I mean, somebody has to make a statement for another way to look at this. I think I agree it is technically illegal (I haven't read the article, but it makes sense to me that it would be) to mooch off of other people's net connections. And nobody likes a moocher, so the idea of the guy next door stealing my internet connection so he doesn't pay for it himself, I agree is at least as bad as stealing cable. Also, it may be the wrong approach to ridicule the man with the unlocked connection, just the same as it's wrong to ridicule a victim of petty theft of some valuable from an unlocked vehicle-- but that won't stop the police from having a laugh when the guy explains that he went into the mall with his windows down and wallet laying front seat. But really, if I had a way of allowing an innocent person who just wanted a quick check of his email or weather update, or whatever, to do so without placing myself in any danger, and knowing he's not actually costing the internet provider anything since this isn't like his daily habit, but a circumstance, I'd totally let him, wouldn't you? So to some extent this is all self-justification. No I don't ever go regularly sniffing out networks and trying to download hours of porn following, but yes, with my PDA in pocket, I sometimes find myself in a situation where it sure would be convenient if I could just download my messages real fast, or whatever, and yes, I have turned on the wifi just to see if anyone in the immediate vicinity left theirs unlocked.
I don't think I've spoken as eloquently as planned, but surely what I'm speaking of is a little different than your average theft. It's not like I actively seek out renters of internet time as victims from which I can steal bandwidth, never paying for it myself. I guarantee I cost neither the internet provider nor the renter anything by such a small borrowing. It's a little bit like stealing cable which people would try and justify, such as the case where the signal is just sent over the air, and they just descramble it, but clearly they are using something they are not paying for, and therefore costing the provider. Well anyway, it makes sense that there must be a law against this, but I guess I'm just saying that I wish that law never had to be enforced and perhaps while still technically illegal, the actions I partake in would be viewed by all as quite all right and therefore never punishable.
does anybody agree, or should I never turn on my wifi again without making sure it connects to nobody's network but my own?
I know people that leave their access points open and and allow internet traffic though but not acces to their host computers. My thought is that if you do not want people to use your access point lock it down. Also using someone's access point for internet access leaves you open if your computer is not locked down.
In the business park that I work in I can connect to 5 different access points from my desk, all open. One access point allowed my computer to zeroconf with their printers. So I printed out a warning that they should really WEP their network because people can access it. The next day that network wasn't available. What I don't understand is why people get a wireless network and don't lock it down.
At home my network is WEP enabled, does not broadcast, and all computers have a static IP just because I am paranoid 8)
This story raises some interesting questions. I read an article that took the approach that if someone doesn't secure their connection, then there should be no punnishment for somebody else using it. The analogy is that if you are at a place of business, ie. an airport, coffee shop, hotel, etc and there is an unsecured, open access point, you are going to assume that you can use it. Shouldn't the same rules apply to everyone? I wish I remembered the source of the article. Sorry for not being able to cite it. Then again, if the front door to a business is unlocked, you can walk in. The same doesn't hold true to somebody's house.
Also, what if someone has an access point that the want to keep private (yet do nothing to secure it) and are located near a place of business where people my confuse whether that particular access point is provided for customer's usage, or a private access point? Where legally can we draw the line? Another question is whether there can be any ownership of the radio waves used. I'm fairly sure that the FCC has set asside WiFi frequencies as public frequencies. If that is the case, can someone be prosecuted for using these frequencies on an unprotected network? If I turn on my CB radio and happen to listen in on somebody having a private conversation, I may switch channels out of respect, but if I don't, I certainly won't feel in danger of being arrested.
Obviously, if you find yourself connecting to an access point that is privately owned and probably not secured out of ignorance of the owner of the access point, then you should disconnect not us that connection. But from a legal stand point I don't know how it will come down when were are talking about publically owned radio frequencies. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
Wasn't this covered like last week????? Anyway, it's about time. Granted, I ain't saying this guy should not be punished. He should, but the guy running the AP should have secured it.
Sorry, I don't get it! At the price of gas these days, and the shear inconvenience of driving around trying to find an open network, just doesn't cut it with me........For just a few bucks a month you can have an internet connection right in your own home.....no need to hop in the car and go looking for a connection everytime you want to check your email...maybe it's just me.
Just to clarify, I was neither ridiculing nor criticizing the owner with my comments.
In my opinion, I agree that it's good practice for everyone to lock down their wireless network, but to me, blaming the owner for this incident seems analogous to blaming the victim of a car theft because they happened to leave their car unlocked. Was it negligent? Sure. Does it mean the owner should legally be at fault? Not in my opnion.
I think saying the homeowner should have done something differently is the wrong approach. The guy (stealing wifi) clearing knew he was breaking the rules, why should the victim have to change what they do?
I totally disagree. The law makes it illegal to use someone else's wireless connection without authorization. Problem is, how do you know if somone has intentionally left the AP open or whether it is carelessly left open. In light of how simple it is to secure the AP in even the smallest way, I believe that the law should presume authority where the owner has taken NO steps whatsoever to lock down the AP.
Sorry, I don't get it! At the price of gas these days, and the shear inconvenience of driving around trying to find an open network, just doesn't cut it with me........For just a few bucks a month you can have an internet connection right in your own home.....no need to hop in the car and go looking for a connection everytime you want to check your email...maybe it's just me.
Dave
How do you gather that the so called "stealer" was from the vincinity and was so stingy and had so much time at hand that he felt he had to wander around to "steal" someone's wireless internet access???
I'd rather think the guy was quite or very far from his place and needed internet access. If not in this particular story, many people could be in such situation while away from home/office
I feel (but that's just me; well there are a few of us too) that if:
- you don't access the host's computer files
- you don't use a substantial part of the bandwidth*
- do it occasionally
- don't do illegal things while connected to the net
then using someone's wireless access isn't morally (and consequently logically should be legally too) wrong!!
Now imagine it's dark outside, your front porch light is on and a passerby uses your light to view a map, etc. Would you say he's stealing your light??
No that would be ludicrous. Same here with wifi if there's no abusing it.
*=I know it's vague and therefore impossible to determine. However I'm sure technologically it would be possible for example to set a given amount of bandwidth free for passerbys.
I totally disagree. The law makes it illegal to use someone else's wireless connection without authorization. Problem is, how do you know if somone has intentionally left the AP open or whether it is carelessly left open. In light of how simple it is to secure the AP in even the smallest way, I believe that the law should presume authority where the owner has taken NO steps whatsoever to lock down the AP.
What you do is decide not to steal unless you've got a reason to believe it was left open on purpose.
- don't do illegal things while connected to the net
then using someone's wireless access isn't morally (and consequently logically should be legally too) wrong!!
Oh, please....so as long as I leave my keys in my car and you take it for a drive, as long as you don't do anything illegal, such as speed, that is ok? :roll:
Hmmm
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