Google WiFi+VPN Confirmed

An anonymous reader writes "Google is actually (confirmed!) rolling out their wifi network, first in the San Francisco bay area (see the FAQ for details.) They are also including a Secure Access program for use in conjunction with this. So far, as per usual, it's in beta, and only for the San Fran bay area. Soon the entire US, perhaps??"

I get redirected to www.google.com

When I click the link. I'm in the UK.

And then the world!

First the city, then the USA, and then: THE WORLD!

Muwahahahahahahahaha!

First post...

... using the google wifi access :)

Doesn't work

Not surprisingly, it doesn't work unless you're in that area :)

Here [cnn.com] is a link to a CNN article about it.

That was quick...

CNN broke the story as well, but it seems Google has quickly fixed all the links.

The links don't work

They are redirecting to the main google page, as is the base url of http://wifi.google.com/ [google.com]. It's not just slashdotting either, as these were redirecting before the article was available for comment.

More info

Since the two links in the article don't seem to work at present, here's a link to a Reuters story for more information.. http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?t ype=topNews&storyID=2005-09-20T113746Z_01_HO038752 _RTRUKOC_0_UK-GOOGLE-WIFI.xml&archived=False [reuters.co.uk]

The entire US????

Someone doesn't realize how very large the US is.

All of the densely and moderately populated areas, but there's no money to be made in doing this in towns (large and small) and rural areas.

Money?

but there's no money to be made in doing this in towns (large and small) and rural areas.

Do you think there is money to made at all when they are not charging?

Re:Money?

Do you think a publicly-trade company is doing something that will lose money over the long term?

Just because they aren't charging money directly doesn't mean they don't still need to earn money per eyeball. Whatever method they have to make money, it's still going to be dependent on the population density and economic prosperity of the area.

(they're not going to stick hotspots under the ocean, or in space, for instance)

Re:Money?

No. The real problem with big big big public companies is that senior executives give themselves huge stock options, sacrifice long term profitability for short term gain, exercise their options, diversify their portfolio, and take a position elsewhere before they have to answer for their actions.

Re:Money?

considering their Privacy Policy states that they'll keep records of what sites you visit along with some other info, yes, yes i do think there is money to be made off this.

Re:Money?

I'm no networking, web server superstar, but isn't it possible for Google to take this information and create advertising vehicles targeted not only at local demographics, but on time based demographic information as well?

The little factoid "80% of web users in Seattle view news websites between the hours of 8 - 10. Of these people 30% goto site A, 40% goto site B, 15% goto site C" would be pretty handy for marketers.

Not only that, but it opens up AdWords and AdSense to having a new layer for bidding - timeframe. AdWords can already be targeted to geographic locations, add the time factor in and you have created a reason for people to start bidding even more money for advertising. It would be extremely costly to "own" a keyword for all timeframes, but a cost some business would be more than willing to pay.

I'm also not too sure on this point, but can't google sell this traffic information to large marketing firms also? If you strip out all identifiers, you have kept up your side of the privacy agreement, correct?

Re:Money?

There's an article in the current issue of Business 2.0 that speculates as to the business model.

http://www.business2.com/b2/web/articles/0,17863,1 093558,00.html [business2.com]

Part of it is not a revenue generation thing so much as a cost savings. Google has been buying up a lot of dark fibre... They're trying to eliminate a middleman for IP transit fees. "Millions of dollars per month in savings" etc.

Re:Money?

Since it sounds like the data is only encrypted between your client and their proxy server, I'd say they'll be making a lot of money from traffic analysis and user-behaviour tracking.

Knowing Google they'll be able to (=they probably will) track every URL every person enters, and tie this to your Google cookie/GMail account, etc.

I'm hardly one of the tinfoil-hat brigade, but this is basically the Google Dialup util idea repackaged for broadband:

Google Dialup: "Slight speed increase in exchange for us looking over your shoulder the whole time you're on-line, tracking your behaviour and spotting patterns."

Google WiFi Access: "Slight security increase in exchange for us looking over your shoulder the whole time you're on-line, tracking your behaviour and spotting patterns."

I'm no trendy Google-basher, but it's really starting to rankle how every major initiative from Google seems to have these little hooks attached - even Google Talk (while based on Jabber) apparently doesn't support the server-to-server protocol, so you need to specifically have a GMail account and connect to Google's servers to talk to anyone using it. IE, all your chatting is forced to go through their servers... wonder why?

