July 28th, 2005
Are Pringles “Cantennas” Now Illegal?
Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t see how owning a Pringles can could ever be illegal. (She says shaking head in total disbelief.) But here’s a bit about a Sacramento California crime task force that thinks differently:
“A Sacramento area teenager got busted last month for hacking into his school’s computer system and changing his grades. When the police searched his home, they found a number of Pringles-can antennas — the aluminum foil-lined devices that many people use to amplify Wi-Fi signals or to pull in Wi-Fi signals from afar. “They’re unsophisticated but reliable, and it’s illegal to possess them,” said Lt. Bob Lozito of the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force. Cantennas are now illegal to possess? That’s news to us. It’s illegal to amplify a Wi-Fi signal (if you do so, you’ll run afoul of FCC regulations) but this is the first we’ve heard of homemade high-gain antennas being outlawed.” Source: Mobilemagazine.com
David Johnston says:
That’s definitely news to me…
July 28th, 2005 at 3:55 am
Oldster says:
And by extension—any cylindrical, metallic object. Like oil drums, maybe? Or iron pipe? Only in California.
July 28th, 2005 at 7:56 am
Just Cid says:
How stupid is the school that leaves students’ grades available on a wireless network?
I would’ve thought that should have been in some isolated
system that’s only connected to the network when absolutely
necessary.
The kid should be charged for hacking, true. But the school’s system admin and network admin should be sacked.
July 28th, 2005 at 8:38 am
Mark says:
I think cops have a tendency to try to criminalize anything they can, especially when speaking off the cuff. Just because a cop says something is illegal doesn’t mean he’s right. I bet if you look at the kid’s arrest sheet you’ll find that he’s charged with some generic crime like “possession of tools with intent to commit a crime” or something like that. I just don’t see how a state could outlaw an antenna. The FCC has the authority to regulate the power of antennas, but I know that there is no statutory authority for regulation of citizens who choose to build thier own radio equipment as opposed to purchasing it. (And you can purchase a Yagi antenna in California just like you can anywhere else.)
July 28th, 2005 at 9:09 am
Lockergnome's Tech News Watch says:
Are Pringles “Cantennas” Now Illegal?!
Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t see how owning a Pringles can could ever be illegal. (She says shaking head in total disbelief.) But here’s a bit about a Sacramento California crime task force that thinks differently: “A Sacramento area teenager go…
July 28th, 2005 at 11:12 am
John T says:
When the FCC licenses a device it is the combination of the transmitter and antenna. Altering either can violate the license. Changing the antenna to one with 6db more gain is the same as increasing the transmitter power by a factor of four. The pringle can is not illegal, but converting it to an antenna may be.
The FCC usually uses the interference test when deciding if something is in violation. If no one else is interfered with then no problem, if it does and someone complains then you are held accountable.
July 29th, 2005 at 6:26 am
Randall Shimizu says:
Part of the problem is that there is not enough of a distinction between hacking and roaming. Hacking into his schools computer was changing his grades is illegal.
But it’s hard too see how posession of antenna is.
July 29th, 2005 at 11:02 am
Pkillur says:
That guy is on crack. There is no law banning the creation of a non FCC regulated antenna or modifying one. To the best of my knowledge the 2.4 Ghz range is non-regulated or “open” meaning that there is no need to register your signal in those ranges.
And yes, each 6 DB increase IS a power of four multitude, but you could just as easily go to Tessco or elsewhere and buy a YAGI antenna to hook up to a router or card, which is the same thing, right?
July 29th, 2005 at 3:30 pm
Chris J says:
Possession of the can and/or antenna is not illegal. Using it with a non-licensed part 15 wireless router would be. The gain of the antenna, the power output of the router and the total radiated power are all regulated, even though no license is involved. To exceed any of those would be a violation.
Now if he only received, it would be ok, but obviously to change the grade he had to transmit. A no-no.
July 29th, 2005 at 4:00 pm
Dan B says:
I believe all of the wifi devices are covered under CFR47, Part 15 (US Code of Federal Regulations, Part 15). The 2.4 GHz band is shared among microwave ovens, cordless phones, communications links, amateur radio, unlicensed low power devices of all types. WHen the FCC type accepts a device with a built in antenna, they type accept the whole device antenna included. Now, if the device includes provisions for an external antenna such as a antenna jack then an external antenna can be attached provided the antenna is approved for use with the equipment. To modify existing FCC certified equipment is illegal UNLESS it is to be used in a licensed service unde that license and only in the spectrum the license allows. To my knowledge the only radio service where you can operate non-certified transmitters is in teh Amateur radio service provided you have a FCC issued license. I am sure there are other licenses available for R&D and such for commercial applications, however those licenses would be very restricted and NOT include the use of pringles can antennas for wifi “hacking”
July 29th, 2005 at 6:24 pm
Rampant-ness says:
-Unsecure Wireless Access Debate
There seems to be a big debate lately about who should get the blame when it comes to unsecure WiFi access points, to me this is a no-brainer. Leaving your WiFi WEP-less says you don’t know what you’re doing from the get-go. At least havin…
July 30th, 2005 at 12:18 pm
Jeff says:
so if i go to radio shack and get a big ole scanner antenna to boost the range of my cordless phone i’m gonna get arrested for illegal modifications??
July 31st, 2005 at 3:35 am
Judah says:
As the Chinese proverb goes, “Many laws make many criminals.”
August 3rd, 2005 at 10:28 am
Rambling Rants says:
Pringle cans illegal? Huh?
Are Pringles cantenna’s now illegal? A Sacramento area teenager got busted last month for hacking into his school’s computer system and changing his grades. When the police searched his home, they found a number of Pringles-can antennas the aluminum …
August 12th, 2005 at 6:50 am
mike l says:
sounds like a pretty smart kid to me.. A+ for effort as well.
August 12th, 2005 at 5:52 pm
netzsheriff.de says:
Pringle Dose als WiFi-Antenne illegal beim Ami
Ist zwar schon ein paar Monate her, aber offensichtlich haben die von massiven Angstzustaenden geplagten amerikanischen Behoerden ein neues Uebel entdeckt und gleich mit dessen Ausrottung begonnen. Pringle/Kaffee/whatever Dosen die zur WiFi Antenne umgeba
October 1st, 2005 at 3:47 am
gord says:
According to Canadian regulations RSS-210 section A8.4 (I believe they are identical to FCC regulations in the USA). There is nothing illegal about buying, owning or making of “Pringles” or similar directional antennas.
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/insmt-gst.nsf/en/sf01320e.html
Naturally one must follow the regulations for legal usage, transmitter power, type of modulation etc. as indicated in section A8.4 of RSS-210.
This being said, Even though the equipment is legal, this does not give one the right to use it for illegal proposes. For example, with the proper license it is legal to own and operate a car. However, it is still illegal to use that car to commit at crime such as a get away car in a bank robbery.
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December 20th, 2007 at 3:06 am
culturebee says:
how can a school of these standard leaves their grades on a wireless system? are they blind? may be so because wireless devices are everywhere for hackers to enter your system. to me the boy is smart and the IT PRO should be sanctioned as well as the boy but he must be given some medicine to boost his memory for him to worry people who leaves their systems just like that and buys no latest firewalls and antivirus . he must also be council for him not to repeat such actions during his academic carrier.
April 18th, 2008 at 5:37 pm