Think TWICE before you directly connect your devices to an RV Park’s Wi-Fi system!!! Winegard ConnecT V2
Yup, you read that correctly. Did you know that connecting your printers or content streams to an RV Parks wi-fi could leave you open to being hacked or even having porn streamed to your TV. Yup, think about that one, how wonderful would it be when your child is watching a child appropriate show and then out of nowhere, it switches to porn? Or, for those of you that just leave your outside TV running even if not around, if it is connected to the parks Wi-Fi you to could have something like that happen and how would that go over with your neighbors?
In the video below, let me show you how easy the above could be. I think you will be shocked to say the least. After all, you don’t know what you don’t know. And is such cases, most people don’t. And worse, nor do the RV Parks understand this either.
BTW…In the video am talking about devices such as content streamers and printers. Not only can these devices be accessed as shown, it also leaves them open to hacking and thus being used for other things. Like a friend of mine said so well….You know, all the rampant worms and hacks that are going on all over the internet which enslave IOT devices ( printers, tvs, routers, rokus, printers ) for coordinated attacks on other networks, or, the more common thing now is crypto currency mining on those devices for someone else’s profit.
I did not even get into all the computers, tablets and phones I could see as I was only showing devices to make it easy to understand. The firewall in your computer is for that computer, not other devices and that may not even be setup correctly. So you really want to be behind a hardware firewall to separate yourself all together from the park’s network.
This will help protect you. It is a post I did long ago but is still current: Build a Private System for Under $100
Short of building one…At least then consider the Winegard ConnecT V2 which is simple to install and setup for protection.
David how about having a class for all us amatures on building a secure network at next years OOB ? Just publish a list of what we need to purchase and teach the class ?
I posted years ago a tutorial, step by step, on building one for under $100. See link in blog post.
David,
What is the email we could use to get in contact with you to get acquainted and ask questions about your knowledge and experience?
It’s right here on the site user Contact Us.
Lave out the trash and sexual comments on your videos its simple the world has enough trash in it and kids might be watching.
Keep up the information but get rid of the negative and potty crap
Hi Roger…Really don’t see anything wrong with the video and “kids” may be watching and get hurt by with this is a stretch. The point is, and surely was, made clear to the adults who hook these up as to the danger, and it IS A DANGER, that could effect kids if one is not careful. Even hooking up you kids XBox to a public network opens them up to all kinds of things. Our audience is adults, not kids, and would be shocked if kids subscribed to us. As such, our humor and comments are appropriate, even more so in today’s world were so much more could’ve been said or shown! Thanks.
Just a 5-word comment to your response here David and for whatever it is worth: “I FULLY agree with you”. Thanks.
WOW! Did you really just write that Rodger? These two people are some of the most helpful on the net for help and direct information. And guess what, their audience is adults! If that video of a warning of what could happen was to much for you, you need to go elsewhere. There was NOTHING in that video that would hurt anyone in anyway. It was a direct point of what could happen if you connect such devices to a parks network. Not the first time, nor likely would it be the last, such humor was used in their videos. WOW, just WOW. So far off base.
OMG…If you that that is bad, you might as well turn off the news and really get off the Internet in general. That video and blog post is 100% spot on!!!! Keep up the good, informative, and funny videos David and Brenda. Nothing at all wrong with them!
David, Very interesting! Not sure why anyone would go thru the trouble of connecting their TV and printers to a parks WiFi, but your video clearly shows that they do. I haven’t looked at IoT devices yet, but I would think they wouldn’t automatically connect and would require someone to follow some prompts to connect up. Even connecting to un-encrypted networks would need some user interaction on the device, right?
BTW, Had a great time at Oktoberfest! My first dry camping experience went without a glitch, I know you were concerned when I mentioned that. :)
Thanks for all the good advice. -Bill
Hi…Yes, people have to go into the setup of a given device, say a TV, and select the wi-fi SSID and then add the password, if their is one, to connect to the park. So they are making the connection. They do this to be able to stream. However, if a RV Park has a captive portal, it will not work as they can not get past that for such devices. But if they just need to connect and that is it, and the network was not setup to protect devices from seeing and thus using each other, then thats that. So people doing this just are not aware as to what they could be exposing themselves to. (You don’t know, what you don’t know.) I think from now on when I go to an RV park I will connect and scan the network. Now some items may require a passcode to send something to it. But by default, these devices are made to be simple and made thinking that they would be used on a private network and not on a public one. If I see such devices I will send the above video to it to auto play back. :)
This is one more reason why I set up the $100 network you described elsewhere. Keep the good stuff coming!
