The suggested 'GL-MT300N-V2 Mango router' actually has in-built support for a guest login page, and being Open Source should meet OpenWRT (I own two; one I've customised the software packages on so it supports Tor out-of-the-box, and the other was to test the viability of the advertising).
It is arguably one of the cheapest mini-routers that supports a *lot* of features. The only downside is the range is painfully short. GL.iNet, the manufacturers of the Mango router, do offer others with bigger range, but these either require 12v power (supplied by a mains adaptor) or are eyewateringly expensive for someone on a narrow budget as mine.
In terms of roving free WiFi hotspots with guest login...
I did at one stage, toy with the idea of a mobile internet + router + solar combo package as part of a Daily Beagle advertising campaign, but there were several snags:
1) Always on unlimited mobile internet is ~£35 a month, which is very expensive given the limited budget (it'd be cheaper if I just spent £430 in normal advertising)
2) It'd only be able to service one client at a time (Mango routers can cap how many connect but it's not very advertiser friendly)
3) I'd be leaving a working SIM card tied to my card details in potentially unsafe place anybody could access
4) The biggest cost is the solar panel and 12v-to-5v USB DC-to-DC stepdown converter (£130-£250 depending on required power rating); it is also the largest component.
5) Where-ever I leave the device, there is a risk any or all of the components could get stolen
6) There's a bigger risk if I leave it in a busy area, it may get mistaken as a bomb, or illegal surveillance equipment; worst case scenario my real name gets splashed across a newspaper DOXxing me in the process
7) No business with a large amount of foot traffic is going to approve the deployment of my device given it is a makeshift device and thus poses a fire hazard risk
My most recent 'idea' was a special kind of 'mini-server' that allowed anybody to connect, and permitted them to read any of the articles on a sort of static HTML style page. So the mini-server connects itself to the internet to pull down updates, and stores the articles locally meaning I can keep bandwidth costs to an absolute minimum. The loss would be people wouldn't be able to subscribe given no true internet.
However the other problems still apply. I'm open to suggestions.
"What you are telling them to do accomplishes nothing"
It raises awareness and bypasses censorship. Even you know this.
"if they attach this"
They're not 'attaching' anything. They're renaming their network. Having one name or another on your network does not 'open you up' to hackers.
You must think I'm really ignorant if you think I'd fall for your scaremongering tactics. Here, I'll call your bluff: under what part of OWASP security recommendations does it say renaming a network (which literally anyone can do, themselves, easily, on any network) would leave it 'open' to hackers?
For the record, with a name like "hkhkh", which looks like a keyboard mash for someone too uncreative to come up with an original name, and a dead account with no prior posting history tips me off that what you're using is a throwaway account because you know what you're saying is fraudulent.
If I have to delete the comment as propaganda... I'll ban the throwaway account too.
"only raises awareness of your URL." - which bypasses censorship.
"because you believe in censorship"
I believe in not giving a government agent with a throwaway sock account room for spreading baseless FUD with no technical data.
"And yes, I do believe you are ignorant."
If I'm so ignorant, ask yourself this, agent.
How can a hacker break into a network on a spare router that isn't connected to anything?
Also, liking your own post is sad.
Also, for the record, you didn't answer my question, so I will be banning you.
PS: If I believed in censorship, why did I give you an opportunity to respond with a valid rebuttal?
Hard to say. Perhaps folks don't have the time?
It's still a cool idea in my opinion.
The suggested 'GL-MT300N-V2 Mango router' actually has in-built support for a guest login page, and being Open Source should meet OpenWRT (I own two; one I've customised the software packages on so it supports Tor out-of-the-box, and the other was to test the viability of the advertising).
It is arguably one of the cheapest mini-routers that supports a *lot* of features. The only downside is the range is painfully short. GL.iNet, the manufacturers of the Mango router, do offer others with bigger range, but these either require 12v power (supplied by a mains adaptor) or are eyewateringly expensive for someone on a narrow budget as mine.
In terms of roving free WiFi hotspots with guest login...
I did at one stage, toy with the idea of a mobile internet + router + solar combo package as part of a Daily Beagle advertising campaign, but there were several snags:
1) Always on unlimited mobile internet is ~£35 a month, which is very expensive given the limited budget (it'd be cheaper if I just spent £430 in normal advertising)
2) It'd only be able to service one client at a time (Mango routers can cap how many connect but it's not very advertiser friendly)
3) I'd be leaving a working SIM card tied to my card details in potentially unsafe place anybody could access
4) The biggest cost is the solar panel and 12v-to-5v USB DC-to-DC stepdown converter (£130-£250 depending on required power rating); it is also the largest component.
5) Where-ever I leave the device, there is a risk any or all of the components could get stolen
6) There's a bigger risk if I leave it in a busy area, it may get mistaken as a bomb, or illegal surveillance equipment; worst case scenario my real name gets splashed across a newspaper DOXxing me in the process
7) No business with a large amount of foot traffic is going to approve the deployment of my device given it is a makeshift device and thus poses a fire hazard risk
My most recent 'idea' was a special kind of 'mini-server' that allowed anybody to connect, and permitted them to read any of the articles on a sort of static HTML style page. So the mini-server connects itself to the internet to pull down updates, and stores the articles locally meaning I can keep bandwidth costs to an absolute minimum. The loss would be people wouldn't be able to subscribe given no true internet.
However the other problems still apply. I'm open to suggestions.
"What you are telling them to do accomplishes nothing"
It raises awareness and bypasses censorship. Even you know this.
"if they attach this"
They're not 'attaching' anything. They're renaming their network. Having one name or another on your network does not 'open you up' to hackers.
You must think I'm really ignorant if you think I'd fall for your scaremongering tactics. Here, I'll call your bluff: under what part of OWASP security recommendations does it say renaming a network (which literally anyone can do, themselves, easily, on any network) would leave it 'open' to hackers?
Here, I'll even throw you the link.
https://owasp.org/
I'll give you 24 hours to make a technical breakdown. If you fail to provide it, I'll delete your comment as government sponsored propaganda.
For the record, with a name like "hkhkh", which looks like a keyboard mash for someone too uncreative to come up with an original name, and a dead account with no prior posting history tips me off that what you're using is a throwaway account because you know what you're saying is fraudulent.
If I have to delete the comment as propaganda... I'll ban the throwaway account too.