I want to know what other people think about this... To me this is absolutley unfair!!?

Question

As reading through the Yahoo! news i found an article that has been catching my eye lately.
Title:
"Man arrested for stealing broadband"

Link to article:
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/itn/20070822/tuk-man-arrested-for-stealing-broadband-dba1618_1.html

To me using someones broadband connection when it has entered my house is acceptable. The goverment should create something that can limit a signal reach for wireless connections if they dont want this to happen. I know radio waves are pretty much everywhere today but come on they should have something by now to limit it all.

People should read instruction carefully and put a password on their wireless connection. Either way its the persons fault for not password protecting their connetion so its distributed over a relative scale.

There have been a few cases like this been showing up... they aren't stepping onto anybodys properties but accessing it from a public place.

So what does everyone think on things like this??

Answer 1

If I was walking down the street and it started raining money - I would grab as much of it as I could in passing - wouldn't most people, regardless of the fact that the money obviously belongs to someone, somewhere.

If I sat down on my own sofa and picked up wireless broadband from next door then i would treat this invasion of my privacy any way I darn well like and if that means to use and abuse it - then so be it - sue me!!

Answer 2

Theft. Is. Theft. If some piracy king gets access to your signal, you'll understand the point the police are making here. I'm a manager for a telecoms company (please don't all shout at me at once, LOL) and I know of several cases where password protection has been insufficient in securing a wireless broadband connection. This has been true throughout the move from WEP encryption to Wi-Fi Protected Access.

This happened to me too, and one can hardly claim that I am uninformed or careless. I was fully WEP protected in the early days when it was the only form of security available, and I still found the neighbours had broken through the safety key and connected via my line (calling their hub ''your mother biatch'', which was vaguely amusing). Virtually any encryption scheme can be broken if a hacker has the time and resources to gather a sufficient amount of data.

However, you make a good point: we have progressed since then. Although there is still an element of risk, if people do take steps to protect their wireless connection using the strongest technology in the current market (such as connecting back to their company using a VPN - Virtual Private Network connection - when in public access areas), in all likelihood they will be safe. It's a case of getting the knowledge out there, so that people know how to protect themselves.

Answer 3

He was in the wrong for knowing it wasn't his to use, though a thief is a thief. I mean people need to be educated to use products properly that's why their are instruction manuals and product support when you purchase them. . If I leave my door unlocked and my home was robbed, should I have not been smarter to make sure I know how to lock my door? It's called being preventative, if you don't want it to happen so easily, take the measures that you can to secure yourself. We lock everything else to prevent theft or at least deter it. Maybe it is about time people realise that wireless Internet is no different and get with the times. Law is in place to protect us yes but we have to do our part as well. The concern with using someones connection as being illegal is to do with illegal activity, hacking, information etc.. and not being able to trace it and that is the only reason the government has implemented this law, otherwise they would care less.

Answer 4

I think the guy was daft for doing that out in the street-he was putting himself at risk of being mugged of his laptop on top of everything else.

On the other hand I agree with the bulk of what you say.I have a wireless router which is password protected.However 3 of my neighbours have unprotected routers that I can pick up and I use them sometimes for playing on my DS and PSP-my wireless router doesn't work well with handheld games.

The broadband signal is unprotected and in my house so that's their fault.

Answer 5

I suppose if he's using someone's wireless connection without permission it's technically theft. However all the owner of the wi-fi connection is losing is a bit of bandwidth so I don't think this justifies arresting someone.

If someone really cares about losing a bit of speed on their connection they should install a password - after all, if someone leaves their door unlocked becuse they couldn't be bothered to check it properly and they are robbed because of this they wouldn't get much sympathy.

Answer 6

I told my next door neighbour two months ago that his broadband was unsecured and someone could be using his broadband for illegal activities. It is still unsecure even though I have said I would help him make it secure. He just don't seem to care.

The idea with wireless is that it can be used over a certain distance and the newer versions seem to be getting larger and larger, so it is more important to get it secured.

If you don't know how ring the help desk of your Router.

As for the person who is getting done for stealing broadband, its his fault for sitting in a public place and just because the person never made it secure didn't give him the right to use it.

Answer 7

well i agree that no one should use others broadband, i never thought it was that bad until my brother said there could be someone outside using your broadband and downloading ANYTHING ILLEGAL etc and the police come to your house, as it comes to your broadband. So i changed my mind quite quickly and made it as secure asap.

Answer 8

A lot of people don't know how to put a password on it. I hate to be so stereotypical but in general the older generations would have problems doing it...my mum doesn't even know how to shut her computer down let alone put a password on her broadband. Doubt she even knows that one is needed! I don't think that is her fault, she is just the product of a different generation and is vulnerable to people like that man!

Answer 9

I can if I want to, access 7 wireless connections locally. So what are the idiots doing with their new toys? If they do not appreciate them or understand how to protect them they should not be allowed to have them. We already have enough p.c.nanny laws to protect those idiots who cannot be bothered to look out for themselves, so why inflict any more on us because some thick, or lazy computer owner leaves his system wide open?. When or where does it end ?. If they cannot be bothered, why should anyone else. I would never leave my car on an inner city car park with the keys in and a tank full of petrol, so why do they do the equivalent, then whinge about it when they get caught out.

Answer 10

My next door neighbours cat comes into my house, does that mean I can keep it then?
And oh look you have left your car keys in the ignition, mind if I take it for a spin?

Theft is theft is theft. Sorry.