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Warchalking

This topic is not directly related to Microsoft mobiles with Wi-Fi, but it is important, therefore we cover it here.

Next time you will some strange signs on the walls:

Then you will know what they mean:

Term "warchalking" comes from combination of "WAR" plus "chalk", "WAR" means "Wireless Access Revolution" and "chalk" is a tool usually used to draw these symbols on streets.

OPEN NODE symbol means, that one can use Wi-Fi (Wireless LAN) in given area without restriction. ssid is the name of the network and under the symbol available bandwidth is (sometimes) placed.

CLOSED NODE symbol means, that there is a WLAN network in vicinity but it is closed to access for external users. It means secure network.

WEP NODE symbol means, that the network is closed with WEP encryption technique (WEP = Wireless Equivalent Privacy). For clever users however this method of security is not a big problem and they are able to use such WLAN network.

Please note that in context of warchalking another terms used are "wardriver" and "wardriving". Wardriver is a person, who drives around the area in search for wireless LAN (Wi-Fi) networks. This activity is called "wardriving". One of favorite tools of wardrivers is a software called "Netstumbler", that is also available for some Wi-Fi cards for Pocket PCs. For more info on Netstumbler click here.