Without an abundance of expensive equipment or an Internet Service Provider, Croshere and Popkoff surf the Web all over the Palo Alto area, often by simply driving around and letting their iBooks -- which come with a built-in antenna and optional wireless Internet card -- track wireless connections at homes and businesses.. . .
Without an abundance of expensive equipment or an Internet Service Provider, Croshere and Popkoff surf the Web all over the Palo Alto area, often by simply driving around and letting their iBooks -- which come with a built-in antenna and optional wireless Internet card -- track wireless connections at homes and businesses.

Part of a growing number of people throughout the world who outfox Internet Service Providers and tap into free wireless service, Croshere and Popkoff have essentially integrated laptop Internet access with their lifestyles. By "wardriving" and "warwalking" -- the acts of driving or walking in search of free wireless Internet connections, respectively -- the guys echo a sort of vagabond vibe, taking access where they can get it.

"It's just exciting ... now that you can get the Internet everywhere it's really the killer technology," Croshere said.

Known as "Wi-Fi," or wireless fidelity, the connections are growing in prominence locally as more individuals either volunteer their Internet service to others or simply don't turn on security measures that would block outside access.

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