WiFi

[Victory Sabre]

We have a WiFi network at our store. It is password protected for store use only. It is not intended for customer use.

End BG.

Today, while I was running the restaurant, a couple of customers, who finished their meal, came back in with a notebook computer. They opened it up, as was running around stocking things. The gentleman came to the counter and asked me for the WiFi password.

I was shocked by this request, and told him that I don't have it, and it's for business use only.

He looked very pissed, and went back to his wife, she closed the computer and left.

I did, kinda, lie there: I do have the password to get into it, but it was in the office. There was no way in hell I was going to let them into our secure network. Too bad, so sad. They could have gone next door to the bank. They have a public WiFi network, and advertise it.

[ShootMePlease]

A lot of businesses these days have free wifi, as it encourages people to hang around and buy stuff. I'm sure he assumed you would as well. Don't be too surprised when someone asks you. It's the norm now

[MoonCat]

How did he even know you have Wifi? I wouldn't assume any place had it that didn't have a sign up saying they did, in which case it would obviously be for customer use. If I don't see such a sign, I assume they don't have it or it's for business use only.

[Lyse]

I would guess that the wifi showed up on a search of local networks. Last time I had my car in for work, the wifi for the store showed up but was a locked network. Since it was locked and there was nothing to indicate free wifi, I read a book that I had downloaded.

About 20 minutes later the manager walked over and handed me a piece of paper with the password. :-). Of course, they are my regular mechanics and I didn't harass them about it. Honey and vinegar.

[dragon_wings]

I use wifi on my iPhone whenever I can (I use less of my limited data plan that way). I have my phone set so that a list of wifi networks pops up when I use any app that required Internet. If all the networks are locked I either use the AT&T network or wait until I get somewhere I can use free wifi. But then I'm not a sucky customer.

(I know of a few places I frequent that have free wifi. And my phone signs me on to my sister and brother in law's password protected network immediately cause I have the password saved.)

[sirwired]

If your store staff is IT-savvy at all (or has somebody around that is), tell them to turn off SSID broadcast on the store network. It's still usable if you know the name of the network, but can't be seen by random schmoe without some work. Altnernately, rename it from "JOHN_DOE_COFFEE" to some other name that doesn't have your business name in it and doesn't look important; i.e. "GOOF_OFF_NET". (Don't give it an important-sounding name like "TRANSACTION_NET"; no need to attract people looking to break in and hunt around on the office network.

[EricKei]

Ditto on what sirwired said. Come up with something hard to guess. Maybe not as hideously complex as a really good password would be, but complex.

You just need to make absolutely certain that anyone who DOES need access has the exact name (including capitalization), not just an approximation and the pass.

It does scare me how many unsecured networks are around that are called Linksys or Belkin, tho >_<

[xaenon]

You didn't do anything wrong. True, lots of places offer WiFi access to their customers; your job is just one of those that don't. He didn't like your answer and that's when he morphed into a jackass. The suck was all on him for acting the way he did.

[Victory Sabre]

It was annoying.

I do have it password protected, and it's a lot of letters and numbers. I've got it printed up in my box, if it's ever needed. If I remember correctly (and it's been a few years since I've gone into the settings) it's WEP2 secured.

And, believe me, if I could find a way to do an open network, and a secure network on the same router, I would seriously consider it. And if we did have a public network, we'd promote it, just like the bank does next door.

[Argus]

And, believe me, if I could find a way to do an open network, and a secure network on the same router, I would seriously consider it.

It depends on the router.

[Stryker One]

Simpler Solution

And, believe me, if I could find a way to do an open network, and a secure network on the same router, I would seriously consider it. And if we did have a public network, we'd promote it, just like the bank does next door.

Just buy a second router.

[emax4]

Can't you just put a list of business client computers behind the firewall and public-access clients in the DMZ?

[MadMike]

Altnernately, rename it from "JOHN_DOE_COFFEE" to some other name that doesn't have your business name in it and doesn't look important; i.e. "GOOF_OFF_NET".

I read a post somewhere where someone named theirs "VIRUS_UPLOADER" to keep people out.