Is "borrowing" wireless wrong?

[CreamyGoodness]

I just put one in general chat. Maybe I need to request it move...

 

[Airborneguy]

I read the related penal law code for NY, and from what I gather, it is not illegal to simple use wireless. One must access a network to break the law. I'm going to ask my DA friend about this for clarification.

6. "Computer network" means the interconnection of hardwire or
wireless communication lines with a computer through remote terminals,
or a complex consisting of two or more interconnected computers.

 

[opus345]

It used to be legal to use tools to sniff the SSID (basically knocking on the door), but that the minute you connected (opened the door) and received an IP address, you were most likely breaking the law.

 

[Cider123]

define "wrong"

 

[tservice]

Wrong is wrong. You could ask if you could use it, and in return you can teach them how to lock their network down.

 

[CreamyGoodness]

Wrong is wrong. You could ask if you could use it, and in return you can teach them how to lock their network down.

Sure, but you would agree that this is and ethical misdemeanor, not an ethical felony?

 

[CDGoin]

As I mentioned before some of us (Especially those with Fios) have the system setup WITH a security password.

We have to unlock it for the world to see.. MOST I know with open networks in my neighborhood do it so others that need it can have it.

 

[maxamuus]

in return you can teach them how to lock their network down.

Not sure i want to teach them how to lock it down. Remember i have Comcast and El Salvador Bell has more steady connections

 

[jiggs_casey]

I leave mine unlocked.. easier with all the things I have on it. I have a secondary firewall to protect from intrusion into my system.

I would just say that it would be "rude" to eat up the bandwidth by downloading porn or file sharing..

It's not the downloading of porn that would bother me. It's the TYPE of porn that scares me.

I wouldn't leave my doors unlocked during the day, when I'm not here, nor would I EVER leave my internet unlocked...

 

[tservice]

Sorry but I would never take anything that I did not pay for. That is just the way I am.

 

[Aunt_Ester]

Why is it called stealing Wi-Fi when the signal trespasses on your property? =]

 

[Clearcut23]

I leave mine unlocked.. easier with all the things I have on it. I have a secondary firewall to protect from intrusion into my system.

I would just say that it would be "rude" to eat up the bandwidth by downloading porn or file sharing..

Who downloads porn anymore? Free streaming is where it's at

 

[Airborneguy]

Sorry but I would never take anything that I did not pay for. That is just the way I am.

I don't either, but this is a certainly a modern gray area, with very few equivalencies. We're not talking about taking a candy bar from a store without paying. Unless one is downloading feature length movies, the impact is so minimal that it would mostly be unnoticed at all. Furthermore, the owner is literally putting out a signal with a fairly wide footprint, knowing that without security measures anyone can access it with a multitude of devices.

Ethically, the closest comparison I can think of is the neighbor's fruit tree. If their apples fall onto my property, I'm eating them, plain and simple. If they didn't want me getting free apples, they were free to trim the tree before it began to hang over my property. Although connecting to wireless is more equivalent to picking the apples which are still on the tree, but hanging over your side of the fence, I still don't see an issue.

Now if you had to stand on the owner's property to get a signal, that's a different story altogether.

 

[opus345]

AB, I agree that if the signal is broadcast into my space it changes my attitude. I also think that your position is the one that it usually boils down to in a court.

 

[MalFet]

I intentionally leave my wifi open because I want people to feel free to use it. The "unlocked front door" comparison is completely off base here. If they're broadcasting their SSID and haven't restricted access in any way, why wouldn't we read that as an invitation?

 

[CDGoin]

I look at it this way.. When in a new area, I may not have great signal. SO I need WiFi, and I have used networks that others left open. So I am returning the favor. In my range there are 10 networks, I am the only open signal. I am SURE more than a few have appreciated it. As for sniffers, and others trying to hack my system. ONCE in 6 years have I ever had someone TRY to breech my home network.. and I am sure as crude as they were, they were teenagers in the neighborhood (And they didnt get in). I think everyone is slightly a bit paranoid..

 

[Dan]

Not to sound stupid.. oops to late for that. What does the acronym SSID stand for?

 

[tservice]

I give up....

 

[maxamuus]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service_set_(802.11_network)

 

[opus345]

Service Set IDentification

 

[CreamyGoodness]

I give up....

Easy does it, its a conversation after all...

 

[Dan]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service_set_(802.11_network)

Thank you.

 

[passedpawn]

Not to sound stupid.. oops to late for that. What does the acronym SSID stand for?

I had to google it (and I brought it up . Service Set ID. It's just the ID you see when you search for available WiFi routers. You see the SSID on your smart phone, laptop, or whatever else uses WiFi. This ID is broadcast, but you can turn that broadcast off. Just another step to stop snoopy people.

I saw a guy in my cul-de-sac stop in the middle of the circle and hold out some wired gadget. He was looking at a laptop in his car for a few minutes, then left right as I approached him. Odd. Might have been a GPS or something, but I suspect he was looking for WiFi routers. Anyway, my paranoia got the better of me and I tightened up the security a bit. I'm involved in a fairly high-profile lawsuit right now and I know for certain the people involved have had PI's and other surveillance (I've seen some of the tapes).

 

[Airborneguy]

I give up....

No reason to "give up". Explain your position, I wasn't attacking you.

You entered the thread with "Sorry but I would never take anything that I did not pay for. That is just the way I am" and now you're leaving with "I give up". Personally I'd say you never really started...

 

[opus345]

I saw a guy in my cul-de-sac stop in the middle of the circle and hold out some wired gadget. He was looking at a laptop in his car for a few minutes, then left right as I approached him. Odd. Might have been a GPS or something, but I suspect he was looking for WiFi routers. Anyway, my paranoia got the better of me and I tightened up the security a bit. I'm involved in a fairly high-profile lawsuit right now and I know for certain the people involved have had PI's and other surveillance (I've seen some of the tapes).

Um, it wasn't a pringles can was it?

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-make-a-wifi-antenna-out-of-a-pringles-can-nb/

I have been able to carry a signal over a mile (line of sight of course) with a metal tennis ball cantenna. It used to make people freak when I would use it while wardriving on one of the major roads in the city.

 

[ChuckO]

I read the related penal law code for NY, and from what I gather, it is not illegal to simple use wireless. One must access a network to break the law. I'm going to ask my DA friend about this for clarification.

Your definition of using wireless vs. using a computer network doesn't seem to make sense. What other use is there for wireless except to access a computer network (the internet)?

 

[mcbaumannerb]

Your definition of using wireless vs. using a computer network doesn't seem to make sense. What other use is there for wireless except to access a computer network (the internet)?

You can access the wi-fi as a gateway to the Internet without infringing on their home network. I think.

 

[histo320]

Think of it this way.

Their internet is trespassing in to your home. That being said, its fair game.

 

[Airborneguy]

Your definition of using wireless vs. using a computer network doesn't seem to make sense. What other use is there for wireless except to access a computer network (the internet)?

The internet is a public access network. Think a business' internal network, or a personal home network setup with a few computers and a linked printer. Or for fun, let's say the NSA!

 

[whoaru99]

If they're broadcasting their SSID and haven't restricted access in any way, why wouldn't we read that as an invitation?

Because you're not entitled to use anything that you don't have permission to use. Don't even have to invoke law here, it's just common sense. Oh wait...yeah...