And now this - they're supplying free VPN for an entire city (to begin with), spending (conservatively) thousands or millions on hardware, and we're supposed to believe they're getting nothing in return?

Bullshit - if they aren't invading privacy and tracking user-behaviour I'll eat my hat. And if you don't think they are, then what are they getting out of it?

Re:Money?

But wait, any ISP you're using now can already track your every move online right now. I don't believe there's any law to stop them. The only difference is, you're paying them $60/mo to do it.

I'm in China

you insensitive clod!

Re:I'm in China

I'm in China

Attention citizen, you have been doing evil, posting to a capitalist website! Please report to the "Do No Evil" Friendship Happy Center.

Re:I'm in China

Attention citizen, you have been doing evil, posting to a capitalist website! Please report to the "Do No Evil" Friendship Happy Center.

I see by the Big Board we got a Negative Nellie in Sector Two. I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to kind of freeze and prepare for Re-Neducation.

RIAA

So, will google turn over access information to the RIAA when people start using the free WIFI to download music?

Re:Not the RIAA...

They've done this many times without any fanfare: each result URL is a link to a Google wrapper, but they use onMouseOver='' to pretend to show you the real URL in your status bar. Here's one write-up about what was being done [boingboing.net] recently.

XP and 2K only...

... is google turning *that* evil ?

Re:XP and 2K only...

With the exception of the Gmail Notifier, every piece of end-user software that Google's ever released has been for Windows only.

Some people here believe that Google has a duty to release for other OSes (especially Linux, which is so oft-used there) but that's not where the end users are. Perhaps when the software comes out of beta it'll be ported.

FAQ is up

A number of people are commenting that they can't see the FAQ. Here's a copy. None of the other pages work for me. Maybe those who are complaining just haven't tried the FAQ, I don't know, but it might get pulled anyway, so here it is:

Do NOT mod this up (unless it's modded down, obviously.) This is being posted at +2. It will be seen by all but the most selective Slashdotters. Use your mod points for something useful.

What is Google Secure Access?

Google Secure Access is a downloadable client application that allows users to establish a more secure WiFi connection.

Why would I want to download and install Google Secure Access?

Google Secure Access allows you to establish a more secure connection while using Google WiFi. By using Google Secure Access, your internet traffic will be encrypted, preventing others from viewing the information you transmit.

Does Google Secure Access connect to a VPN server?

Yes, Google Secure Access connects to Google's VPN ("Virtual Private Network") server provided for this service.

Why did Google develop Google Secure Access?

One of our engineers recognized that secure WiFi was virtually non-existent at most locations. As a result, he used his 20% project time to begin an initiative to offer users more secure WiFi access. Google Secure Access is the result of this endeavor.

What sort of information does Google have access to?

If you choose to use Google Secure Access, your internet traffic will be encrypted and sent through Google's servers to the Internet. The data that is received will then be encrypted and sent back through our servers to your computer. Your privacy is important to us, we strongly encourage you to read our Privacy Policy [slashdot.org] to be fully informed about how your privacy is protected.

Is there a fee for using Google Secure Access?

No, Google Secure Access is free.

Where can I go to download Google Secure Access?

The program can currently be downloaded at certain Google WiFi locations in the San Francisco Bay Area.

When I install Google Secure Access, why does it ask if I also want to install the Google Toolbar?

We've included the option to install the Google Toolbar because it improves your browsing experience.

Can I uninstall Google Secure Access?

Yes. You can uninstall Google Secure Access by simply running the Uninstall program. This can be found by clicking on Start Menu, Programs, Google Secure Access, and then choosing Uninstall.

How do I make my connection even more secure?

You can make your connection even more secure by using a software firewall. Windows XP users with Service Pack 2 can find it by clicking on Start, Control Panel, and then choosing Windows Firewall.

Will my corporate VPN still work?

Yes. You can connect to your corporate VPN while running Google Secure Access.

I have configured Google Secure Access to connect automatically, but it's not working. What's going on?

Certain wireless LAN management utilities and older wireless LAN adapter drivers prevent Google Secure Access from detecting that you're connected to the Google WiFi network. In this case it will not connect automatically, and you should connect manually to ensure the privacy and security of your network traffic.

Will Google Secure Access work at other locations?

