Definition: Wardriving is the practice of searching for wireless LAN (WLAN) signals within a geographic area. Peter Shipley coined this term. He pioneered the practice of using an automobile, a Global Positioning System, and a mounted antenna to identify unsecured WLANs in neighborhoods.
Some computer hackers are content to simply map any open, unsecured WLANs they find. Others have adopted the practice of warchalking, tagging nearby pavement to allow others to tap in and steal bandwidth from those hotspots.
Wardriving is a controversial practice, but it has helped raise awareness of the importance of WLAN security. For example, many home networkers now configure Wireless Encryption Privacy (WEP) on their WLANs to block public access by wardrivers.
Alternate Spellings: war driving
