Editing Warchalking

{{Short description|Graffiti indicating open Wi-Fi}}
[[File:Warchalking.svg|thumb|Warchalking symbols]]
'''Warchalking''' is the drawing of [[symbol]]s in [[public place]]s to advertise an open [[Wi-Fi]] [[wireless network|network]].
Inspired by [[Hobo#Hobo signs and graffiti|hobo symbols]], the warchalking marks were conceived by a group of friends in June 2002 and published by Matt Jones who designed the set of icons and produced a downloadable document containing them.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.blackbeltjones.com/warchalking/warchalking0_9.pdf | access-date=2008-10-09 | title=Let's Warchalk | publisher=Matt Jones | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705034313/http://www.blackbeltjones.com/warchalking/warchalking0_9.pdf | archive-date=2008-07-05 }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/2144279.stm | title=Chalk points to wireless internet | access-date=2008-10-09 | date=2002-07-22 | publisher=[[BBC]]}}</ref> Within days of Jones publishing a blog entry about warchalking, articles appeared in dozens of publications and stories appeared on several major television news programs around the world.<ref name=":0" />

The word is formed by analogy to ''[[wardriving]]'', the practice of driving around an area in a car to detect open Wi-Fi [[node (networking)|nodes]]. That term in turn is based on ''[[wardialing]]'', the practice of dialing many phone numbers hoping to find a [[modem]].<ref>{{ cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/1639661.stm| title=Welcome to the era of drive-by hacking | publisher=[[BBC]] | access-date=2008-10-09 | date=2001-11-06}}</ref>

[[File:Warchalking.jpg|thumb|A warchalking sign on a street in [[Bamberg, Germany]]]]
Having found a Wi-Fi node, the warchalker draws a special symbol on a nearby object, such as a wall, the pavement, or a lamp post.<ref name=":0" /> Those offering Wi-Fi service might also draw such a symbol to advertise the availability of their Wi-Fi location, whether commercial or personal.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Clyde|first=Laurel A.|date=2003|title=Wi-fi and Warchalking.|journal=Teacher Librarian|volume=31|pages=44–46}}</ref>{{expand section|Cites establishing either A) warchalking was actually used in the field, or B) the opposite.  If it was never actually used, this article may be miscategorized|date=June 2013}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{cite news |last1=Langley |first1=Nick |title=The demise of the warchalkers |url=http://www.computerweekly.com/feature/The-demise-of-the-warchalkers |access-date=10 May 2017 |work=ComputerWeekly |date=23 June 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222220520/http://www.computerweekly.com/feature/The-demise-of-the-warchalkers |archive-date=2017-12-22 }}

[[Category:Computer security exploits]]
[[Category:Wi-Fi]]
[[Category:Graffiti and unauthorised signage]]