[Pnickle]

Hey,
I am always coming up with ideas, and currently got a new web product in the making. I need some more cash for it so i got thinking of a new quick way to raise money.
Heres the idea:

Currently there is a massive move to wireless networking, theres heaps of people out there that are not tech savvy but have setup wireless networks. I drove around the place where i live a noticed heaps of these networks are unsecured. I am guessing these are the networks run by the non tech savvy users. So the business idea is this, get it a car, get a laptop.. drive around a find these unsecured networks.. when you do go knock on the door and offer to secure the network for $20 or so dollars. If you can do 25 a day = 500 beans.

I know its not a massively long term viable business, but it is a great way to make a quick buck.

What do you people think? Whos keen to have a crack? Anyone know of any cool technology that could help pin point unsecured networks?

A big city could be a gold mine!

[ASJ]

Originally Posted by Pnickle

Hey,
I am always coming up with ideas, and currently got a new web product in the making. I need some more cash for it so i got thinking of a new quick way to raise money.
Heres the idea:

Currently there is a massive move to wireless networking, theres heaps of people out there that are not tech savvy but have setup wireless networks. I drove around the place where i live a noticed heaps of these networks are unsecured. I am guessing these are the networks run by the non tech savvy users. So the business idea is this, get it a car, get a laptop.. drive around a find these unsecured networks.. when you do go knock on the door and offer to secure the network for $20 or so dollars. If you can do 25 a day = 500 beans.

I know its not a massively long term viable business, but it is a great way to make a quick buck.

What do you people think? Whos keen to have a crack? Anyone know of any cool technology that could help pin point unsecured networks?

A big city could be a gold mine!

I think I would a little freaked out if someone came to my door and told me "Hey I noticed that your wireless network isn't secured. Want me to fix it?"

Plus, I'm not sure how you would pinpoint it to a single house.

I think if you drove around, found neighborhoods that had a lot of unsecured networks and did some kind of flyer campaign (maybe even door to door) to tell people the risks of unsecured networks in their homes and then offered your services it might work better.

Cool idea though. With some additional considerations, I think it could be a simple, viable business to make a little extra money.

Just my thoughts.

[pboychuk]

Id say have some type of sales pitch like.... I bet you if you go to your computer right now my picture will be on the background...

[Pnickle]

I like the flyer idea, might give that one a go.

Remember the target market is most likely going to be the older no tech savvy computer users. I think this is an important thing to remember when thinking about what peoples reactions will be..

what do you think a good price is 20 beans?

[byzantium]

I would go the flier route. You never know what the reaction of some guy will be if you knock on his door and tell him that you accessed his home network because it was unsecured. Note how many networks are unsecured then print up a flier saying "did you know that 4 out of 5 wireless networks in Neighborhood X are unsecured?" then list what can happen (real scary stuff, like somebody accessing your bank accounts and emptying them, somebody stealing your personal info, etc) then offer to secure their network. I think your price is way too low, you probably should charge several hundred bucks. I've got a project in the pipeline right now or else I would do this, I'm an A+ Certified technician.

[Fanatik]

I know you're charging so little because you want a quick buck and not scare anyone away - but that's the thing... if you low ball TOO much, you lose credibility on that fact alone. I think if you charged higher, you're not ripping people off.. you're providing a decent service to those that just dont know what needs to be done.

You'd definitely need to hit the old folks though... a mid-20's guy would laugh!

[Pnickle]

Alrighty,

I reckon thats some good advice.
Ill go the flyer path, and maybe charge 100 beans, see what the response is like.

I agree with the fact that a lot of younger people will laugh at this service, but i dont expect them to be the ones with the insecure networks. I am guessing its going to be the older crowd.

Iv got a great spot to start @, rich suburb (2m+ homes)... easy to figure out what networks are running at what house and good chance its all old people.

Ill let everyone know how is goes, iv got a way more serious business i am focusing on. but this weekend idea will be good for a few bucks here and there.

100 sound fair? Its not a hard thing to do at all once i have permission to secure the network.

[ADVERTISE HERE!]

Yes. It's a very interesting concept. Perception of quality based on price. We're in a similar situation - actually raising our prices to increase sales! Crazy, huh?! Give it a try.