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Is using other wireless networks illegal?

do you mean if your neighbors had wireless and you just connected through it?

if so, I really don't know if its illegal or not, maybe its on your own morals. You are technically stealling someone else's service. Its like wiring their electrical wires so that you are using their electricity?
 
Originally posted by: EmperorIQ
do you mean if your neighbors had wireless and you just connected through it?

if so, I really don't know if its illegal or not, maybe its on your own morals. You are technically stealling someone else's service. Its like wiring their electrical wires so that you are using their electricity?
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really??

so if i read your newspaper over your shoulder, am i "stealing" the news from you??

it is a gray area. it isn't as clear as you want to make it out to be.
 
From what I understand, it only becomes illegal once you crack encryption. Certain states have laws in place saying if you have a wireless network that is completely unsecured, then you are essentially a "hot spot" and it isn't illegal for a passer by to use the connection unless you set up some form of security that they break.
 
Originally posted by: Marauder911
From what I understand, it only becomes illegal once you crack encryption. Certain states have laws in place saying if you have a wireless network that is completely unsecured, then you are essentially a "hot spot" and it isn't illegal for a passer by to use the connection unless you set up some form of security that they break.
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that seems reasonable.
 
Originally posted by: EmperorIQ
do you mean if your neighbors had wireless and you just connected through it?

if so, I really don't know if its illegal or not, maybe its on your own morals. You are technically stealling someone else's service. Its like wiring their electrical wires so that you are using their electricity?
Click to expand...

Hmmm.. tricky.
I'd say it's legal because the owner of the network has 'choosen' not to secure his network (even if he's cluesless).

It's like putting a case of beer on the street. The user had 'no clue' that he has to put it in his fridge to prevent others from stealing it.
 
Originally posted by: EmperorIQ
do you mean if your neighbors had wireless and you just connected through it?

if so, I really don't know if its illegal or not, maybe its on your own morals. You are technically stealling someone else's service. Its like wiring their electrical wires so that you are using their electricity?
Click to expand...



no....not really. Reason being that one pays a flat monthly rate for all the bandwidth (and if one isn't, one is getting ripped off). When you steal electricity, you actually add cost to the monthly bill.

It's more like stealing bandwidth from the provider, who does pay per MB (I think).

If you're gonna use the electricity analogy then say it's like sharing power on a single circuit. The lights dim right? So in this analogy, your downloads are slower (maybe) from the shared bandwidth.

....i think
 
Originally posted by: Marauder911
From what I understand, it only becomes illegal once you crack encryption. Certain states have laws in place saying if you have a wireless network that is completely unsecured, then you are essentially a "hot spot" and it isn't illegal for a passer by to use the connection unless you set up some form of security that they break.
Click to expand...
So sniffing on at a "hot spot" is ok?
 
Originally posted by: her209
Originally posted by: Marauder911
From what I understand, it only becomes illegal once you crack encryption. Certain states have laws in place saying if you have a wireless network that is completely unsecured, then you are essentially a "hot spot" and it isn't illegal for a passer by to use the connection unless you set up some form of security that they break.
Click to expand...
So sniffing on at a "hot spot" is ok?
Click to expand...
I have no idea, I just said what I have learned from reading/seeing things involving this. If I knew anymore, I would have posted it.
 
Originally posted by: cambre
As long as your waves pass through my house - they are my property.
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Directv and Dish Network may not agree with you there.
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They don't need to agree. The only reason it's illegal to intercept their signals is because it is encrypted. Circumventing encryption violates the DMCA. Receiving radio signals that are on your property is not illegal.

As for sniffing on unsecured access points, it's a tough call. Leaving your bike unlocked on the street doesn't mean it's not theft if someone takes it.
On the other hand, aside from maybe violating the ISP's TOS, there is no real loss to the person you are leeching on, unless you are hogging the bandwidth.
 
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