Wardriving for wireless LANs 2

[M Taylor]

On Sat, Jun 01, 2002 at 02:27:32PM +0100, Owen Lewis wrote:
> 
> 
> > From: ukcrypto-admin@chiark.greenend.org.uk
> > [mailto:ukcrypto-admin@chiark.greenend.org.uk]On Behalf Of Roland Perry
> > Sent: 31 May 2002 20:01
> >
> > WaveLAN is operated on a band that doesn't require licences. Same for
> > Bluetooth and CB radio. There must be some legal instrument which
> > defines what these bands are.
> 
> Doubtless. For the UK, it is the Radio Communications Agency that
> administers use of the spectrum for UKG and in coordination with all member
> states of the International Telecommunications Union.
> 
> A few bands in the spectrum are left for use which is largely unregulated.
> 2.4-2.5 GHZ (WLANz, Bluetooth, covert TV & audio etc) and 27 MHz (CB, radio
> controlled models, radio mice etc) are two of them.

It is not unregulated, but unlicensed users may make use of the spectrum
with approved equipment, Interface Requirements 2030 (IR2030) and/or
Interface Requirement 2005 (IR2005) for private "telecommunications" systems.

I think the Radiocomm Agency's Q and A about RLANs might clarify a few
points.
<http://www.radio.gov.uk/topics/mobiledata/rlans-licence-exempt/q-a.htm>

It doesn't answer the war-driving question directly. I suspect any 
malicious attempt caught would be subject to Computer Misuse Act,
"unauthorized access to computer material."

I suspect a truely passive (no transmission whatsoever) attempt to detect 
802.11 traffic in license exempt bands may be constructed as non-malicious
- no attempt to access the system, and might be legal. IANAL in the UK or
in Canada. I can't comment on whether that would fall into RIPA or not.

M Taylor