Surfing the net on a neighbors wireless connection

[TechnoPro]

Originally posted by: kt

Originally posted by: eLinux
btw...

I'm no lawyer, so I'm wondering: is it "illegal" to use your neighbors WiFi connection if they leave it open for the world?

I mean, technically it's "wrong" if you stop and think about it (at least it borders wrong), but ...is it illegal? Technically you're no doing anything to break in, so I figure there's nothing illegal about it. Maybe I'm wrong.

I don't know.. would you say tapping into your neighbor's phone line be illegal?

The Axim is powered on, and one button is pressed to activate wireless. That's it. There is no tapping in, there is no "hacking" involved. The device functions, as designed, to detect, auto-configure, and connect with the nearest wireless network.

As far as my use of her connection, it was as simple as the Axim telling me that I was pulling in a signal. I thought to myself, "No way!?!?". So I launched that Pocket IE to test said connection and the rest was history.

Brings me to the thought of 2 houses, both with wireless routers, same brand, same factory default settings. An access point in house A could conceivably pick up and utilize the signal from house B, correct? And most non-educated users would not know the difference.

Illegal? Sure...

 

[amdskip]

Wow, great thread here. I plan on purchasing an axim sometime.

 

[JonnyBlaze]

my router has 2 wpa algorithims to choose from: tkip & aes

does it matter which one is used??

JB

 

[kwo]

Ok, this thread has been very informative for me, a first time home networking ignoramus.

First, I'm not *too* concerned with someone getting access, as I'm just ICS'ing through my desktop's dialup. Hence, it's inactive most of the time unless I'm online. However, I do have Win98SE and MacOS X machines using the WAP, and sharing enabled...so when these machines are on, even though there's no dialup, I should still be concerned about someone accessing these computers, right?

Second, I have the outpost freebie Uniden WNP1000 plugged into another freebie, the Uniden PSC500, which is subsequently plugged into my WinXP desktop (with ZoneAlarm enabled/ Windows firewall disabled). Yes, I'm poor.

Now, for security, if I understand things correctly, I do *NOT* have the ability to do WPA (with this WAP), so I'm stuck with WEP (acronym city, here we come).
So the subsequent list is about the best I can do, right:

1. change default IP range
2. change WAP's password
3. Restrict MAC addreses
4. Enable 128bit WEP
5. Turn off SSID broadcast (I assume this is done through the WAP's config screen?)

Sound OK?

In terms of filesharing, I just set up the simple method with the Win98 and WinXP machines of sharing a particular folder...is that a big security risk if someone gains access to the wireless network?

Thanks for the discussion about this y'all, as I said it's been informative....

Ran

 

[kwo]

Originally posted by: kt
I can solve the WAR drives problem pretty quick. Once in a while I would look outside my window and survey the area around my house. If I see any geeks with a laptop, I will run after him with my baseball bat and smash his laptop to pieces.

LOL! I reread this thread after posting...this is an <*excellent*> solution... heeheehee

 

[xxAgentCowxx]

im leeching off someones wireless in my apt complex (i believe its the people above us) while im waiting for my DSL installation kit. i dont think it would be illegal because i didnt do anything besides plug in my wifi USB thing, winXP did the rest. anyone actually know about the legality of this?

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

You're stealing their service, and you don't think it's illegal?

PLEASE!!! :disgust:

 

[stephbu]

Originally posted by: kt

Originally posted by: eLinux
btw...

I'm no lawyer, so I'm wondering: is it "illegal" to use your neighbors WiFi connection if they leave it open for the world?

I mean, technically it's "wrong" if you stop and think about it (at least it borders wrong), but ...is it illegal? Technically you're no doing anything to break in, so I figure there's nothing illegal about it. Maybe I'm wrong.

I don't know.. would you say tapping into your neighbor's phone line be illegal?

Regardless of degree of owner competancy you skate a damn fine line between legal and illegal when you exploit someone elses communication channel. Even accidental use can be problematic if you then advertise your actions or discoveries to others.

ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS PRIVACY ACT, UNITED STATES CODE
TITLE 18. CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I--CRIMES
CHAPTER 119--WIRE AND ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS INTERCEPTION AND INTERCEPTION OF ORAL COMMUNICATIONS

There are clauses that exempt some actions if inept channel owners don't use encryption.

Its all patchy legalize that I don't fancy testing in court of law.

 

[olds]

Just saw this on Tech TV:
Monitor your wireless with AirSnare.
Tells you the MAC address of wireless users and what they are accessing.

How do I find the MAC address on my machines?

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Just saw this on Tech TV:
Monitor your wireless with AirSnare.
Tells you the MAC address of wireless users and what they are accessing.

How do I find the MAC address on my machines?

ipconfig /all for Windows machines.
ifconfig -a for Unix-like systems.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Just saw this on Tech TV:
Monitor your wireless with AirSnare.
Tells you the MAC address of wireless users and what they are accessing.

How do I find the MAC address on my machines?

ipconfig /all for Windows machines.
ifconfig -a for Unix-like systems.

Thanks.
Is it the one listed under Physical Address?

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Just saw this on Tech TV:
Monitor your wireless with AirSnare.
Tells you the MAC address of wireless users and what they are accessing.

How do I find the MAC address on my machines?

ipconfig /all for Windows machines.
ifconfig -a for Unix-like systems.

Thanks.
Is it the one listed under Physical Address?

Probably. It'll look something like: 00:03:93:4b:27:5a.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Just saw this on Tech TV:
Monitor your wireless with AirSnare.
Tells you the MAC address of wireless users and what they are accessing.

How do I find the MAC address on my machines?

ipconfig /all for Windows machines.
ifconfig -a for Unix-like systems.

Thanks.
Is it the one listed under Physical Address?

Probably. It'll look something like: 00:03:93:4b:27:5a.

That looks like it but mine uses - instead of :
IE: 00-0C-6E-46-9G
Thanks.