Wrong. Radio and TV are over the air broadcast intended for a receive-only application. Wi-Fi traffic is fed from an internet connection that exists because someone is paying for that connectivity. The Wi-Fi thief is transmitting traffic into the stolen connection and consuming incoming bandwidth...both to the detriment of the victim whose equipment is illegally being accessed.
That “stolen connection” is actively broadcasting “I’m here! I’m free! Connect to me!” and hands out access codes (to wit DHCP auto-assignment of IP addresses) to anyone who asks for one. Hardly “theft” when it’s being advertised and actively supported.
Want to prevent “theft” or otherwise make it clear outsiders are not welcome?
- shut off SSID broadcast (the “Hey! I’m here! I’m free!” thing).
- turn on WEP encryption (the lock-on-your-front-door thing).
- turn of DHCP assignment (the here’s-your-visitor-card thing).
- enable MAC filtering (the “who are you?” thing).
If you’re telling the world they can connect, and make it trivially easy to do so, and thus make it look exactly like it’s deliberately open for public use (like mine), then it’s not tresspass/theft/whatever.
That “stolen connection” is actively broadcasting “I’m here! I’m free! Connect to me!” and hands out access codes (to wit DHCP auto-assignment of IP addresses) to anyone who asks for one. Hardly “theft” when it’s being advertised and actively supported.
Want to prevent “theft” or otherwise make it clear outsiders are not welcome?
- shut off SSID broadcast (the “Hey! I’m here! I’m free!” thing).
- turn on WEP encryption (the lock-on-your-front-door thing).
- turn of DHCP assignment (the here’s-your-visitor-card thing).
- enable MAC filtering (the “who are you?” thing).
If you’re telling the world they can connect, and make it trivially easy to do so, and thus make it look exactly like it’s deliberately open for public use (like mine), then it’s not tresspass/theft/whatever.
...And broadcasting an invitation to connect. If you don't want people to connect, then turn off the broadcast of your SSID and turn on MAC filtering or password protection. You can't complain about someone using a path through your backyard if you have a sign up inviting people to "use this path". If you put up a sign that says "trespass forbidden" (MAC address filtering or password protection), THEN you can complain.