Setting up wireless router at work to use my iPhone wirelessly on company connection

[tHa ShIzNiT]

Disclaimer: This may be a dumb idea.

Hey folks, I am thinking about bringing in a hacked WRT54g with Tomato firmware to my job and plugging it into the company's network so that I can have wireless internet access on my iPhone. Is this a bad idea? Will I be caught for doing something wrong? People at my job are streaming pandora and video over this network, they just do it from their work computers. I will be doing that from my iPhone.

Thoughts?

Edit: The tomato router will be setup as an access point.

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The point is that there is No point for this discussion.

Thread Closed.

JackMDS Mod.
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Another Edit: Can they detect that I am doing this? That I have setup a router on their network as an access point? I assume they can.

It seems that the ty

 

[ScottMac]

Chances are it's a Bad Thing.

But, don't ask us, ask your IT department, they're the ones that would have to live with your f'up if it goes wrong. Until you get explicit permission (in writing), I suggest (in the strongest possible terms) you not do it.

Company policies in this regard (security) tend to run in the "Immediate Dismissal" category (unless you're the owner's son/daughter).

 

[Fardringle]

ScottMac already answered the "Thoughts?" question and I agree completely. Simply don't do it unless you have permission to do so.

To answer your other question, yes, there are many ways to detect something like that on a corporate network, and if you are doing it without permission (and against company policy) then you will likely be reprimanded and/or fired.

If other people are regularly streaming video on the company network, then it might be allowed. Just talk to the IT department so they can make sure it won't cause problems on the company network.

 

[tHa ShIzNiT]

Thanks Scott, I would like to get permission from the IT department to do it but I am afraid they will put me on a list of "people who actually know about how computers and networks work". Still, I am considering asking them.

 

[ScottMac]

Thanks Scott, I would like to get permission from the IT department to do it but I am afraid they will put me on a list of "people who actually know about how computers and networks work". Still, I am considering asking them.

That's a much better list to be on than the "people that jacked up our network, their miserable, dead, rotting, stinking, worthless carcasses will never be found again" list

Given the questions that you asked, no offense, but perhaps you don't know as much about networks as you think, and will be easily discovered; it's not rocket surgery and even a klutzy IT department can find resources when their network is being messed with.

Ask, or don't do it (or risk your job)


No kidding, it's a serious thing.

 

[kornphlake]

Thanks Scott, I would like to get permission from the IT department to do it but I am afraid they will put me on a list of "people who actually know about how computers and networks work". Still, I am considering asking them.

Then simply ask if you can get wifi access for your phone, don't ask if you can install a rouge access point. They'll either say no, or they'll say we don't have wifi, if the answer is the latter you might offer to provide your own access point rather than starting with that suggestion.

 

[MtnMan]

A wireless AP in a corporate network is a HUGE security issue, and if just for your 'convenience' so you can check access the internet with your phone.

I suspect the company computer usage and network security policy would not allow this, as it should. Do it without permission, and you may find you and your router escorted out of the building by a security guard.

 

[stuartl89]

Not sure how tight the security on your company's network is, but on ours if you did find a live unused jack, your device would not last long. We do regular scans for stuff like that. Plus we deactivate most ports that go unused for a period of time.

I would not plug anything in without getting a green light from your IT staff.

-S

 

[tHa ShIzNiT]

Clearly this was not a good idea. Thanks everyone for sharing. I am trying to overcome the issue of limited cellular data. I dont always hit my data cap but I have had to hold back this month and I was searching for some way around it.

Perhaps there is some way to share my work computer's connection through the USB port that I plug my iphone into. Or something like that. Shoot, maybe even that would not be alright.

Back to the drawing board.

 

[Fardringle]

Really, the simplest (and best) option is to just ask the company IT folks for permission to do it. They'll confirm whether or not you are allowed to do it, and will also help you set it up properly.

 

[Jamsan]

What are you trying to do that you can't do on your PC?