Is is legal to use somebody else's wifi connection without their permission?

Answer 1

as long as u havent circumvented their protection ... hey, if its unprotected use it ...

Answer 2

It depends on where you are. In both Illinois and Florida, state law prohibits "stealing" someone else's wifi. In other states, it is a little less clear. Pretty much do so at your own risk. Read

"Illinois WiFi freeloader fined US$250 " -- written by Eric Bangeman, arstechnica.com (http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060323-6447.html)


An Illinois man pleaded guilty this week to remotely accessing another computer system without the owner's approval and was handed one year of court supervision and a US$250 fine. David Kauchak was spotted using his laptop inside of his parked car in the middle of the night by a police officer this past January. The officer discovered that Kauchak was using an unprotected wireless access point belonging to a not-for-profit agency and cited him.

Kauchak is not the first person in the US to be convicted for unauthorized access of a WiFi network. Last year, a Florida man was convicted of unauthorized access to a computer network, a third-degree felony after being arrested under circumstances similar to those of Kauchak...[read the rest of the article].

Answer 3

It is illegal in the U.S. and many U.S. States to merely access a wireless device (router, AP etc;) without the owner's permission. In some other U.S. States, the law is only broken if you access a device connected to the wireless device, such as a printer or computer.

Consider this:
You leave home without locking your door. Using one answer's logic, it would be perfectly acceptable for someone to go around the neighborhood testing doors, find yours unlocked, enter your home and take your valuables.

Bottom line..."It's stealing!"

Answer 4

that is unlawful because there are regulations adverse to it. that is the inspiration of all regulation. regulation has not something to do with honest or righteous and appropriate. notwithstanding, from the ISP's attitude, you're accountable of robbery of subscription service. From the perspective of the subscriber, you're utilising their bandwidth and by no skill finding out to purchase it. it truly is probable a contravention of the words of service to allow you to to apply their connection regardless of in case you stumbled on out who's broadcasting that signal. because you used to connect interior the basement, in simple terms get a on the spot router or get proper of entry to point and hook it up interior the basement and connect with that. If the air on your basement is that undesirable, you truly want to do something. in case you've been spoke of for unauthorized community get proper of entry to by technique of the authorities and used the undesirable air excuse, you would probable get a visit from the health and Human facilities human beings. If the air replaced into that undesirable, your position of abode ought to probable be seen undeserving for habitation and also you would get booted until eventually the problem replaced into rectified to the court docket's pride, probable to fee a pair thousand money or extra. at the same time as it isn't going that you receives stuck, that is stupid to threat that once a router/get proper of entry to point will be had for 30 money or so.

Answer 5

There is no law preventing it. Now, if you were to hack into their system, then it would be bad but if they've got nothing protecting it and you can just use their WiFi all willy nilly and you're not hurting anyone than have at it.

Answer 6

What they know wont hurt them..Dont ask dont tell lol

Answer 7

not really