...).