While Google Secure Access should work, we have not tested it at other locations.

Why is Google Secure Access a beta product?

Google Secure Access is a new product that is only available at

Coral Cache Link still works

Here is is: http://wifi.google.com.nyud.net:8090/faq.html [nyud.net]

The Next Step

And the next step (after rolling it out nationwide) is to introduce a cheap ($30?) handset that accesses the network. A "cellphone" with free phone calls -- forever.

That whistling is the sound of every phone company imploding at once.

Just makes sense

It could end up being a hugely smart move.... I am sure that 90% of you have already figured out the business model... They will know exactly where you are (or close enough for hand grenades and horse shoes and... ads)...

Watch out clear channel... Why pay thousands to put your ad on an ugly billboard when you can put your ad less than two feet from a potential customers face... local.adwords.google.com.... (fake url) customers already use gmail and google at the hotspot, even without having some annoying gonna be hacked forced page to surf for free web machine, they can just set all the google sites that people already visit to places right around the corner...

If podcasts are going to replace radio, google wifi will replace ?
(a question for all those who recently took the sat)

Re:Just makes sense

If podcasts are going to replace radio, google wifi will replace ? (a question for all those who recently took the sat)

I thought they removed analogies from the SAT like 10 years ago?

Re:Just makes sense

On the upshot, properly targeted adverts are useful for the consumer too. If you see an advert for a product that you are likely to buy anyway, then that's probably not a bad thing.

Re:Just makes sense

Amen! What bugs me about commercials is not that I'm being pitched to, but that it's a waste of both of our time! There's no point in showing me an ad for Massengil.

Show me an ad for Arturo Fuente, a book by Berkely linguistics professor John McWhorter, or a program about the 80's British comedy Yes, Prime Minister, and I'm very likely to bite. At the very least, I will be actively interested in the ad. This level of granularity should make it possible.

I'm a YIMBY for this (Yes, In My BackYard). I have no problem, repeat, no problem having ads targeted to my interests given that I will be presented with ads regardless.

The flipside of this is privacy, I suppose. That may be the relevancy-killer.

In the entire US - sure...

From the FAQ [google.com]: "Why did Google develop Google Secure Access?
One of our engineers recognized that secure WiFi was virtually non-existent at most locations. As a result, he used his 20% project time to begin an initiative to offer users more secure WiFi access. Google Secure Access is the result of this endeavor."
That guy would need slightly more that 20% project time to help extending the service to the entire US..

Just a big lab experiment outside the lab

From TFFAQ:
>No, Google Secure Access is free.

I don't they they can possibly do this nation-wide or worldwide (imagine negotiating setup and maintenance with a different local partner in each country).
I think this is just a scaled up lab test. If they do anything like this, it should happen after WiMax is out.

Boston?

Google, please roll this out in my area. My neighbors finally got smart and put passwords on their wireless routers.

Re:Boston?

I'm sorry sir, we're going to have to ask for your geek card. WiFi Passwords are for people that don't have time to crack the network. As a /. member you are expected, ney, demanded to crack that password.

Now, don't come back until you've cracked that password and distributed to everyone you know. At the very least man, don't admit that you don't know how to break the security!!!

--
This is a JOKE. It may not be very funny. But I at least want to know that when people mod it as a troll, they are doing it because its not funny, and not because they think I'm a terrorist.

Google OS

The ISP idea is nice, but I think the real direction google should be taking is to release an Operating System, and turn the typical windows interface on its ear. We have been fed command line and windowing user interfaces already. What we need is the next great UI. Its my belief that google could pioneer the next "search" based interface, possibly with some good voice recognition. Something like "google suggest" driven by voice. The technology is here. The CPU horsepower is here. Lets see google come up with some great new algorithms and finally sink Bill's boat.

I volunteer my house

I would jump at the opportunity to volunteer my yard the location for a low-powered neighborhood uplink to this service. Instead of expensive towers that provide access to everybody all at once and require various approval from the FCC and FAA (if the tower is tall enough) find people willing to host an uplink for a few square blocks. People like me. No matter which route I go -any- internet access will cost about $60 months - I either need to get a land line + DSL because nobody will provide DSL unless the line has an active phone number or I can get Comcast (and only Comcast because the local township granted them exclusive rights of service. If Google provides the equipment and the link I will be more than happy to ensure that my neighbors have another alternative for internet access.

