WiGLE.net consolidates location and information from 802.11a/b/g/n and cellular networks worldwide into a central database, and also provides user-friendly desktop and web applications that allow you to map, query and update the database over the web.
WiGLE.net is a submission-based wireless network catalog. Overall, WiGLE aims to educate people about wireless from a more technical perspective than the typical static map or newspaper article.
What was this project used for?
Educating the public: When WiGLE started in 2001, the default for WiFi was no encryption at all. End users could choose to turn on weak encryption (40-bit WEP) or pay extra for slightly weaker encryption (128-bit WEP). Most users were unaware that their private network was accessible to anyone in the area (from various distances using antennas and amplifiers). WiGLE and Wardriving in general helped educate users and put pressure on manufacturers to make network security better and easier. Today, WPA2 is the standard and is “on” by default on most manufactured devices.
Site Survey: Security experts use WiGLE to monitor what the companies they consult for are broadcasting on their Wi-Fi radios. If you’re using an insecure network, you’re vulnerable whether or not it shows up on WiGLE. But WiGLE can let you know if an employee or attacker has installed a rogue Wi-Fi router on your private network.
Journalism: WiGLE is a useful resource for journalists looking for data points on Wifi adoption, statistics, and security. WiGLE keeps statistics on manufacturer distribution, leading SSIDs, encryption modes, channel selection, geographic distribution, and more.
Find available networks: WiGLE users can use the “Free Net” search to find open networks that are legal to use near their location. They can also find open wireless networks from their local government, wireless service from a cable company they already pay for, or local coffee shops with available networks.
Fun Hobbies: Many users enjoy discovering as many networks as they can and competing on the leaderboard to see parts of a city/town they never had a reason to visit before. Teams can compete to see which car can find the most networks in a certain amount of time.
For more information, please visit WiGLE.net.
Adafruit publishes a wide range of written and video content, including interviews and reports about the maker market and the tech industry at large. Our standards page was created as a guide to best practices Adafruit employs and an outline of the ethical standards Adafruit aspires to. Adafruit is not an independent journalistic institution, but aims to be a fair, informative, and upbeat voice within our community. Check it out: adafruit.com/editorialstandards
Adafruit is on Mastodon. Come join us! adafruit.com/mastodon
Forget breadboarding and soldering, start building today! Adafruit’s Circuit Playground is chock full of LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads, and more. Build your project in minutes on Circuit Playground with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science with CS Discoveries classes on code.org, learn Python and hardware together with CircuitPython, use TinyGO, or use the Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the latest and greatest Circuit Playground board with support for CircuitPython, MakeCode, and Arduino. It features a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, a mini speaker, IR transmit and receive, 2 buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and a ton of sensors (capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion, sound). A vast world of electronics and coding awaits you in the palm of your hand.
Have an awesome project to share? Electronics Show and Tell happens every Wednesday at 7pm ET. To join in, head over to YouTube and tune into the live chat from the show; a link will be posted there.
Join us every Wednesday at 8pm ET for Ask an Engineer.
Join 36,000+ makers on the Adafruit Discord channel and become part of the community! http://adafru.it/discord
CircuitPython – The Easiest Way to Program Microcontrollers – CircuitPython.org
No comments yet.
Adafruit has a “Be Kind to Each Other” comment policy. Help us keep this community positive and helpful. Stay on topic and respectful of makers of all ages and skill levels. Be kind. Don’t spam. Thank you!
