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Couple weeks ago, I took my kids to a class at the mall, then decided to use their free wifi. I logged in successfully with my laptop, but it said no Internet.

I checked the default gateway and it took me to a cisco modem. It had all sort of diagnostic tooling including the list of devices connected to the modem. However, it showed no Internet connection. I googled the model on my phone, and the admin is supposed to be the serial number with blank password and there was an example of the pattern. Surprisingly, one of the devices connected to the modem had a name that looked like said pattern.

And just like that, I was in. I toggled the Internet button, 15 seconds later it turned green. I set a new password on the device.



Award for good IT citizen goes to you, sir or madam or <insert honorary>.


Except for setting a new password on the device. Now nobody else can perform the same public service next time the Internet goes down on that modem.


Probably some kid working at the `All-Star Burger & Shake` stand wrote a script to reset the internet every 27 minutes and it "just worked" for 9 years until this guy came in...


IANAL, but it's probably also illegal (ie CFAA) by accessing other people's systems and denying their owners access to them by changing the password.


The Steam Deck is what I pull out on flights nowadays. It's quite amazing how fast it helps the time fly (pun intended).


I was visiting family and logged on to a neighbors insecure wifi one time to get in my work vpn. I couldn’t connect to the vpn and I noticed I could easily get into their router, so I did and changed an MTU setting on it and voila back in business. :)




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