and use his service??
I have a router, but I swear I am constantly having conflicts with other routers close to me. I know that you have the option of having a secured signal and an unsecured signal (which I did not care for mine atleast) so if someone close to me also has an unsecured signal from their router, can I get away with not having to pay for internet service?
2007-02-17 02:00:48 · 31 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Laptops & Notebooks
Yes, you would -probably- get away with it. There are disadvantages with using an unsecured signal though. They could intercept your traffic and steal your passwords and information but this isn't likely but easy if your neighbor knew how.
To reduce conflict with other signals you could change the channel your wifi network is working on.
However, there is precedence that makes it illegal.
http://www.dailynugget.com/tag/wifi
I don't think it should be illegal though. How can a person assume that just because the network is unsecured the neighbor didn't intend to keep it that way to allow his neighbors access. Sure, this violates his service agreement but that's his problem and many people leave their wifi open not caring if their neighbors are using it.
In this case, the guy drove to the house to get a stronger connection but still that's iffy.
If a person doesn't want to share their internet access they should secure it. I don't care how little you know, it takes 5 minutes to read the instructions.
2007-02-17 02:03:01 · answer #1 · answered by Eric L 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unsecured or secured doesn't really have any effect on interference, you still going to have it either way. What you can do to help is log into your router and change the channel it is on. If someone close to you has a wireless router then you dont really need a wireless router at all. Its you laptop's wireless card that picks up the signal. Of course i dont condone this behavior without asking them first, this is illegal in some state and could get you in trouble. The best thing to do is just change your network to secure, change the channel it's broadcasting on, and maybe get a new antenna for your router.
2007-02-17 10:07:18 · answer #2 · answered by Carlo R 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course. I can get up to 7 routers showing on my wireless PC and this is living on an estate of mostly detached houses. All but one are encrypted, but I can't get in to the unencryoted one - probably smething to do with AOl and dns etc... I did have a conflict with one which was always throwing my Netgear USB thingy, so I had to change channels. Only 13 on a g router so can get tricky!
Now got 2 x Wii's also on the network - they can see 4 or 5 as well...
2007-02-17 10:14:16 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes you can I'm always getting my son's girlfriends signal, which by the way is not strong enough and makes my internet goes slower she lives across the street, what you have to do is make sure that you make your signal be automatic and the one for your neighbor manual even though this doesn't mean that you will stop getting their signal. Just check your laptop connection and make sure that you are in your router. Good luck.
2007-02-17 10:06:46 · answer #4 · answered by Milagros N 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
oh yea and worse i picked up things i dint want too .. move the router.. or you 2 could be networking .. .. if someons has cable or internet u can set up a router a foot away from that signal.. or just move it u buy a router.. not the service th eperson how has service u can bounce off it thru the router.. but.. i perfer not or u can go to an internet cafe library at school etc
2007-02-17 20:41:37 · answer #5 · answered by gypsygirl731 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is possible. But what happens when they notice their bandwidth has slowed and they put security on their router. Then you would have to pay for your internet all over again. Besides some places consider this to be stealing. You can go into your computer and tell it to not connect to the other conflicting routers. That would be best.
2007-02-17 10:12:33 · answer #6 · answered by Mike 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes you can but it does slow down their connection and you may not always have a good enough connection to log on, and sometimes it will disconnect you. If you are playing games online or doing anything that a drop signal will be a problem then it is not a good idea.
BTW: I believe it is illegal though to use someones connection without permission like this.
2007-02-17 10:08:18 · answer #7 · answered by InuYasha chic 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have the same problem I have, so many unencrypted "hot spots" in your area that you are getting "jammed" by too many different freq. Those who feel they don't need encryption on their wireless, or don't know how, normally will not notice if you "piggyback" their system, and it is NOT illegal to use it if it is unencrypted, only if you break encryption to run on his wireless. Solved my problem by running a wired network, much more secure and don't have to worry about stray signals, weather related activity, and so on. Even the techs from my provider could not make the wireless work, just too much interference.
2007-02-17 10:10:45 · answer #8 · answered by tullfrk4u 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Can you do it, yes. Can you get away with it, maybe, maybe not, depends on the neighbor that you're leeching internet service from. They can find out about it if they know where to look. Unauthorized access to a computer network also illegal in many places, so if they wanted to, they could press charges.
2007-02-17 10:11:40 · answer #9 · answered by Clutchitude 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is possible, I pick up 3 others with my lap top but only use my own as there is a possibility of other people getting your personal info if it is not a secure connection.
2007-02-17 10:57:35 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