any comp nerds in here?

Very rarely do you get in trouble for using an open wireless network, at least here in the US. Only a few cases.

What you didn't quote is this:

"used his Acer brand laptop to hack into Dinon's wireless Internet network."

Notice the work "hacked". Also what that article did not explain well (because the reporter was probably technically illiterate) was that the guy was arrested for hacking into the other computers connected to the wireless router, not arrested for using internet access outside a firewall. This is not the same as using a wireless network outside of a firewall for the sole purpose of internet access on a wireless connection that does not require a password.

Also, the guy who was arrested was driving around in a car and was caught outside the home of the network he was hacking. He was not just looking for an internet connection, but he was looking for a way to hack into someone's computer on the wireless network.

I totally disagree. It is not my right to give away the internet service that I pay for. This is just like using someone's cable service by splicing into the cable. It is theft of services.

If someone pays for a public hotspot, like at the JetBlue terminal of JFK, then using the public hotspot is fair game.

I have installed a few wireless routers, and none of the had the password enabled.

As I explained in previous post, I was unable to get internet service via phone cable or cable TV for about 6 weeks after I moved into my new home. The phone company and cable company forgot to wire my new street.

I found two "open" wireless internet access points that had no password requirement and I used both of them. The signal strength and speed was fine. I now have my own 3 MB DSL. My wireless router came configured with a password key by default.

I think those cases are only when you tunnel into the network and hack into other computers on the network. No one has ever been charged with simply using a wireless internet connection that is configured without any password.

The ISP's want you to think it is illegal, so they don't loose any internet access sales.

I know what you mean. It is not like there are any apartments where people share one building. Especially in big cities like New York City. The people are so spread out, that they don't see each other for days, let along live near enough to get someone else's signal.

I live in a small apartment building (7 apartments). There are 3 other wireless signals my computer can see.

A lot of people.

You're not ripping the person off, you're ripping off the internet access provider (ISP).

My cousin is retarded. He has Down syndrome. Just because he is not smart, it is ok to steal from him?

What do you mean by "pays for a public hotspot"? If it is public, it is free.

If Starbucks offers free wireless to its customers (they give out a rotating password to their customers) then Starbucks does not pay extra to the ISP for this.

I find that hard to believe. But just remember-- buyer beware.

Not getting into trouble is not the same as being ethical.

Jeff

If someone disables the password key on their wireless router, the presumption is that they don't care if someone uses it. If their access speed is affected they have the option to password protect their router.

Do you work for an ISP by any chance?

I easily hooked up to my neighbor's signal across the street. I told him he was open, including all of his files which I glanced at easily.

He got encrypted quickly.

And what you didn't quote is this:

"Last year, a Michigan man was convicted of using an unsecured Wi-Fi network at a Lowe's home improvement store to steal credit card numbers. The 20-year-old and a friend stumbled across the network while cruising around in a car in search of wireless Internet connections - a practice known as "Wardriving."

Notice the word "unsecured", or open. You wanted proof, you got it.

It took me less than 30 seconds to find this article. Imagine how many could be found when taking more time.

That's a commonly held error.

When you use someone else's connection, you're using their bandwidth. When both of you are using that bandwidth, the person paying for it is receiving less than what he pays his ISP.

IOW, you're stealing.

See my cite.

I guess you didn't read my entire article.

Again, there are two different things here.

1. Accessing a wireless network and accessing another computer on that local network. That is illegal.

1. Accessing an open wireless internet connection which is outside the firewall of the local network. You can get to the internet, but not to any of the computers on the wireless network. This is OK if the person disabled the password key on the wireless network access for public access.

Your neighbor could have set up a firewall on the router or a firewall on his PC that allows no access to his PC by others connected to his router for internet access.

It is true that the ISP lobby is desperately trying to make number 2 illegal, even if neighbors want to share an internet connection, and I would not be surprised if some laws prohibit it. But no one has been arrested for only using someone's internet access that was specifically left open to the public (password or key not hacked).

The guy was arrested for stealling credit card numbers, not for stealling internet access.

Jeff

You apparently are not very technically savvy. I already agreed that if you connect to any network (wired or wireless) for the purpose of snooping into other computers on that network, then that is illegal. Merely connecting to a wireless router that has internet access (without accessing any other computers on that network) is a completely different story.

Not if the person deliberately configured the router to be wide open without a password.

You asked for proof that someone had been prosecuted for using an unsecured network. I gave you that proof. If you want to keep moving the bar higher, lower, or sideways, fine. Have fun.