Summary
The survey uses passive Wi-Fi observations to understand broad home network security patterns across San Luis Obispo. The goal is to provide residents with practical security education while protecting individual privacy.
Project purpose
This project is designed to educate the public about residential Wi-Fi security patterns in San Luis Obispo. By summarizing neighborhood-level trends, the project raises awareness about common security configurations and encourages stronger home network practices without exposing individual networks or locations.
Data collection
Data was collected using a WiFi Pineapple Pager configured for passive observation of nearby Wi-Fi network broadcasts while traveling through residential neighborhoods. The device recorded observed network security types, signal information, and location context without connecting to private networks. This process, commonly called wardriving, is used to survey wireless environments and identify broad configuration trends.
Data handling
After collection, survey data was uploaded to a secure server for processing. Private identifiers such as SSIDs and MAC addresses were encrypted and hashed before analysis. The public website does not publish raw records, exact access point locations, SSIDs, MAC addresses, or device identifiers. Instead, it displays aggregated neighborhood-level statistics.
Neighborhood classifications
Neighborhood boundaries were defined using commonly recognized areas within San Luis Obispo. These boundaries are approximate and may not perfectly align with official city designations. Observed networks were assigned to neighborhoods based on their recorded location, then summarized to provide general insight into Wi-Fi security patterns across different parts of the city.
Limitations
The survey is a snapshot of observed Wi-Fi networks during the collection period. It may not capture every network, especially networks with weak signals, hidden SSIDs, temporary outages, or limited broadcast visibility. Some mobile hotspots, vehicles, business networks, or non-residential sources may also appear in the data despite filtering efforts.
Privacy and ethics
The purpose of this project is education, not identification. Results are intentionally generalized to reduce the risk of linking findings to individual homes or residents. The map and neighborhood pages are designed to communicate broad patterns while avoiding publication of sensitive network-level details.
Interpreting the results
The survey results are not as expected, but they are good news. The majority of observed networks use WPA2 or WPA3, which are generally considered secure when configured properly. The presence of some legacy and open networks highlights opportunities for improvement, but the overall security landscape appears stronger than anticipated.