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The ethics of "stealing" a WiFi connection
Ars Technica ^ | January 03, 2008 | By Eric Bangeman

Posted on 01/07/2008 10:46:22 AM PST by SubGeniusX

click here to read article


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interesting angle on the subject...
1 posted on 01/07/2008 10:46:24 AM PST by SubGeniusX
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To: ShadowAce
It's time to put an end to this silliness. Using an open WiFi network is no more "stealing" than is listening to the radio or watching TV using the old rabbit ears. If the WiFi waves come to you and can be accessed without hacking, there should be no question that such access is legal and morally OK.

Tech Ping

2 posted on 01/07/2008 10:47:35 AM PST by SubGeniusX (The People have Unenumerated Rights, The Government does not have Unenumerated Powers!)
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To: SubGeniusX
...while a Michigan man who parked his car in front of a café and snarfed its free WiFi was charged this past May with "Fraudulent access to computers, computer systems, and computer networks."

So it is "free use for customers inside the building"? What about the patio? But the curb is off limits?

3 posted on 01/07/2008 10:48:12 AM PST by weegee (End the Bush-Bush-Bush-Clinton/Clinton-Clinton/Clinton-Bush-Bush-Clinton/Clinton Oligarchy in 2008.)
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To: SubGeniusX

Like “free” music, man.................../s


4 posted on 01/07/2008 10:48:37 AM PST by Red Badger ( We don't have science, but we do have consensus.......)
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To: SubGeniusX

All anyone or bsuness has to do is password protect the access point. Those providing access as a come on can chnage the password daily and have it printed on the reciept.

It ain’t hard.


5 posted on 01/07/2008 10:52:33 AM PST by Jimmy Valentine's brother (Democrat, a synonym for Traitor)
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To: SubGeniusX

The below is not true

I was walking by a bar once and saw a football game on the television inside. The closed caption was on so I didn’t need the sound. I stood there and watched the tele through the window for about five minutes.

Next thing I knew there was a swat team, police helicopters, and FBI suits arresting me for stealing television viewing without going into the bar.


Same thing. If the bar didn’t want people to watch they should have boarded or painted the windows so people outside can’t see inside. If people don’t want their WiFi leached they need to close access.

People are getting arrested for the stupidest shit these days.


6 posted on 01/07/2008 10:56:12 AM PST by Domandred (Eagles soar, but unfortunately weasels never get sucked into jet engines)
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To: Red Badger

Gouge away,
You can gouge away
Gouge away
All day, if you want too.


7 posted on 01/07/2008 10:56:16 AM PST by Leisler
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To: Domandred

Everything is illegal unless expressly permitted.


8 posted on 01/07/2008 10:57:10 AM PST by Leisler
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To: Leisler

Dennis is a card........


9 posted on 01/07/2008 10:57:32 AM PST by Red Badger ( We don't have science, but we do have consensus.......)
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To: SubGeniusX
Using an open WiFi network is no more "stealing" than is listening to the radio or watching TV using the old rabbit ears.

Utter rubbish!

A broadcast radio or TV signal is transmitted for free for all to RECEIVE. A WiFi connection is two way connection of limited bandwidth and is being paid for by someone else. The comparison ends from the moment that you TRANSMIT a request on that link and then consume some of the limited bandwidth with your transmissions and responses thereby affecting performance for the owner of the link.

BTW, go to the UK and receive a TV signal without paying for a TV licence and see if they don't prosecute you for theft

10 posted on 01/07/2008 10:57:56 AM PST by Wil H
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To: Leisler

“That which is not forbidden is permitted”


11 posted on 01/07/2008 10:59:06 AM PST by Red Badger ( We don't have science, but we do have consensus.......)
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To: SubGeniusX
It is very easy to secure your wi-fi/router and you can be 'snug as a bug in a rug' (popular line if the early 50's). Mine came with easy instructions as to how to secure the connections....and it works just fine.

It is a bit of a hassle to re-install or add to a new computer 'cause you have to look up and enter a few rows of hex$ code, but when it's done, it's safe. From then on anyone trying to access your wi-fi will need those exact hex$ digits or they are out.

It appears that a lot of people are too lazy to take advantage of this feature.

12 posted on 01/07/2008 11:00:03 AM PST by capt. norm (Be thankful we're not getting all the government we're paying for.)
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To: SubGeniusX
“So why is it that when it comes to WiFi, people start talking about theft? “

If I’m using WiFi and my connection is slowed because of the thieves, I’m not getting the performance I paid for, the thieves are getting that performance.

I keep my personal WiFi encrypted and protected and only on when I need it, so it’s not that big a deal. I up/download giant chunks of instrument data, so speed is important.

But if you are using your own setup that’s not protected, notice how slooow it gets sometimes (like when someone is downloading a movie, a CD-load of music, or a block of pictures in RAR compression.

The article seems to feel that if you leave your front door accidentally unlocked, you should not complain when your stuff is stolen.

Plus, what IP address is seen? The router, right? Not the laptop or computer node, correct me if I'm wrong on this. If it is the wireless router that is "seen" as the IP address, who gets the responsibility for illegal actions, like downloading illegal music or pictures?

13 posted on 01/07/2008 11:00:26 AM PST by DBrow
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To: SubGeniusX

This happens on my iPhone often. Our next door neighbor, apparently, uses a WiFi and when I access Safari on my iPhone, it asks if I wish to route through ***’s WiFi.

Any of our forum lawyers know if this is a crime in the U.S.?


14 posted on 01/07/2008 11:01:41 AM PST by Right Cal Gal (Remember Billy Dale!!!)
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To: SubGeniusX

If you don’t password protect, then it’s not really stealing.

In theory, having another computer on with you takes bandwidth and slows access. In practice, I have what amounts to an internet cafe in my house that my kids use, bringing their laptops over, and I’ve never noticed any difference.


15 posted on 01/07/2008 11:01:41 AM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: Domandred

Ah, memories of three years ago when my son and I watched the NCAA hoops title game through the window of bar in Chapel Hill. You had to have arrived by lunch time to have claimed a seat inside for the 9:00pm game.


16 posted on 01/07/2008 11:02:06 AM PST by Rb ver. 2.0 (Global warming is the new Marxism.)
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To: DBrow

Years ago, there was a public ad campaign admonishing people not to leave the keys in their cars ignition. “Help keep a boy from going bad” or something like that. In those days there were still plenty of people who knew what’s what, and the outcry caused the ads to be pulled.

Not anymore. Everything is turned on its head.


17 posted on 01/07/2008 11:03:28 AM PST by Freedom4US
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To: Jimmy Valentine's brother
"All anyone or bsuness has to do is password protect the access point."

That password had better be encrypted, or else it would be totally useless. At home I use WPA/PSK and it seems pretty solid. The older 128 bit WEP is a joke because the key can be broken in a matter of minutes, especially using the wireless 'G' standard that has higher throughput.

18 posted on 01/07/2008 11:03:59 AM PST by KoRn
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To: DBrow

what IP address is seen? The router, right?

quite right.


19 posted on 01/07/2008 11:05:26 AM PST by tired1 (responsibility without authority is slavery!)
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To: Cicero
"If you don’t password protect, then it’s not really stealing."

This is true IMO because by default most Windows machines will automatically connect when it gets in range of an open network. No user interaction is needed. How can one steal something they may not even know they have?

20 posted on 01/07/2008 11:07:56 AM PST by KoRn
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