War walking and sniffing

[Rzanology]

Hey guys...I just ran out and bought a CF wifi card for my ipaq. the things I've been reading about wifi made me do it :). But not that I have it, im finding out this stuff isn't too easy. One of the things I really wanted to do was just be able to walk around and sniff some one's connection out and check e-mail and surf the web. I have the sniffing part down, but I have noooo idea how I use their connection to get online. my card is a net gear MA701 and the sniffing tool im using is ministumbler. The name of the access point comes up in mini stumbler, and the link light on the card is solid, but when I try to connect to AIM or surf a site it doesn't have the connection to do so. can anyone help me out or atlease send me to a site that has a Hot-to. Thanks guys.

[SlyDogJeff]

where did you find the ministumbler software? Have you experimented with any other network/access point sniffers?

As for the reason you cannot get onto aol or browse is possible because of security setup on the access point you found. Usually (at least on my office wifi network) there is a WIRELESS NETWORK NAME (kinda like a domain name but just for the wireless cards and accesspoints) called the ESSID. You have to be on the same ESSID as the access point first of all. Some accesspoints BROADCAST their essid and some (more secure companies) do not.

Second, does the access point you found have ENCRIPTION enabled? if so, is it 64bit or 128bit or some new products are capable of 256bit encription. if there is encription enabled, you can forget about GUESSING the key name. its usually 13 hexidesimle numbers. and when you translate a word or phrase to a key, you get to choose 1 of 4 - 13 hexidesimle keys to choose from.

then the basic options that you should be able to select from any wifi cards options are the channel (usually 1 through 6) and if its an access point you should choose infrastructure but if you ever want to connect to another computer with a wifi card you may make a direct connection using ad-coh instead. (ad-coh is wrong but i cant think of the other exact name, i have never made a direct connect to another computer yet) That is something i have to try since i just purchased my CF WiFi card yesterday.

Hope this helps in your search for knowledge.

[Rzanology]

Thanks alot, i can't remember where i found the stumbler. Drop me a e-mail at rzanology@hotmail.com and i'll send it over to you.

[griffin]

Think you'll find it at www.netstumbler.com.
Pocket Warrior also works especially with e740.
I think you mean AD-HOC slydogjeff.Think you only use that without access points though.If you use Infrastructure then the channel will be greyed out.At least it is on mine.
Channels go from 1-11 in europe and US.

[SlyDogJeff]

I have tried to take your advice and found that neither of those programs work with my model ppc and wlan card.

I am using the new Dell Axim X5 with the Socket Low Power WLAN Card (compact flash card) that dell offers with their product.

Now ignore the fact that I was trying to sniff out ANY wireless network and help me figure out why i can't sync through the office wlan and obviously through the office lan.

I have Windows XP running on my laptop. The latest version of Microsoft ActiveSync (3.6). I am using my docking station for my laptop as my main connection to my office domain. I also have the older Linksys WPC11 pcmcia card in infrastructure mode. I have the Linksys WAP11 Access Point connected directly to the switch for the entire office. When i disconnect the laptop from the dock, i can use the WPC and the WAP to stay connected to my network SO I KNOW THAT THEY ARE BOTH WORKING CORRECTLY. They have the same ESSID and they are both on channel 6 blah blah. There is 128 bit encription enabled and i have the correct key on the access point, the pcmcia card AND on the cf card in the Axim. so, what do i do next?! there is no multiple choice of connections to choose from when i try to sync from the axim with active sync. Should i expect to see the wireless network card there or something?

HELP.