I already have internet access and the wireless card. Is it a bad thing?
2007-03-06 14:24:31 · 6 answers · asked by myangelbarry 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Computer Networking
Well you are stealing aint ya?
2007-03-06 14:28:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are very few viruses that will traverse a network without using some other program (like a corporate email program). You should not get a virus from someone just because you are using their wireless network.
As long as you do not access the computers on the network you are only using bandwidth from the ISP. Although you may (and you have) start and ethical debate about the legitimacy of this as theft it is legal as part of most ISP's end user agreement. Since it is okay to have a wireless router connected to the ISP and the person subscribing to the network does not have any issues, everything is fine.
However, if you are a significant portion of bandwidth you may be costing the host of the wireless network money. It is however the same as if someone was walking down the street with a pocket full of quarters (that belongs to someone else) and a hole in the pocket so that they are falling on the ground. What is your ethical responsibility to inform them that they are giving away money.
2007-03-06 22:47:13 · answer #2 · answered by Math Guy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Morally yes. Technically no. If they failed to protect it it screams use me!!! You could possibly get your computer infected with viruses more easily though and it steals the owners bandwhich.
All the above doesn't count if your using a hotel or a libraries or some other place that offers wireless internet connections
Get a wireless router and use your own. there only about $40. Just make sure its compatible with your card(G with G, B with B)
2007-03-06 23:01:48 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Technically it is stealing and it's illegal. However if you already have your own internet access there is no reason for you to mooch his signal. If you didn't have access I would mooch it for web surfing but not to download stuff or play games. Simply surfing the web won't eat up that much bandwidth and they'll never notice the difference. It's still illegal though, so it would depend on your own conscience. They really should have encrypted it though.
2007-03-07 09:29:46 · answer #4 · answered by Angry-T 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hey howz it goin, If you are in a Hotel or Resturaunt, than it's ok. If your at home and your getting someones wireless signal than there is a possability that you could get viruses from them. What ever virus they have you will get. And I guess it could be considered stealing. Good Luck
2007-03-06 22:31:11 · answer #5 · answered by Tim s 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes it's bad, because you are stealing the owner's bandwidth when he/she is using the internet
2007-03-06 22:29:17 · answer #6 · answered by Andy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