Connecting To Someone Else's Wireless...

[Crism]

Is it illegal to connect to a neighbor's wireless and use his internet? I did this while wardriving once and I could actually see and PRINT from their printer....kinda freaky eh? But is all of this illegal if the network is UNSECURED?

 

[RedCOMET]

Originally posted by: Crism
Is it illegal to connect to a neighbor's wireless and use his internet? I did this while wardriving once and I could actually see and PRINT from their printer....kinda freaky eh? But is all of this illegal if the network is UNSECURED?

YES. Its illegal even if the network was secured.

Think about it this way, if you rob somebody's house, was it justified becuase the front door was unlocked?

 

[Geomagick]

Although I could never condone using anothers network this does raise a serious point though.

An unsecured wireless network is usually because the primary user is unaware how to set their equipment up properly and so unless you the illegal user does something very dumb you are unlikely to get caught.

An experienced user who knows about network security will use encryption and will probably add additional security to sensitive resources, such a user is far more likely to determine whether their network is being mis used or not.

 

[reicherb]

Originally posted by: RedCOMET

Originally posted by: Crism
Is it illegal to connect to a neighbor's wireless and use his internet? I did this while wardriving once and I could actually see and PRINT from their printer....kinda freaky eh? But is all of this illegal if the network is UNSECURED?

YES. Its illegal even if the network was secured.

Think about it this way, if you rob somebody's house, was it justified becuase the front door was unlocked?

I'm not saying it's legal but your analogy isn't exactly the same thing. If I'm sitting in my house and am able to connect to a signal they are broadcasting (onto my property) it's not exactly the same as physically entering their house.

 

[spidey07]

Not this old tired argument again about how you can justify stealing and rationalize it.

Gee, by that logic just pickup a 2.4 Ghz phone and make all the long distance/local/porn calls on your neighbors phone service.

While your at it, steal his water and electricity.

Heck, tap into his cable line as well.

why not grab his dish signal?
:roll:

As far as i know it it illegal and people have been prosecuted.

 

[ruffilb]

The problem with this is that windows AUTOMATICALLY connects to unsecured networks: Even though I have mine set up, my laptop connects to the first available, which isn't always mine...

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: ruffilb
The problem with this is that windows AUTOMATICALLY connects to unsecured networks: Even though I have mine set up, my laptop connects to the first available, which isn't always mine...

That's a Windows problem, and you should contact Microsoft for a fix.

Mac OS X and OpenBSD (the only other OSes I have wifi experience with) will connect to the first available, if they are _not_configured to connect to a particular network.

 

[OfficeLinebacker]

Originally posted by: spidey07
Not this old tired argument again about how you can justify stealing and rationalize it.

Gee, by that logic just pickup a 2.4 Ghz phone and make all the long distance/local/porn calls on your neighbors phone service.

While your at it, steal his water and electricity.

Heck, tap into his cable line as well.

why not grab his dish signal?
:roll:

As far as i know it it illegal and people have been prosecuted.

Again, poor analogies, because in most of those examples the neighbor would incur increased costs.

Cable line/Dish signal, you're stealing from the cable company or the Dish network, not the neighbor.

Again, not saying it is right, but you have to think about it more deeply than to just throw some poor examples at it.

A better example would be what if your neighbor had a fountain of crystal clear water in his backyard, and you decided to drink from it on a regular basis when mowing your lawn? The water is on and running anyway; it's not costing him anything extra, but it IS his water.


Again, not perfect, but better than yours, IMO.

 

[spidey07]

Nope.

Stealing is stealing. There is no rationalization for it.

Seriously I'm starting to lose faith in society after being on AT for a while.

 

[reicherb]

Originally posted by: spidey07
Nope.

Stealing is stealing. There is no rationalization for it.

Seriously I'm starting to lose faith in society after being on AT for a while.

spidey07 is right.

 

[RedCOMET]

Originally posted by: reicherb

Originally posted by: spidey07
Nope.

Stealing is stealing. There is no rationalization for it.

Seriously I'm starting to lose faith in society after being on AT for a while.

spidey07 is right.

spidey07 is right. Stealing is stealing. My analogy may not have been the best, but i think it can be valid... unsecured house and unsecured wireless network.

 

[n0cmonkey]

I go into my neighbor's apartment, without their knowledge or permission, and watch their tv. I mean, it's there and all.

 

[Mark]

can someone explain to me the meaning of wardriving? people go around looking for unsecured networks...then what? use thier internet? you can do that at home. im guessing there are other reasons....

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: Mark
can someone explain to me the meaning of wardriving? people go around looking for unsecured networks...then what? use thier internet? you can do that at home. im guessing there are other reasons....

That's about it. Biggest benefit is that it isn't near your home so it's less likely they catch up to you when you do something you shouldn't.

 

[c3p0]

Originally posted by: Mark
can someone explain to me the meaning of wardriving? people go around looking for unsecured networks...then what? use thier internet? you can do that at home. im guessing there are other reasons....

Google is your friend!!!

Wardriving

c3p0
:beer: