WIFI question

[gluck]

Here is what happend a couple of days ago. I was working on my lappy and I see a prompt on the task bar saying that a wireless connection has been detected. Tried to connect it and boom I was in surfing the net without any problems. Now since I have no idea who on earth installed the router and has open access, I have some queries. Is there any security issue in case I use that connection ? I don't wan't any one getting the access of my PC (read another thread here about some one getting screwed by using WiFi) If there are let me know. Incase there's nothing to worry, I guess if I use that connection I heard it'll be hard to trace me. What else can I do with such a connection ? Download songs etc ???

 

[iwearnosox]

The FBI is at your door, I'd open it if I were you.

 

[TommyVercetti]

Without knowing whose connection it is, I would say it is very unethical. Now if you live near a Starbucks or some other coffee shop then it just might be their connection, which is ok to use But I am pretty sure that someone just setup a wireless router in their home, and aren't really aware of all it's capabilities, which is allowing anyone (you) to connect. I wouldn't use that connection.

 

[beatmix01]

install a firewall on your pc..

turn off netbios..

use a proxy...


pray the person whos wifi point it is is a b00b

 

[fs5]

download copyrighted songs, download copyrighted movies, download llama's having sex.... the world is your oyster with that connection.

 

[Amorphus]

find a time when their other computers are on, and try to network print a job that says "Your network is wide open. contact _______ for more info"

point out that you live in the general area 🙂

 

[beatmix01]

Originally posted by: Amorphus
find a time when their other computers are on, and try to network print a job that says "Your network is wide open. contact _______ for more info"

point out that you live in the general area 🙂

and then charge them a hefty sum to secure their connection!

 

[gluck]

See I am in the extended stay cabins no houses etc. Check with the people down there.. they haven't installed any wifi routers so probably some body in any of the rooms might have a wifi router that inturns points to our common network. What should i do .. the damm pc defaults itself to the wifi connection ..

 

What should i do

Throw your computer away.

 

[konichiwa]

Originally posted by: gluck
See I am in the extended stay cabins no houses etc. Check with the people down there.. they haven't installed any wifi routers so probably some body in any of the rooms might have a wifi router that inturns points to our common network. What should i do .. the damm pc defaults itself to the wifi connection ..

if you don't want to connect to it you can disable the wifi device or go into network connections and uncheck "automatically connect to available wireless networks"

 

[gluck]

yes thats what I did.. but anyway is it wrong for me to connect to that network ?

 

[konichiwa]

well technically it's connecting to a network to which you aren't expressly given access.

You could get in trouble but I doubt it would be too serious and I seriously doubt that anyone would pursue much action against you for this. I wouldn't recommend using it but do so at your own risk...

Some simple use probably won't put you in harm's way; abusing it is another story.

 

[sillymofo]

Blah... don't worry, they can't possibly browse your computer (if they're not 1337 hax0r). The average user that left their routers open for use don't even have sufficient knowledge to set up a home network, let alone connect to a computer that's not even on the same network.

 

[Dacalo]

Originally posted by: gluck
yes thats what I did.. but anyway is it wrong for me to connect to that network ?

If you have to ask, you know the answer already.

Honestly, if you want to use it, use it. If you feel guilty, then don't use it, simple as that.