There are alot of other students near where I live. My computer is picking up at least 5 different wireless connections and operating much faster than my dial up. Am I wrong to "freely" use the internet connection or should I try to figure out whose they are and tell them I am connecting to it? I fear someone will figure out that I have been using their connection.
2006-07-09 09:13:02 · 11 answers · asked by nene 3 in Computers & Internet ➔ Internet
you're not the only one doing it so don't worry.
2006-07-09 09:16:25 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
From a legal standpoint you are "stealing" their wireless connection. I agree that a wireless network should be properly protected, but I disagree that not protecting means that anyone can have it. If I leave a bicycle on my front porch, does it make it right for someone to take it?
Your idea of finding the owner of the connection is a great idea. Unless the wirelsee network owner is like me and has a booster antenna on his transmitter, one of the houses you can see easily is the likely owner. Knock on their door and ask. You may be surprised in that they may not mind you using their connection.
In my mother's cable provider's Terms of Service, they specifically prohibit the sharing of broadband with a computer located at another address. My cable provider does not have that prohibition. If a neighbor asked if they could share, I would not mind. (Unless they planned to hog all the bandwidth all of the time!)
Will D
Enterprise, AL
PS Do a websearch on this issue. Some arrests were made in and around Orlando, FL in the past year for people stealing wireless access.
2006-07-09 16:26:29 · answer #2 · answered by Will D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the idiots have not pass-word protected the Wan, then by all means, fire away. It would take a serious hacker to find that you have been using the network, and could only be done on the other end (where you send email, etc. ) IF you are going to use an open network (WAN), make sure your computer is firewalled into a coma, otherwise, others will be able to read your drive. Good luck
2006-07-09 16:17:41 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well it's wrong but secretly I did it too when I was in your situation
It's going to be hard to find out who's connection it is and when you tell them that you connected to their internet they may secure it so it would need a password to access it especially because you connecting to their network slows it down for them but it best if you do the honest thing and tell them or just get your own high speed internet like I did because you don't know if they can find out your secure info like your passwords
2006-07-09 16:22:15 · answer #4 · answered by Andy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If they did not closer their network with WAP/WPA encryption it is legal to connect to those networks. (At least it is legal in holland). The only thing I would do is change the name of your computer to something meaningless. So not your name or adress.
It is still very easy to find you if they have an directional antenna to pinpoint you out. But I should take the risk (only geeks like me have those). I 'borrowed' the internet of a company 1 kilometer away from me with this antenna when I didn't pay my telephone bill. :p
btw. it is very anti-social to download movies via p2p software or other bandwidth killing applications.
2006-07-09 16:20:43 · answer #5 · answered by ActionHenkFromHolland 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Screw them, more power to ya man. Before I got my 6MB DSL I did that to my neighbors all the time. If they were so worried about their connections then they'd have a firewall installed so you wouldn't be able to get in. I don't think its illegal, I think its immoral, or at least to societies standards... but whatever, if they don't have their stuff protected, then they probably wont ever find out. just dont share anything.
2006-07-09 16:18:35 · answer #6 · answered by Jesus 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Open is open. I purposely leave mine open, and use good security software. But then again, I also think the Internet should be a public good and be free.
2006-07-09 16:17:25 · answer #7 · answered by mosesqueenofegypt 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
lots of people do it, it would only be an issue if you were downloading lots and stealing their bandwidth. If it's just surfing then carry on but remember it is probably illegal. I wouldn't mind as I would see it as similar to letting someone read my newspaper.
2006-07-09 16:28:00 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just keep using it as you are. If someone asks you about it, just say you have no idea why it's doing what it's doing.
2006-07-09 16:16:36 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
nah dont worry about it everyone does that... at worst if u get caught tell the peron u didnt know...
2006-07-09 16:16:39 · answer #10 · answered by Velvet Rain Drops 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