Rural areas?

I hope they target rural and outlying areas as well as the cities and suburbs. It seems that all of the new services target areas that are already have multiple broadband providers.

I'm in a semi-rural area, and DSL was not available until just two years ago. I have a choice of DSL from the local telco or satellite, both very expensive compared to urban and suburban areas with more choices.

I know that in truly rural areas, they only choice is satellite. It's expensive, with high latency and low download limits.

Since the "last mile" is an RF link, the investment should be much less than pulling fiber or copper.

Where are they?

I couldn't find a single mention on the Google website of where the access points actually are in the Bay Area. Anybody care to post a link or list?

Re:Where are they?

There are none.

It's a VPN. Nothing more.

This isn't hardware

To those commenting on how hard this is...

The announcement is not about rolling out hotspots. They are just providing an easy-to-set-up VPN connection using downloadable client software. Extending it to the rest of the country would just require distributed VPN host nodes.

Why would I cheer.

Google is rapidly expanding to the point where they seem poised to be the Ma Bell, AT&T, Microsoft, or Verizon of the online world. No criticism of their work and all but I like a little competition in my world.

"Beta" means . . .

Just be happy that you got something for free. You have no right to complain about anything because we put "beta" on it even though it is far beyond beta-grade.

So 5 years from now if your Google WiFi beta connection drops out you must react in the following manner, "Hmmm. . . that's interesting. I can't communicate with my clients anymore. But I guess I can only blame myself for depending on a Google, ahem, uh, a beta product."

This isn't an ISP it's a VPN client.

It is a VPN client.

You download the software and it creates a VPN to vpn.google.com. It doesn't even have anything to do with wireless other than using this with wireless allows you to encrypt all your traffic on each end instead of with weak WEP or otherwise.

I just downloaded the client and just using my normal network card in my PC I was able to successfully connect to google and an ipconfig reveals a second connection:

PPP adapter vpn.google.com:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description : WAN (PPP/SLIP) Interface
Physical Address : 00-53-45-00-00-00
Dhcp Enabled : No
IP Address : 192.168.201.8
Subnet Mask : 255.255.255.255
Default Gateway : 192.168.201.8
DNS Servers : 66.51.205.100 66.51.206.100

I only hope they'll create a server version too and give it out. I must say there was zero configuration and a monkey could have installed it. If they release a server version and allow a small amount of configuration this could come in handy.

I guess one side effect is that I should be able to anonymously browse the web through google.

Consequently, they must be having DNS issues or something of that nature because nothing seemed to resolve while connected.

Re:This isn't an ISP it's a VPN client.

I guess one side effect is that I should be able to anonymously browse the web through google.

Presumably, you mean anonymous to everyone except Google, who will be keeping much tighter logs on what you are up to than your normal ISP would anyway (in line with their terms of service)?

I'm glad I'm in Sunnyvale (Google's home town)

...because I'll probably be able to get Google's Wi-Fi here, if anywhere.

Always "Beta?"

Why is it that Google software is always beta and always freezes once there? Does Google have any software that went beyond this beta label?

PPTP VPN

Google seems to use PPTP as their VPN protocol. In theory this should mean that you can use other OSes than Windows 2000/XP as well, if you configure the connection manually.

However, they seem to be generating the username and password on the fly. The username consists of a number. I had expected that you'd have to use your Gmail username and password but this is not the case. There is something fishy about it. Presumably the Google Secure Access client retrieves some credentials over an out-of-band connection (HTTPS? Will have to figure out with a network sniffer).

There are some curious things in the VPN connectiod that GSA creates. First, they use an IP address (66.28.250.27) instead of vpn.google.com. The IP address is not even owned by Google. The connectiod allows the outdated protocols CHAP and MS-CHAPv1 to be used. Ouch. It also binds the MS Client and File and Printer Sharing to the connection. You better have a firewall on your system before you connect. PublicVPN [publicvpn.net] seems to be a better option but it is not free.

Re:PPTP VPN

Yup, just as I thought: they use HTTPS to vpn.google.com before the PPTP connection is set up. Presumably to generate the username and password.

I can connect with my Gmail account but then the connection hangs at the "Port opened" message...

It's becoming the AOL of the future...

One window for all your needs. You need an ISP, email service, search, shopping... use Google.

