FAQ¶

Is PirateBox secure?¶

No. It is an open Wi-Fi by design. It is meant for local sharing, not secret keeping.

Can I add a password?¶

You can, but that defeats the “walk up and share” idea. If you insist, configure hostapd with WPA2 like any other AP.

Does it need the internet?¶

The app does not. The first boot image does need temporary internet access to install Python packages. After that, you can yank the cable.

Why SQLite?¶

Because it is small, reliable, and boring. Those are virtues.

Can I run it on something other than Raspberry Pi?¶

Yes. It is a FastAPI app, so it runs anywhere Python runs. The access point scripts are Pi-specific because hardware is not a fair fight.

Where is the data stored?¶

SQLite at PIRATEBOX_DB_PATH and files under PIRATEBOX_FILES_DIR. If you forget, it is probably in /var/lib/piratebox/data.

How do I reset everything?¶

Stop the app, delete the data directory, start again. It is the digital equivalent of lighting it on fire and pretending it never happened.