Using the neighbours internet

[onlyCOpunk]

So while I've been waiting what seems like ages for my ADSL to be hooked up, I've discovered that if I sit at my kitchen table with my laptop I pick up someone's unsecured network.

I've been using it for the past couple of days. Albeit not putting in any pertinent information such as credit card numbers or anything.

For some reason I feel so dirty for leeching off their Internet, yet at te same time not because they did leave it open afterall.

Is what I'm doing wrong?

 

[Aimster]

no

 

[imported_apocalypse]

Legally, yes. Practically, a lot of people do it.

 

[Sasiki]

I'd say they are welcoming people to use their internet. Don't worry about it, especially since you're waiting on the phone company to hook up your DSL.

 

[CrazyLazy]

It's illegal unless you talk to them and get their permission.

 

[Newbian]

You first need to abuse it before you can feel wrong.

 

[PottedMeat]

As long as you don't flash their router with the wrong firmware...

 

[onlyCOpunk]

Then I started thinking a conspiracy theory. What if they purposely left it open to invite people to use it, then steal all of their information.

How safe am I really on an unknown network?

 

[Newbian]

Originally posted by: PottedMeat
As long as you don't flash their router with the wrong firmware...

Someone has bad thoughts. :evil:

 

[coldmeat]

I had to wait two weeks before I had my internet hooked up when I moved into my new place. I used the neighbour's internet all the time because I needed to use it.

 

[Baked]

It's an ethics thing. It's like saying if somebody's stupid enough to leave their $4.5K uber mountain bike in their garage w/ the door open and had it stolen, then it's the owner's fault for not locking the garage door. Sure the owner of the router can take 5 minutes to turn on wireless security and disable SSID, but it's even faster for you to not leech off the guy's unsecured network.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: onlyCOpunk
So while I've been waiting what seems like ages for my ADSL to be hooked up, I've discovered that if I sit at my kitchen table with my laptop I pick up someone's unsecured network.

I've been using it for the past couple of days. Albeit not putting in any pertinent information such as credit card numbers or anything.

For some reason I feel so dirty for leeching off their Internet, yet at te same time not because they did leave it open afterall.

Is what I'm doing wrong?

It would depend on what country you live in, have you checked the local laws for your country onlyCOpunk?

 

[TehMac]

Whatever, you're not raping them.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Why would it be illegal? It's like someone running an extension cord to your house and saying "here you can use my electricity". It's up to them to secure it if they don't want anyone to get in. Ignorance is not an excuse when it comes to security.

Then again guess it would be illegal to walk into someone's house just because they left the door unlocked.

 

[onlyCOpunk]

Legally speaking someone with an open network IS broadcasting it to the world at large.

And the bike analogy wasn't that good. Open networks are not like that at all.

It's also not like I'm using it to bad things with like piracy or child porn.

In the end it's probably just some little old lady or a non tech savvy person.

 

[CrazyLazy]

http://compnetworking.about.co.../f/legal_free_wifi.htm

"Just as entering a home or business without the owner's permission is considered trespassing (even if the doors are unlocked), likewise accessing wireless Internet connections (even open access ones) can be considered an illegal activity."

Just because something is unsecured doesn't mean you can break into it.

 

[JackBurton]

This is the perfect time to start up some movie and music torrents.

 

[Exterous]

Originally posted by: JackBurton
This is the perfect time to start up some movie and music torrents.

Then you can not feel bad until their house gets foreclosed due to the large fines the RIAA imposed on them for your downloads. But just until you watch that new kickass movie you just finished before they shut down your neighbor

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: Exterous

Originally posted by: JackBurton
This is the perfect time to start up some movie and music torrents.

Then you can not feel bad until their house gets foreclosed due to the large fines the RIAA imposed on them for your downloads. But just until you watch that new kickass movie you just finished before they shut down your neighbor

Fair enough.

 

[frostedflakes]

Originally posted by: onlyCOpunk
Then I started thinking a conspiracy theory. What if they purposely left it open to invite people to use it, then steal all of their information.

How safe am I really on an unknown network?

It's possible. HTTPS connections would be encrypted, so they couldn't get any sensitive financial info (unless you were silly enough to send it unencrypted).

It's probably illegal, but I don't really think it's a big deal as long as you keep bandwidth usage low. Firing up a couple dozen torrents on their connection? Kind of a shitty thing to do. Just browsing the net and staying away from streaming video sites? Acceptable IMO.

I'd consider leaving my router open for people to use the net, but there are too many assholes out there that would probably abuse it. The router could probably limit bandwidth for these users, but I'd still be worried about someone using my connection to look at kiddie porn or something.

 

[ed21x]

it's wrong no matter how desperate people try to rationalize it. however, it's just not that big a deal- like stealing 50 cents from someone.

 

[vshah]

Originally posted by: Newbian

Originally posted by: PottedMeat
As long as you don't flash their router with the wrong firmware...

Someone has bad thoughts. :evil:

Step 1: find weak "linksys" network
Step 2: flash with dd-wrt or tomato
step 3: boost transmit power

 

[funkymatt]

Originally posted by: CrazyLazy
http://compnetworking.about.co.../f/legal_free_wifi.htm

"Just as entering a home or business without the owner's permission is considered trespassing (even if the doors are unlocked), likewise accessing wireless Internet connections (even open access ones) can be considered an illegal activity."

Just because something is unsecured doesn't mean you can break into it.

that doesn't make complete sense though, they're broadcasting their signal into your house.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: funkymatt

Originally posted by: CrazyLazy
http://compnetworking.about.co.../f/legal_free_wifi.htm

"Just as entering a home or business without the owner's permission is considered trespassing (even if the doors are unlocked), likewise accessing wireless Internet connections (even open access ones) can be considered an illegal activity."

Just because something is unsecured doesn't mean you can break into it.

that doesn't make complete sense though, they're broadcasting their signal into your house.

Dish Network is broadcasting their signal into your house. Go ahead and use that.

 

[funkymatt]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat

Originally posted by: funkymatt

Originally posted by: CrazyLazy
http://compnetworking.about.co.../f/legal_free_wifi.htm

"Just as entering a home or business without the owner's permission is considered trespassing (even if the doors are unlocked), likewise accessing wireless Internet connections (even open access ones) can be considered an illegal activity."

Just because something is unsecured doesn't mean you can break into it.

that doesn't make complete sense though, they're broadcasting their signal into your house.

Dish Network is broadcasting their signal into your house. Go ahead and use that.

but with wifi you aren't using decryptors or modifying hardware to get a usable signal.