I see this distinct trend ever since their IPO. They are trying to build a network of their own. It's almost frightening how blind most of my friends are towards this. For example, by using Jabber google becomes the community pet, but they keep a closed community by preventing S2S communication. AOL was massively successful this way building their network on top of telephone lines. Google is doing it on top of the current internet -- google web accelerator and things like this. It is like DRM, sooner or later everyone else will be using it and you'll have a tough choice to make.

Yahoo ! is no better, but at least people don't blindly trust Y! to do the right thing. I think I still have a couple of mags from 1992 when Bill Gates was the man who could do nothing wrong.

There are huge differences

It is called lock in and choice.

If I want to use AOL I have no choice but to use their proprietary PPP software. Google's ISP is standards-based VPN, I can use any number of software packages to connect to it.

If I want to use the MSN Messenger network I have (at least from MS's point of view) no choice but to use MSN messenger. Google's IM network is standards based Jabber, I can use any client and they even promote this.

If I want to use MSN TV I have to use Windows Media Player. Google Video uses standard open codecs and I can even download the source code for it.

AOL and MS want to try to lock you in to use only their services. Google wants to *convince* you to use their services by making them the best. This is a huge difference.

Confused! Is this Free (as in beer) Wifi?

So far it seems this is only a VPN that provides
encryption between you and google servers.
I understand it would improve security when
using free Wifi or public terminals ?

Where are the hotspots?
Also why would it only work in SF?

Seems like vapourware to me.

Smells like evil to me

All of Google's new initiatives are aimed at collecting your true identity. Google wants to link your googling activities with your real-world identity.

Did you notice you can sign up for your own gmail invite IF you give them your cell phone number?

And you can get free WiFi IF you register and install their software on your PC?

Um...

Tor [eff.org] anyone? Free and random, and no need to worry about some privacy policy.

Following simple rules of logic...

Lessee, article about Google setting up new WiFi hotspots appears right about the time there's an article posted about NASA's new lauch vehicle for getting to the moon. Do the math folks - we know where [google.com] their first WiFi spot [google.com] is gonna be!

Do you trust Google or any old open AP?

If you use their VPN you'll have a tunnel to their server. You'll have to trust Google that they aren't doing evil with all the traffic you send their way.
But if you use any old open access point you stumble across, who are you trusting? If you're not doing VPN already from that point you're at the mercy of whomever setup the AP and likely not even using WEP. Are you sure that the AP you connect to is some idiot too stupid to rename it something other than "linksys" or is it a honeypot waiting to sniff what you send/receive?

Using Google VPN over an open AP might just be the case of the devil you know vs. the devil you don't know.

Amazing

A free VPN? What's the catch? What's that you say? All of my internet traffic patterns, identifiable by my IP, will be tracked (minus "personally-identifiable information")? Google will know exactly where, when, and how I surf the internet? Sweet.

This seems to be Google's primary business model... provide a great, free service to the end-user, mine a wealth of information received secondarily from end-user's use of the service, and use that information to improve Google's databases or sell more and better-targeted ads.

For those interested, here is Google's privacy policy for this service. Interesting parts are highlighted for your enjoyment.

Google Secure Access Privacy Policy

The Google Privacy Policy [google.com] describes how we treat personal information when you use Google's services, including information provided when you use the Google WiFi or Google Secure Access client. In addition, the following describes our practices that are specific to the Google Secure Access client:

Using Google Secure Access

We understand and respect that you are concerned about your privacy, that's one of the driving reasons why we created Google Secure Access. Using insecure networks, such as public wireless networks, can leave your internet traffic open to snooping by others in the vicinity of the wireless network. Google Secure Access helps address this problem by encrypting all traffic from and to your machine and passing it from the insecure network through a trusted gateway. If you choose to use Google Secure Access, your internet traffic will be encrypted and sent through Google's servers to the internet, then received from those servers to be encrypted and sent back through our servers to your computer.

Google is committed to helping our users ensure their privacy and understand their privacy choices. That's why we want you to know that if you choose to use Google Secure Access, all your internet traffic will pass through Google's gateway servers. That means that your internet traffic is sent through Google's servers and Google is careful not to store any of that information except as noted here.

Google may log some information from your web page requests as may the websites that you visit. We do this to understand how Google Secure Access is being used and to improve our services. Google Secure Access does not log cookies and strips potentially sensitive query data from the end of requests to help better protect your privacy.

Google also logs a small set of non-personally identifiable information -- such as routing information, session durations and operating system and Google Secure Access client version numbers -- in order to create your Google Secure Access connection, understand how people are using Google Secure Access and help us maintain the Google Secure Access client.

Google will not sell or provide personally identifiable information to any third parties except under the limited circumstances described in the Google Privacy Policy [google.com]. If Google concludes that we are required by law or have a good faith belief that collection, preservation or disclosure of additional information is reasonably necessary to protect the rights, property or safety of Google, our users or the public, such as if we believe the Google Secure Access service is being abused, we may for a limited period of time preserve additional internet traffic or other information.

This Is Great!

Another service that will NEVER cover where I live. Three chears for covering the same areas a different way... yet again.

Look at coverage maps for the last few years. Note how they have just barely moved further out from where they were 3-5 years ago?

Instead of "Hey, you can do 'this' now." How about some more "Hey, we just added another 500sq miles of coverage this month!"

You will impress me more with COVEREAGE than cheap tricks. :\

(Goes back to browsing on his MAX 24K modem connection.. no wait.. I lucked out 26K today.)

FAQ on FAQs

Does anyone else find it odd that Google has released a FAQ (frequenty asked questions) on something that they are just now announcing and that doesn't even actually exist yet?

How were people asking such specific questions on something non-existant? How were people asking these questions frequently?

Gurus: explain what this is to the gentry-folk

Ok, so Google Secure Access is a VPN service, NOT a Wi-Fi service provider, correct?

Then what would a user with a laptop in a park have to do to get Wi-Fi internet access? Would one have to buy service from a Provider, and use Google's Secure Access only for securing the information transferred?

Location Awareness

With such small cells (WiFi range), google gets location awareness for free (no need to integrate with any sort of GPS system).

So, froogle can really narrow your searches to the local shops, just two blocks away. And obviously, sell them ad spaces...

Google = Windows

Oh, goodie: yet another Windows-only Google application.

So that's Windows-only Google talk (the client, at least); Windows-only Google Desktop 2; Windows-only Google Web Accelerator; Windows-only Google Video Viewer; and Windows-only Google Earth. Now its Windows-only Google Secure Wi-Fi.

Admittedly, I'm looking a gift horse in the mouth. These services are all provided free, and Google is under no obligation to support Mac or Linux.

But for a company sworn to do no evil, they're sure in bed with a company which has, in the past, been rather naughty.

Definitely a smart move - Reuters doesn't get it.

Here's a paragraph from the Reuters article:

"The launch of a WiFi service would move Google away from its core Internet search service and into the competitive world of Internet service providers and telecommunications giants."

It's amazing to me how deep the sense of corporate entitlement there is in terms of keeping the status quo and protecting business models. Instead of seeing Google's WiFi as a threat to the telecom giants - how about seeing the telecom giants as slow, monopoly-driven bohemoths that have done as much as possible to stifle innovation. It's been what, 10 years since I've had DSL the first time and it's still a pain in the rear to get set-up and the bandwidth is still asynch and high latency.

No - I see this as Google "Taking Back" the idea of internet connectivity from the purely greedy telecom companies. The telecoms see the internet as a forced-bundling opportunity. Google might just de-couple the forced-bundling part and actually give away internet access. This does not really threaten the telecoms, as they have complained for years that their government-granted monolopies were not really profitable and that they could not afford the infrastructure. Be gone with them!

Won't make it to me

This will never make it to my neck of the woods. In fact, Google, I dare you to bring it here next.

I love Google and all...

...but doesn't this remind everyone of the Internet bubble? Every two seconds, a new "idea" or "product announcement" was released and it drove up stock price and the like. This went on for years until everyone realized that these companies with these ideas had no business plan for revenue whatsoever. What is Google's plan here? Are they going to become an ISP in urban markets? I am a little skeptical of all of their new products and services, especially in relation with their Stock Price.

And so...

The real Matrix beings...
Powered by Google

To blanket the whole US they'll need StrataLite

I've always thought StrataLite was a cool concept. Put a few dozen of these rotating over the US and you'd have a pretty neat wireless network.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratalite/ [wikipedia.org]

Looks like W-IPN, by Rocksteady

This looks very much like a product created by Rocksteady called W-IPN (Wireless Individual Private Networking).

