[argh_tfm]

http://www.link.nyc/faq.html

[qwerty_asdf]

  Question:

  How secure is LinkNYC Wi-Fi?

  Answer:

  The LinkNYC Private network is one of the first 
  free municipal Wi-Fi services in the country to 
  offer an encrypted network connection between your 
  device and the hotspot, securing all wireless 
  communications between devices and the Link.

Gee, sounds swell! But how?

[codyb]

I'm not sure about the feasibility of the encryption protocol but as an anecdotal note, a buddy of mine worked as a software engineer at Control Group and I almost considered interviewing there when I was looking around recently, so they are investing in a significant number of engineers at the very least.

[revelation]

Probably, not at all.

I just visited the site, and it has this extraordinary claim:

In addition to Link’s features being free to the public, they also come at no cost to taxpayers.

So either they have a money printing machine, or they will be doing DPI and adding in / replacing advertisements in no time.

[enraged_camel]

Did you read the article?

"The full network will install more than 7,500 public hubs throughout the city, each replacing a pre-existing phone booth. Once completed, the hubs will also include USB device charging ports, touchscreen web browsing, and two 55-inch advertising displays. The city estimates that ads served by the new hubs will generate more than $500 million in revenue over the next 12 years."