warchalking

Related to warchalking: Wardriving, Bluejacking, Bluesnarfing

warchalking

The act or practice of using chalk symbols on or outside of places or establishments in which one is able to access wireless Internet for free and without a password. (Modeled on the similar term "wardriving," which refers to the act of driving around some area in search of free, open wireless internet networks.) A bunch of students began this warchalking movement in and around the city to help alleviate their cost of people's phone bills.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

warchalking

n. making a mark in a location where a wireless interconnection is available. Since more and more Wi-Fi hot spots are available, warchaulking has become rare.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • wardriving
  • chalk one up for (someone)
  • chalk out
  • be chalk and cheese
  • not by a long chalk
  • chalk it up to, to
  • like chalk and cheese
  • all over town
  • can't be in two places at once
  • One cannot be in two places at once
References in periodicals archive
It has reached the stage where there is even a company that produces warchalking clothing (Ward, 2002)--OK, you wear golf clothes to play golf, and a swimsuit to swim; why not warchalking clothes to warchalk?
It has been argued that warchalking is either unethical or illegal or both.
Warchalking http://www.blackbeltjones.com/ warchalking/index2.html
Warchalking Legality FAQ http://www.warchalking.org/story/ 2002/9/22/223831/236
Wi-fi and Warchalking
Warchalking is the act of looking for these wireless networks and placing chalk symbols on walls and pavements to let people know where they can access the network.
However, there are those who actively seek them out and it is these people who have begun the warchalking craze, leaving symbols with details of network connections for other users.'
She added: 'Many argue that warchalking is not theft since theft involves taking something from someone which prevents them from using it.
e-business: It's time to make war on the war chalkers
Warchalking has already been called the Napster of internet access, so don't be surprised if it all ends up in court.
LAP IT UP: A free go at warchalking; THE KEY: An Orinoco card
Amy's i: CHALKING IT UP TO EXPERIENCE; WI-FI SPECIAL
But Ben Hammersley, a freelance writer who says he made the first chalk mark of the craze outside his house in London five weeks ago, said yesterday: ``The potential use of warchalking for hacking purposes has been highly overblown.
Warning over new hacking craze
Jeremy Beale, head of ebusiness for the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) said: 'The CBI condemns warchalking as an implicit incitement to irresponsible and illegal acts.
But Ben Hammersley, a freelance writer who says he made the first chalk mark of the craze outside his house in London five weeks ago, retorted: 'The potential use of warchalking for hacking purposes has been highly overblown.
Warchalking was devised as a concept on June 24 by some friends of Mr Hammersley.
Warchalkers make mark in latest hacking craze
If you see peculiar chalk markings on buildings - and next to them groups of people huddled around laptops - then chances are they are warchalking.
But why "warchalking?" It's a pun on warwalking, which comes from wardialing, which (and here's where it starts to make sense) is connected to a long tradition of sniffing around for secret systems of the world.
Amy's i: FREE NET? NOW YOU'RE CHALKING