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Thursday, January 31, 2013

Crime Would You Like to Join the Network: "SPD Surveillance Van"?

Posted by Dominic Holden on Thu, Jan 31, 2013 at 5:18 PM

Slog tipper tenderyoungpony writes: "Found while searching for wireless connections in my 'hood":

Perhaps some civilian just thought they ought to name their wireless network "SPD_Surveillance_Van." And, as the image after the jump shows, that civilian also made sure their wifi network was locked and encrypted:

"Way to be on the dl guys..." says tenderyoungpony.

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Comments (36) RSS

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y'know, naming your network like that might not be a bad way to get certain types of irritating neighbors to tone it down for a while ...

Posted by Warren Terra on January 31, 2013 at 5:21 PM

I had a "FBISurveillance" one in my corner of CHill for a while, so when I set up my unsecured guest network I called it "NSA_Honeypot"

Posted by Wandergeist on January 31, 2013 at 5:21 PM

Dominic, you're aware that ANY password-protected Wi-Fi network will be labeled as Encrypted, right?

Posted by ComputerUser on January 31, 2013 at 5:22 PM

@3) Yup, didn't mean to imply that encrypting a wifi network was all fancy or nuthin'.

Posted by Dominic Holden on January 31, 2013 at 5:25 PM

There are almost 20 wireless networks near my apartment. All of them are encrypted.

Posted by Mr John on January 31, 2013 at 5:30 PM

This is an old joke wi-fi name, although I've seen it before as "FBI Surveillance Van." Encrypted just means it's not an open network, which is the standard for home routers set up by non-grandparents, generally.

Posted by Cate on January 31, 2013 at 5:34 PM

Hmm. Time to change mine to HedgehogWithSalmon.

Posted by Will in Seattle

on January 31, 2013 at 5:43 PM

WiFi Network ID's are...like...floating poetry. Or something. All these words just out there in the air. I don't know what program this person is using but they end up being arranged (and if you are mobile - rearranged) like an e.e. cummings poem.

If only people would name them something remotely poetic. DWINKLER HOME? Belkin.62c? We need more Bad Breast, TinyKunst and >INJECT::MALICIOUS<>FILENAME

Posted by jnonymous on January 31, 2013 at 6:17 PM

I also just recently had "FBI surveillance" pop up as a nearby secure network a few blocks from my place on the hill.

Posted by jen on January 31, 2013 at 6:18 PM

Dominic. Are you actually entertaining the idea that this is anything more than a very old and very tired joke? If so, you have about as much technical prowess as the tipper who photographed their screen because they don't know what a screenshot is.

Posted by waffles packets gravity on January 31, 2013 at 6:22 PM

11 Comment Pulled (Trolling) Comment Policy

Sadly, The Future Mrs. Dr. Awesome will not let me use any such hilariously comic names for either of our routers.

Dear Dan Savage: Is this a deal-breaker?

Posted by Dr_Awesome on January 31, 2013 at 6:46 PM

Winona Router

Posted by stinkbug on January 31, 2013 at 6:51 PM

@13 - win

Posted by eweb on January 31, 2013 at 7:02 PM

Hah. I think that's pretty funny. I might just have to rename my wireless network now. I never even thought of something like that before. (Sorry. I'm old)

Posted by Reverse Polarity on January 31, 2013 at 7:05 PM

My fave is still "WE_CAN_HEAR_YOU_FUCKING"

Posted by yelahneb

on January 31, 2013 at 7:16 PM

I like "RIAA Honeypot" and "virus server"

Posted by Banna

on January 31, 2013 at 7:33 PM

18 Comment Pulled (Trolling) Comment Policy

Have three around my house that always raise my eyebrow; Mr. Taco
Mr. Pickles, and
Cropse molester

I hope they're just all very controlling room mates.

Posted by orange&black on January 31, 2013 at 7:36 PM

@13: yay!

And I love SPD_Surveillance_van too.

Posted by gnossos on January 31, 2013 at 7:38 PM

I made my network FBI Surveillance Van for a few months. Also passworded and encrypted which you should always do regardless for a multitude of reasons.

Posted by tigntink on January 31, 2013 at 8:21 PM

Wait, people can make up whatever network name they choose? Even a widely used comic one? What's next, people being able to choose a handle instead of using the name on their ID when leaving blog comments? Anarchy!

Posted by gloomy gus on January 31, 2013 at 9:45 PM

This has been my WiFi network name for at least 3 years now. I like to think I started the trend locally after seeing someone post about the Vancouver equivalent on reddit, and deciding to do the same thing here.

Posted by Tiffany

on January 31, 2013 at 9:56 PM

That civilian, and every other one on the page are too stupid to figure out how to go into their router setup and turn off SSID broadcast so that their neighbors cannot see their network at all. "Ha! I'm going to call it 'This network will make you gay!' that'll keep me secure!"

Posted by Johnston on January 31, 2013 at 10:41 PM

I've had "FBI Surveillance" and "CIA Surveillance" in my WiFi neighborhood for years.

Kids.

Posted by tiktok on January 31, 2013 at 10:53 PM

@24, turning off the SSID doesn't offer you any benefits. Anyone can still scan for and see it broadcasting a signal. And if it's not encrypted, anyone can still use the AP, whether it's broadcasting the SSID or not.

http://blogs.technet.com/b/steriley/arch…

Posted by Tiffany

on January 31, 2013 at 10:57 PM

@14: I have to admit I stole that name from a Shut up Weirdo show.

Posted by stinkbug on January 31, 2013 at 11:50 PM

don't be gullible, Dom.

Posted by dak7e on February 1, 2013 at 12:25 AM

Flowers By Irene.

Posted by d.p. on February 1, 2013 at 1:10 AM

Yup, anybody that thinks turning off the SSID offers any security whatsoever is a clueless n00b. It's like painting your door the same color as your wall in the hopes that nobody will notice it to check to see if it's locked. The only people it'll fool are the ones you don't need to worry about.

Posted by Wandergeist on February 1, 2013 at 1:18 AM

You don't have to outrun the bear.

Posted by Ben on February 1, 2013 at 2:15 AM

A lot of people call their home networks "____ Surveillance Van". It's an unoriginal gag name. The best name I've seen is "Cunning Linksys"

Posted by Rob in Baltimore

on February 1, 2013 at 7:04 AM

Someone near me named their network "Hodor". Cracks me up every time I see it.

Posted by Kalakalot on February 1, 2013 at 8:17 AM

Dominic, to get an idea of how Andy Rooney this post is, google "surveillance van". Here are the second, third, and fourth links that I got. They all make fun of this post:
http://trollinator.com/tag/fbi-surveilla…
http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/367ba7/
http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/3r1jt5/

Posted by crater on February 1, 2013 at 8:53 AM

@24: It's always amusing when someone makes arrogant technical pronouncements -- only to be quickly revealed as the "stupid" technical noob.

Posted by bigyaz on February 1, 2013 at 10:14 AM

I had mine set to my apartment number followed with "bring beer" and left it open, in my younger days. Somebody moved in below me, and apparently used it until they got their own set up... they thanked me by bringing beer.

Posted by slnk on February 1, 2013 at 10:24 AM