David,
Thank you for the info. As you know, I am “TECH” challenged and as a result, managed to screw up the system you provided. When I click on wireless, I do not get the select tab. How do I change this back and what “tabs” are a no-no for me to touch.
Thanks again and as always, I learn something from your video’s
Hi…Not knowing what you did, you are best advised to just start over in your setup. To do this, you need to reset the NanoStation. With it powered up, using a paperclip, in the bottom by the ethernet port, you will find a hole for reset. Press in on the little button on the inside and hold down for 20 seconds. This will reset the unit back to factory defaults. Let it fully reboot, about 3 mins. Please make sure you do not have the AirGateway (if you have one) connected to the PoE injector when you go to reset up the NanoStation as you will not be able to reach it with it in the way until after everything is setup. Sorry to have to say this…but hard to help fix something like that not knowing what you may have done, or not done, along the way.
I understand the difficulty not knowing. We were in Mexico, unable to connect to a park wifi, so I am guessing I pushed the wrong tabs and not knowing what I did. messed it up. Will connect antenna to router, give it a shot and see what the end result is.
Just to be clear: I power it up with out the antenna connected, push the reset button, wait until I get back to factory default, then follow the on screen prompts. At which time I connect the antenna into the POE and all should work from that point forward.
Thanks again,
Is this Bob Beitler? Of Bob and Pat? If so, I am really lost as I had your system all set up. Don’t reset ANYTHING if so.
Don’t know if my response went through, so…Yes this is Bob of Bob & Pat. When I was in Mexico, I attempted to connect to the park wifi, with no luck. There were no bubbles by their wifi locations, but bubbles on all the others. The only thing I can think of, is I pushed a wrong tab which may have changed the settings on that page, as the only tab on the wireless page is change and that is in the lower right. I do not get the page that displays all the wifi sites in the area.I have not done a reset, will hold off until I hear back.
Thanks for all the assistance (and patiences)
Yes this is. The problem with the system at this time, is when I go to the wireless page, there is no select. tab The only tab on the lower right is change. When I was in Mexico, I attempted to connect to the park wifi, yet there was no bubble for me to click on. All other wifi sites had the bubble. I apparently changed a setting or something, as I am unable to get the select tab on the wireless page. We are now in Yuma and still no luck. Will not do a reset unless you tell me to.
Hi David. We have been @ E-33 Southwoods for 14 yrs of weekends but now plan to live here all summer. I showed this to husband in Feb. and asked about getting our own internet. He didn’t know if it’s possible, but said you definitely would be the person to ask. I asked our neighbor, who works in office, if she had personal internet.. Funny thing, she had just been talking to you about it. Was going to ask Kevin what he thought. Sooo if you are down round East Meadow one day, we would like to discuss options with you if possible. Thanks for all the neat stuff on Outside Our Bubble.
Well Hello! Happy to help you seeing you are right here in the park. :) More or less what we are doing in the park is setting one one of these…
https://outsideourbubble.com/secure-private-rv-wi-fi-and-making-a-better-park-connection-for-under-100/
It makes a private network for you and it connects to the Southwoods network to get Internet access. You will not need to use APLogin any more and you will be able to connect each of your devices to it like you would at home. It is about $90 in parts, will give you the Amazon receipt, and I do not charge to set it up, happy to help. Diane across from you I installed yesterday. Just let us know and I will order the parts. I am now off to the Scott Cye’s to but theirs in. :)
Hi David
I replied right away but I think it didn’t go through. We would definitely like to order one. I will stop by your place to give you our phone #s so you can contact us when you are ready. Thanks so much for doing this.
Hi…I will order the parts for you and get it setup.
Hi Again…Please be aware that the airGateway, the router, is on back order. Delivery estimate: Tuesday, May 29 for that.