Is looking for Wi-Fi access points purely passive?

Posted by Aric TenEyck on Stack Overflow See other posts from Stack Overflow or by Aric TenEyck
Published on 2010-04-06T22:27:32Z Indexed on 2010/04/06 22:33 UTC
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Say I carry a Wi-Fi enabled phone or laptop through an area where there are WAPs. Assuming that I don't actively try to connect to them or otherwise interact with them, is it possible for the owner of that WAP to know that I was there?

I'm asking this in the context of my earlier question: Looking for MACs on the network

I was talking with a friend about my newfound ability to detect phones (and other devices with MAC addresses) on the network, and he pointed out that it might be useful to detect unknown phones on the network; I could use that data to track down anyone who was in my house and brought a Wi-Fi phone with them.

So, if I set up a logging fake WAP with no security or encryption, can I glean any useful information about the devices that come into the house? Assuming that the thief doesn't actively try to connect...

Is looking for Wi-Fi access points purely passive?

Posted by Aric TenEyck on Super User See other posts from Super User or by Aric TenEyck
Published on 2010-04-06T22:27:32Z Indexed on 2010/04/06 23:13 UTC
Read the original article Hit count: 210

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wifi

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mac-address

Say I carry a Wi-Fi enabled phone or laptop through an area where there are WAPs. Assuming that I don't actively try to connect to them or otherwise interact with them, is it possible for the owner of that WAP to know that I was there?

I'm asking this in the context of my earlier question: Looking for MACs on the network

I was talking with a friend about my newfound ability to detect phones (and other devices with MAC addresses) on the network, and he pointed out that it might be useful to detect unknown phones on the network; I could use that data to track down anyone who was in my house and brought a Wi-Fi phone with them.

So, if I set up a logging fake WAP with no security or encryption, can I glean any useful information about the devices that come into the house? Assuming that the thief doesn't actively try to connect...

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