Is this illegal?

[InlineFour]

Before I begin, I'm far from a hax0r, so no flames please.

I noticed that my University offered Office 2003 Professional for free to download for current students. Since I'm not currently living on campus, I use the provided Cisco VPN client to connect to the campus' network. While I waited for the download to finish, I scanned an IP range for alive hosts and aslo scanned for port 445 (Windows file and sharing). The scan completed and I found a couple computers who have file and sharing enabled. :evil: Obviously I can browse on people's PC now. Is this illegal?

 

[hjo3]

Depends. From my criminal justice class, I know it technically would be in Washington state (unless you got the systems' owners' permission beforehand).

 

[keeleysam]

You are trespassing, so yes.

 

[jagec]

Remember the 11th commandment and keep it sacred.

 

[dighn]

even if not illegal, it's probably against some school rules which could get you into quite a bit of trouble

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: InlineFour
Before I begin, I'm far from a hax0r, so no flames please.

I noticed that my University offered Office 2003 Professional for free to download for current students. Since I'm not currently living on campus, I use the provided Cisco VPN client to connect to the campus' network. While I waited for the download to finish, I scanned an IP range for alive hosts and aslo scanned for port 445 (Windows file and sharing). The scan completed and I found a couple computers who have file and sharing enabled. :evil: Obviously I can browse on people's PC now. Is this illegal?

The portscan shouldn't be illegal. Suspicious, perhaps. But probably not illegal.
Browsing other computers would be trespassing. If I leave my front door unlocked, it's still illegal for someone to enter it without permission from the owners.

 

[ATLien247]

Probably illegal, but definitely unauthorized...

 

[AMCRambler]

Originally posted by: jagec
Remember the 11th commandment and keep it sacred.

Thou shalt not covet another man's wife right?

 

[axelfox]

Originally posted by: AMCRambler

Originally posted by: jagec
Remember the 11th commandment and keep it sacred.

Thou shalt not covet another man's wife right?

No, 11th commandment abolishes slavery

 

[Zolty]

Illegal technically no, but they may remove your access for snooping as it makes you look suspicious.

 

[MoPHo]

i don't think it's illegal. but the school will be pissed if they find out

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: Jeff7

Originally posted by: InlineFour
Before I begin, I'm far from a hax0r, so no flames please.

I noticed that my University offered Office 2003 Professional for free to download for current students. Since I'm not currently living on campus, I use the provided Cisco VPN client to connect to the campus' network. While I waited for the download to finish, I scanned an IP range for alive hosts and aslo scanned for port 445 (Windows file and sharing). The scan completed and I found a couple computers who have file and sharing enabled. :evil: Obviously I can browse on people's PC now. Is this illegal?

The portscan shouldn't be illegal. Suspicious, perhaps. But probably not illegal.
Browsing other computers would be trespassing. If I leave my front door unlocked, it's still illegal for someone to enter it without permission from the owners.

File and Printer Sharing is Enabled.

 

[mugs]

These people have files shared on the network? Why would it be illegal to browse files that are shared on the network? The whole point of sharing files on the network is so other people can get to them.

 

[michaels]

How do you go about scanning and doing this anyway?

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: mugs
These people have files shared on the network? Why would it be illegal to browse files that are shared on the network? The whole point of sharing files on the network is so other people can get to them.

Mugs,

I guess we're the only ones that like to read the entire OP anymore.

 

[RichUK]

Originally posted by: michaels
How do you go about scanning and doing this anyway?

Software, you just point it at an IP address.

I did have one ages ago but can't remember the name of the program. Its just an info program.

 

[Cattlegod]

no, is looking into your neighbor's backyard illegal?

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: mugs
These people have files shared on the network? Why would it be illegal to browse files that are shared on the network? The whole point of sharing files on the network is so other people can get to them.

Mugs,

I guess we're the only ones that like to read the entire OP anymore.

Unless we're just clueless about h4x0ring and maybe the fact that they have sharing enabled somehow gives him access to unshared files. I dunno.

 

[RichUK]

Originally posted by: Cattlegod
no, is looking into your neighbor's backyard illegal?

depends if they are sunbathing nakey

 

[InlineFour]

Originally posted by: mugs
These people have files shared on the network? Why would it be illegal to browse files that are shared on the network? The whole point of sharing files on the network is so other people can get to them.

That's true, but I'm pretty sure the owners had no intentions to share their documents.

Having file and print sharing is basically saying, "hey, come look at the files I have".

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: mugs
These people have files shared on the network? Why would it be illegal to browse files that are shared on the network? The whole point of sharing files on the network is so other people can get to them.

Mugs,

I guess we're the only ones that like to read the entire OP anymore.

Unless we're just clueless about h4x0ring and maybe the fact that they have sharing enabled somehow gives him access to unshared files. I dunno.

I'm h4x0ring right now.

Start > My Computer > My Network Places > View Workgroup Computers > ...

25 computers have Sharing Enabled! I must be a God. Or I must be on a campus network.

 

[InlineFour]

Originally posted by: michaels
How do you go about scanning and doing this anyway?

With Angry IP. It's quite actually. Just pick a range to scan (x.x.x.1-254 is usually the quickest.) Then pick a port to scan (445) and press scan.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: InlineFour

Originally posted by: mugs
These people have files shared on the network? Why would it be illegal to browse files that are shared on the network? The whole point of sharing files on the network is so other people can get to them.

That's true, but I'm pretty sure the owners had no intentions to share their documents.

Having file and print sharing is basically saying, "hey, come look at the files I have".

I guess some naive people (women) might share their personal documents so they can access them/print them in computer labs or whatever... but back when I was in school in the "old days" of 1999-2003, file sharing was mostly used for sharing MP3s and videos... it was like a prehistoric YouTube. And instead of scanning for open ports, you'd just browse the Students domain in My Network Places.

Anyway, what you're doing is not illegal.

 

[michaels]

Originally posted by: InlineFour

Originally posted by: michaels
How do you go about scanning and doing this anyway?

With Angry IP. It's quite actually. Just pick a range to scan (x.x.x.1-254 is usually the quickest.) Then pick a port to scan (445) and press scan.

And that will work on any network, even wireless?

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: michaels

Originally posted by: InlineFour

Originally posted by: michaels
How do you go about scanning and doing this anyway?

With Angry IP. It's quite actually. Just pick a range to scan (x.x.x.1-254 is usually the quickest.) Then pick a port to scan (445) and press scan.

And that will work on any network, even wireless?

Sure.