The user downloads an executable and runs it. The executable retrieves a randomly generated user name and password over a secure SSL (TLS) link from the server. Then, it logs into the server with the given name/password and set up a VPN. From the user's point of view, it's painless VPN (as long as you trust whoever provided the executable to you).

Others may have also done this, but W-IPN is the only similar thing I know of.

Breaking down Google Secure Access

Here's an article I've posted detailing some both some of the scattered info I've found so far and some further research I've done myself about the client. http://blog.thetechgurus.net/?p=36 [thetechgurus.net]

What's going on with SF WiFI & Google!

There seems to be somewhat of a backroom deal going on between the City of San Francisco and Google.

Here's the SF Muni WiFi site

http://www.sfgov.org/site/tech_connect_page.asp?id =33899 [sfgov.org]

if you read the Answers to Written Questions submitted by Sept 7th doc, you'll see that the city is not really interested in using wifi to it's full potential.

52. Q. Does the City plan to use TechConnect as a _primary infrastructure_ for Emergency/Disaster Service?

A. The City anticipates using TechConnect as one network to provide service in an emergency situation. The City does not plan to rely on a single technology, network or service for emergency/disaster service.

They have no SLA's that require the network to last after a disaster with redundancy, batteries, alternative power etc It seems, they narrowly changed the question and gave an elogated answer because they want free wifi from Google rather than holding out for a better overall city solution.

We need to find ways to allow real public participation in the creation of the wifi network for the city. Particularly one that works right after our inevitable earthquake.

Right now the city is taking Comments through end of September, but it is starting to seem they have already decided to go with whatever Google offers.

The SF approach to public comment is pretty lame - blind email only - please encourage them to get into the 21st century with e-rulemaking technologies to help create the best SF Muni RFP. Also encourage the committee to post electronically all the RFI/RFC submittals - since some groups may try to avoid publicity by submitting them only on paper.

A sample wonderful e-rulemaking site:

http://dotank.nyls.edu/projects/ERulemaking/sys_in dex.pl [nyls.edu]

Here's some great ways we could use technology and smartmobs ideas to improve the city response

http://www.stephensonstrategies.com/ [stephensonstrategies.com]

Send your email comments requesting more open public participation and real support for disaster recovery wifi to the following:

TechConnect Information Line: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

Board of Supervisors:

http://www.sfgov.org/site/bdsupvrs_index.asp?id=72 71 [sfgov.org] particularly:

[e-mail] who as been an advocate of SF Wifi and

[e-mail]

Mayor:

Telephone: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

SF Office of Emergency Services

http://www.sfgov.org/site/oes_index.asp?id=1399 [sfgov.org]

[e-mail] (Disaster planning Chief)

So... is this basically a free VPN?

I go to school at a University that blocks any form of P2P traffic using a system called ICARUS. Using this VPN, would I be able to bypass ICARUS and go back to downloading my Linux torrents?

Re:All your Internet are belong to us

You took the words right out of my mouth. This is apparently something they've been working on for some time. First the Google Accelerator and now this. Coincidentally both of these products send all your traffic through their servers.

Do no evil? Commendable philosophy, but do I want to be put in a position where I only have your word to rely on to ensure that you do no evil to me?

Re:All your Internet are belong to us

> Do no evil? Commendable philosophy, but do I want
> to be put in a position where I only have your
> word to rely on to ensure that you do no evil to
> me?

You are in that position every time you turn your back toward anyone.

Re:All your Internet are belong to us

I'm not really Sure what the big deal is... anytime you connect through an ISP they can watch what you do. As far as I'm concerned I trust Google quite a bit more than the un-encrypted coffee slop down the street... but hey... to each his own.

Friedmud

Re:One step to adware?

I just installed it and I was never asked anything about google toolbar. Can anyone confirm that you were asked?

Friedmud

Maybe both...

Take a look at this entry in the FAQ:

    Will Google Secure Access work at other locations?

    While Google Secure Access should work, we have not tested it at other locations.

That certainly says that they do not own the hot-spot, though it doesn't answer wether or not they will be putting up their own hot-spots as well.

It's Official

Unless I'm moderating myself, stuff that's meant to be humorous isn't moderated so. I guess all the code monkeys shut their humor indicators of between 11 and 6, because they're not up before then anyways. Now, was the flamebait, humorous, off-topic or truth?