While I wasn't Blogging Pt II: Wireless in Tianjin
Just read this post where 5_rings mentioned that parts if Tianjin are still in the previous centuries, and it got me to thinking about how I live in a neighborhood that is in the 21st century (at least the late 20th century).
OK, so my new laptop computer has a wireless network card. Now, back in the states my dad has a wireless network (of course), so I enjoyed it while I was there. It was nice to not have to hook up a pesky ethernet cable all the time. I thought once I got back to Tianjin there would be no use for the cool wireless tech. Low and behold, once I get back to my apartment in Tianjin and turn on my laptop it detects a wireless network. The signal isn't strong but I could usually use the internet. I, of course immediately rechecked my firewall settings and consulted a friend who knew more about this than I did. As I suspected, if I used it for normal web browsing and not for anything with passwords there was nothing they could do except tighten security.
A few days later, I talked to my father who, being ether more adventurous (or more evil than I am, depending on your viewpoint), suggested I check the administration page for the wireless network router. This person obviously hadn't even thought to use basic security so maybe they did not change the default login or password? After a few minutes investigation online found the default password for that type of router. I was in, but I immediately closed the browser.
Ether I'm not evil enough to follow through or the fact that the whole interface was in Chinese made me decide it wasn't worth the trouble. Ether way, I am still comforted by the fact that there is a wireless network close by and that this is civilization.
Also, after the surprise of actually finding a wireless network I started looking for one of these little gadgets. Cool little devices that detect wireless networks, so that you don't have to break out the laptop every five minutes to detect 'em. Cindy and I went to the "Computer Street" to look for one and we found that nobody has heard of anything like them. The only wireless network they knew of in Tianjin was at the Crystal Palace.
I'm guessing it is somebody with extra money, and a little knowledge who decided it would be cool to set up a wireless network. Maybe even a few people in my building sharing an internet connection, and whoever is administering the network decided it was too much trouble to put basic security measures in place.
Ether way, I got my ADSL so I don't even use that connection anymore, but my point is that yea, some parts of TJ are still in the 18th century, but some are catching up.