WiGLE (Wireless imaging Geographic Lookup Engine) is a wireless network location and information consolidator, gathering crucial aspects of detectable WiFi and uploading them to a central database. This is achieved through volunteers running the WiGLE app on their portable devices, which will then scan your surroundings based on user-defined intervals.
When a wireless network is scanned, information is gathered about it, such as its name (SSID), MAC address, type of wireless network (eg, WiFi or cellular), security capabilities, and its location. Through multiple observations from scans, the app can get an accurate location of the wireless network's origin through triangulation, using the signal strength at the time of each specific observation.
Since 2001, WiGLE has used its results to educate the public and pressure manufacturers to standardise more effective security protocols, such as the current WPA2, as opposed to the weaker WEP that was known to be easily defeated and overcome. The data gathered and made public by WiGLE is also used to aid research projects, site surveys, and journalism. For many, WiGLE has also become a handy tool to determine where is the best place to pick up free wifi for themselves.
Now, why am I bothering to make a general thread for this project? Why, there are teams, of course! And where there is a team for a project that contributes to knowledge or data, we must be found!
Here's how to get started:
1: Download the app for your device
2: Create an account for yourself. Make sure you put your account information into the app as well, in the settings.
3: Visit this page and do a Ctrl+F search for Brony@Home, then click the Join button.
As far as I'm aware, there's still no iOS compatibility unless jailbroken, so for now, Android devices, or devices capable of running standalone Java applications are the only ones that will work. Also, keep in mind that this uses your WiFi and GPS devices, scanning with them at regular intervals. Therefore they will draw more power from your battery. You can adjust how frequently scans are made in your settings, to reduce power consumption, at the cost of missing some wireless networks as you move around.
When a wireless network is scanned, information is gathered about it, such as its name (SSID), MAC address, type of wireless network (eg, WiFi or cellular), security capabilities, and its location. Through multiple observations from scans, the app can get an accurate location of the wireless network's origin through triangulation, using the signal strength at the time of each specific observation.
Since 2001, WiGLE has used its results to educate the public and pressure manufacturers to standardise more effective security protocols, such as the current WPA2, as opposed to the weaker WEP that was known to be easily defeated and overcome. The data gathered and made public by WiGLE is also used to aid research projects, site surveys, and journalism. For many, WiGLE has also become a handy tool to determine where is the best place to pick up free wifi for themselves.
Now, why am I bothering to make a general thread for this project? Why, there are teams, of course! And where there is a team for a project that contributes to knowledge or data, we must be found!
Here's how to get started:
1: Download the app for your device
2: Create an account for yourself. Make sure you put your account information into the app as well, in the settings.
3: Visit this page and do a Ctrl+F search for Brony@Home, then click the Join button.
As far as I'm aware, there's still no iOS compatibility unless jailbroken, so for now, Android devices, or devices capable of running standalone Java applications are the only ones that will work. Also, keep in mind that this uses your WiFi and GPS devices, scanning with them at regular intervals. Therefore they will draw more power from your battery. You can adjust how frequently scans are made in your settings, to reduce power consumption, at the cost of missing some wireless networks as you move around.