Student collects Wi-Fi data around UD campus

Despite the positives of wardriving, Li said there are some legal and ethical considerations as well.

“Wardriving really lies at the borderline between privacy and public information, which I believe is true at the personal level and business level,” he said. “At the essence, wardriving relies on the technical impossibility of containing a private wireless network. But does the mere reluctant release of basic information about a network indicate that the owner should be deprived of all privacy associated with such networks? I doubt it.”

Bohacek on the other hand, said he does not think there is anything wrong with wardriving and added that people would benefit globally if they begin to share networks and information.

He said his only concern is once an open network is found through wardriving, information obtained can be employed to use that network. He said the problem lies in the actions of a few people who may use open networks for illegal activity, such as downloading pirated videos or music for which the owner of the network would be held responsible.

Li said that as of now, there are no laws which prohibit wardriving, but the privacy issues involved are still not well understood.

Lastner said he does not use information to gain access to open networks, and thus does not see wardriving as an illegal activity.

“This is completely legal,” Lastner said. “What would be illegal is if I was to hack into one of the networks.”

Maia McCabe contributed reporting to this article.