Posted on 05/31/2007 12:51:13 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd
A Michigan man has been fined $400 and given 40 hours of community service for accessing an open wireless Internet connection outside a coffee shop.
Under a little known state law against computer hackers, Sam Peterson II, of Cedar Springs, Mich., faced a felony charge after cops found him on March 27 sitting in front of the Re-Union Street Café in Sparta, Mich., surfing the Web from his brand-new laptop.
Last week, Peterson chose the fine as part of a jail-diversion program.
"I think a lot of people should be shocked, because quite honestly, I still don't understand it myself," Peterson told FOXNews.com "I do not understand how this is illegal."
His troubles began in March, a couple of weeks after he had bought his first laptop computer.
Peterson, a 39-year-old tool maker, volunteer firefighter and secretary of a bagpipe band, wanted to use his 30-minute lunch hour to check e-mails for his bagpipe group.
He got on the Internet by tapping into the local coffee shop's wireless network, but instead of going inside the shop to use the free Wi-Fi offered to paying customers, he chose to remain in his car and piggyback off the network, which he said didn't require a password.
He used the system on his lunch breaks for more than a week, and then the police showed up.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
That isn’t required. Governments file criminal charges, not “victims.” More often than you would believe people who are supposedly victims of crimes ask prosecutors to drop charges but the prosecutors refuse to do it.
That's what he should go to jail for.
“Their r.f. signal bleeds out all over the neighborhood (it doesn’t stay inside their four walls)”
If their RF bleeds all over the place, is it safe for themselves to not secure their network?
“Where did they waive their property rights?”
The sign that said FREE WIFI and didn’t have any caveats attached....
“Right. The guy has NO right to broadcast into the coffee shop/equipment without their consent.”
The FREE WIFI sign implicitly granted consent. There was no caveat attached like “FREE WIFI FOR OUR CUSTOMERS”
I would encourage you to educate yourself on security issues, not to mention manners.
What sign?
That's what's weird about this case: the coffee shop is making so such claim and is not pressing charges. It just happened that the cop who responded to someone else's report of a car parked near the shop is one of those people who when he farts, only dogs can hear it. We have all known these types.
“What sign?”
The one in the window of the store that was displayed in CNN news reports. It’s been mentioned in the thread numerous times.
Using free wireless at library described as theft
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1790713/posts
It’s really about local merchants hooked up to municipal governments and putting others in their places. ...no competition allowed. Often, organized crime is involved (although many invasions against private citizens have been legalized).
That’s why I won’t vote for any presidential candidate who’ll give more power to municipals or the judicial. That leaves us with Duncan Hunter or Newt Gingrich and excludes celebrities.
1. It’s Trespassing. 2. It’s Stealing Bandwith
It’s no different than someone coming over the border illegally.
I'm interested to hear your views on using restaurant bathrooms. When I'm traveling, I sometimes use Starbucks or McDonald's bathrooms without buying anything. Is this akin to crossing the border illegally in your view? I'm impressed if you've never "stolen water" & "eroded perfectly good urinal puckwidth" without a purchase. I don't remember if I've ever left an "anchor baby" in one of those restroom visits though.
FWIW, I have never broken this Michigan law. But I'm a bit concerned that this is a felony.
Your comments are all well and good, but in this case, what was "taken" was most definitely NOT "private property".
The very fact that the coffee shop had gone out of its way to establish a wireless network, free and open, that ANYone could log onto simply by opening up their laptop, takes this out of the realm of "private" property.
They were offering their unencrypted and unprotected signal "for free".
If they had intended that it be for paying customers only, then they should have posted a notice stating as much at the location (even if it was posted inside, and not visible from the parking lot).
No notice, and again - they purposely provided an "open access point".
The owner (manager) of the shop said as much by saying he was welcome to the service, even if he was not a customer.
How can you steal something that is intentionally being given away?
- John
You should state that as rebroadcast back. Reality.
According to some on this thread you’re stealing their photons.
“I’m interested to hear your views on using restaurant bathrooms. When I’m traveling, I sometimes use Starbucks or McDonald’s bathrooms without buying anything. Is this akin to crossing the border illegally in your view? I’m impressed if you’ve never “stolen water” & “eroded perfectly good urinal puckwidth” without a purchase. I don’t remember if I’ve ever left an “anchor baby” in one of those restroom visits though.”
Great observation.
I do this kind of thing for a living on a part time basis. I work very hard at educating myself about security issues. it is that education that allows me to see your post as BS from someone who is ignorant of what is involved.
You lash out in ignorance sir. It’s not pretty.
Have a nice day.
No. He is NOT rebroadcasting. He is broadcasting.
According to some of the scary people on this thread you are stealing. I am serious. That is what they believe. Scary!
Have you ever turn you car around or short-cutted across a parking lot of a business where you were not a customer?
To paraphrase rwilson99:
You drove your car on private property to steal use of paved convenience.
1.You are TRESSPASSING.
2.You are STEALING use of a free convenience which was provided for paying customers. (paved lot)
You are no different than someone coming over the border illegally.
Please turn yourself in to the local authorities immediately or you can pay your $400 fine to me.
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