Just wondering, what are the legal issues that surround picking up on someone elses wireless network and accidentally using their internet? I just plugged in my USB WiFi card and it picked up 3 networks, 1 of which (at least) is sporting a nice broadband connection. I didnt have to "hack" or bypass anything, I just plugged it in and XP did the rest. This can't be legal, but I can't think of anything specifically that would make it illegal. Someone educate me?
Legal issues surrounding 'accidental' wireless internet sharing?
- Thread starter xxAgentCowxx
- Start date
OREOSpeedwagon
Diamond Member
- May 30, 2001
- 8,485
- 1
- 81
one of my projects during college is going to be to get a van that will house a huge file server and not having to pay for an internet connection, just drive around looking for a signal
yeah what is the deal with that? some people warned me that it was illegal so i stopped. is it true?
i don't think that it's illegal. some equate the scenario to stealing your neighbors cable t.v., phone, etc. but that would involve stealing their signal by running wires through their yard. what protects your neighbor is his right to privacy and the bounderies protecting his property. now, if he broadcasts his wireless network (and doesn't encrypt/secure it), i see it as being equivalent to him leaving his front door open and letting you run uhf cables through his living room. it's not as if encrypting a network is any harder than installing the wireless router.
=|
=|
It's an interesting tightrope. On the one hand, you are "stealing" the service.
On the other hand, if you are in your own home and an unencrypted radio signal is being sent to you, it hardly seems any different than turning on the radio....
On the other hand, if you are in your own home and an unencrypted radio signal is being sent to you, it hardly seems any different than turning on the radio....
It is illegal to intercept directTV signals without paying for it. But, directTV siganals are encoded and cannot be decoded without proper hardware.
I would treat a 802.11b/g wireless signal as a radio signal, only if it isn't encypted/secured. If the person neglected to secure their signal, that's their fault. Using a unsecured wireless network isn't illegal in my mind. Using a secured network through hacking and whatnot is illegal in my opinion.
I would treat a 802.11b/g wireless signal as a radio signal, only if it isn't encypted/secured. If the person neglected to secure their signal, that's their fault. Using a unsecured wireless network isn't illegal in my mind. Using a secured network through hacking and whatnot is illegal in my opinion.
How would I go about securing my new wireless router? I don't know how to assign a WEP encryption key or anything because the instructions suck.
If you use it, I hope you don't mind someone seeing where and what you do on the net. Most people maybe clueless about monitoring their own network, but what if somone set it up as a honeypot to collect this information.
Demon-Xanth
Lifer
- Feb 15, 2000
- 20,551
- 2
- 81
I'd consider it like being a guest at an open house. Feel free to look around, but remember the house can have the $%@ bugged out of it.
You would think that if they WERE monitoring, they would at LEAST change the router password so someone couldnt get in and fvck up everything. And would anyone that knew enough to do that use Microsoft hardware?
One of my neighbors has a router w/ default uID/PW, etc.
I doubt anyone that carefree would notice if I used their bandwidth, but, I don't need to so I don't.
I can't get it by default I have to be by a window in my house.
I doubt anyone that carefree would notice if I used their bandwidth, but, I don't need to so I don't.
I can't get it by default I have to be by a window in my house.
ThePresence
Elite Member
- Nov 19, 2001
- 27,727
- 16
- 81
Originally posted by: ThePresence
HAHA.
Of course...I was...uh...just joking. Yeah, that's it. Joking
(And I did assign a WEP key)
Zebo
Elite Member
- Jul 29, 2001
- 39,398
- 19
- 81
I've always found in nebulus cases like this it's easier to get forgiveness than permission.:evil:
Seiously, of course it's stealing. Anytime you use a product paid for by someone else w/o thier express permission it's stealing. (not counting girls borrowing each other clothes)
Seiously, of course it's stealing. Anytime you use a product paid for by someone else w/o thier express permission it's stealing. (not counting girls borrowing each other clothes)
Doesn't matter, you are still in YOUR house. If the only way you could get their WiFi signal was to be in your bathroom with one foot in the crapper and another in a bucket of fish guts, it's still YOUR house and I say you are doing nothing wrong. If they don't secure their stuff, then I feel you have EVERY right to take advatage of THEIR signals that are intruding into your space.
Feck em if they don't care or don't know how.
Okay, seriously, do you really consider wireless network signals an "intrusion" into your home? You people that equate radio and TV signals with wireless network signals fail to realized that if a neighbor turns on his radio, it doesn't detract from the listening enjoyment of the guy next door. BUT, with wireless networks you are slowing the service of your neighbor, and in effect you are directly causing something of his to not function like it should... Another point is this: by you getting the internet for free, your neighbor has to pay a higher rate since less people have internet (if enough people are stealing it).
But with that being said, I still don't think it should be one of your top priorities.
Maybe "intrusion" is the wrong way to say it, but still, it's signals they are generating that are entering my domain. If they do not take the time or precautions to secure their networks and encrypt their stuff, too bad. When they realize that their net speed is slower than it should be, then maybe they'll take steps to rectify the situation. If they still don't, then fvck em like I said.
TheToOTaLL
Platinum Member
- Oct 7, 2001
- 2,246
- 2
- 0
You could always teach those people a lesson by settings up different computers on the different wifi connections, then run Kazaa 24/7
If you don't know how to use WEP, then unplug your access point until you do.
If you don't know how to use WEP, then unplug your access point until you do.
That would work if it were a one-way relationship - but seeing as you've got to send the radio signals back, that argument loses a little weight.
Again, yes it's not legally or morally right - but most people who run unsecured WAPs don't know sh!t-all about security, so they'd never know why Mah IntarWeb Done Be So Slow.
- M4H
olds
Elite Member
- Mar 3, 2000
- 50,127
- 781
- 126
Sure they can tellOriginally posted by: Amorphus
Yeah, it is illegal, but very few people can tell you're stealing their bandwidth.
Wow, never heard of that airsnare before...
But let's be honest, someone who runs airsnare is probably smart enough to turn on their wep anyways.
But let's be honest, someone who runs airsnare is probably smart enough to turn on their wep anyways.
TRENDING THREADS
-
Discussion Zen 5 Speculation (EPYC Turin and Strix Point/Granite Ridge - Ryzen 9000)- Started by DisEnchantment
- Replies: 25K
-
Discussion Intel Meteor, Arrow, Lunar & Panther Lakes + WCL Discussion Threads
- Started by Tigerick
- Replies: 23K
-
Discussion Intel current and future Lakes & Rapids thread- Started by TheF34RChannel
- Replies: 23K
-
-
Facebook
Twitter