Network Logging ?

Hi,

Hope this is a reasonable place to ask this question. Please point in
right direction if not.

Scenario: Assume a regular-Joe wireless laptop user enters some
establishment or other which offers freebie wireless Internet
connectivity, which he then uses.

What I'd like to know is:

a) Is there any way that whomever is providing the connectivity can -
at any point - somehow log any of the software or hardware details of
the connecting laptop, in such a way as to be able to uniquely
identify the laptop (eg. Windows username, network card info, hard
drive serial number, etc, etc) at some future point?

b) I'm guessing this next question would depend on the individual
setup of the network, but, assuming the same scenario, would each user
on the network generally get the same external IP, or would they
likely be different?

Many thanks,
Sam

On Jun 24, 7:04 am, superman...@hotmail.com wrote:

> a) Is there any way that whomever is providing the connectivity can -
> at any point - somehow log any of the software or hardware details of
> the connecting laptop, in such a way as to be able to uniquely
> identify the laptop (eg. Windows username, network card info, hard
> drive serial number, etc, etc) at some future point?
Yes. MAC address logging is trivial, and often a standard feature of
the wireless access point or router. This will uniquely identify the
network adapter in the laptop.


> b) I'm guessing this next question would depend on the individual
> setup of the network, but, assuming the same scenario, would each user
> on the network generally get the same external IP, or would they
> likely be different?
Most providers of free wireless internet service will use a NAT
router. All users will get the same external IP.

>
> Many thanks,
> Sam

Okay ... That's really useful to know - many thanks!

Sam

superman183@hotmail.com hath wroth:

>a) Is there any way that whomever is providing the connectivity can -
>at any point - somehow log any of the software or hardware details of
>the connecting laptop, in such a way as to be able to uniquely
>identify the laptop (eg. Windows username, network card info, hard
>drive serial number, etc, etc) at some future point?

Yes. Client MAC addresses are easily displayed, along with what web
sites they're using. Even if the wireless is encrypted, the MAC
addresses are visible and are NOT encrypted. The level of logging is
usually MAC address versus usage (traffic) so as to catch file sharing
and illegal downloading activities which usually suck huge amounts of
bandwidth.

See:
<http://sonic.net/wallwatcher/>
<http://svs.sv.funpic.de/>
<http://www.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv2/rflow.php>
There are plenty of others.

>b) I'm guessing this next question would depend on the individual
>setup of the network, but, assuming the same scenario, would each user
>on the network generally get the same external IP, or would they
>likely be different?

The way NAT works is that everything, on the internet side, coming
from the wireless router looks like it's coming from one IP address.
To answer the next obvious question, no... your MAC address is not
visible on the internet side. Therefore, whatever illegal activity
you were planning on perpetrating will be clearly identifiable and
visible by the local router logs, but not necessarily by any
subsequent logging done by the ISP or your intended victim. All that
would show is that it came from a specific coffee shop. This is why
theoretical liability issues for your actions, while running an open
wireless hotspot, are potentially a problem for hotspot owners.


--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558