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I live 1/2 mile from a Radisson Inn that provides free wifi hotspot access, and I have 2 Linksys networks available to me without security, so I get internet for free while I'm at home. Here is the question:
What is the likelyhood that I am picking up the Radisson Inn network? Or am I just hooking up to some neighbor who doesn't password protect his network?
thanks
What is the data rate that your card usually connects at? The likelihood of you connecting with something 1/2 a mile away is near zero (unless they are using Long Range Wi-Fi, which I very much doubt - why would an Inn install long range Wi Fi?!) I think you are almost certainly connecting to some neighbour's network, and the access point is less than 300 feet away.
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Originally Posted by montecarlo
thanks, I see from 1-47mbps listed on my utility, usually in the 2, 5 or 10mbps range. It seems to be dependent on where I am in the house, although I can get it from one end of the house to the other.
Whats more thats pretty illegal to connect to "any" wireless network you haven't been given specific permission to use
You can probably find out which neighbour it is by moving your laptop around. The point where you get the highest transfer rate is when you are pretty much closest to his/her house.
And since it is not secure, your neighbour can easily sniff your data, if he/she wants to.
Since you have connected they could also make a case that you caused problems with their systems as well
Detectives arrived last summer at a high-rise apartment building in Arlington County, warrant in hand, to nab a suspected pedophile who had traded child pornography online. It was to be a routine, mostly effortless arrest.
But when they pounded on the door, detectives found an elderly woman who, they quickly concluded, had nothing to do with the crime. The real problem was her computer's wireless router, a device sending a signal through her 10-story building and allowing savvy neighbors a free path to the Internet from the privacy of their homes.
http://government.zdnet.com/?p=2912&tag=nl.e550
Also you could go to neighbors house you suspect and have them install
wep or wap 16 versus 28 and then feel good about:thumbs:
Like there is a police task force commited to this? Is this a federal law, or did you just make this up?Quote:
Whats more thats pretty illegal to connect to "any" wireless network you haven't been given specific permission to use
Are you saying that someone could plant stuff on my computer to have me imprisoned falsely? I don't think I have anything to worry about on my own accord.
Yes there are laws about this in many countries and
You may be using their wireless for free but "WHO" else is using it and do they have access to your computer?
And if they do yes they could use your system to store many things
thanks for the information.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ferrit
Sorry to disagree, but however unethical it is, it is not illegal if it is open to the world. It is the user's responsibility to secure their own network. At least not here in NC it isn't illegal. Still, it is a bad habit to do this as it is very unsafe. It's just that in our area I know of an individual who tried to get the local law enforcement to enforce this, but they said they have no authority in this matter......Quote:
Originally Posted by Ferrit
State laws are slowly being implemented and passed about it thoughQuote:
Police have arrested a man for using someone else's wireless Internet network in one of the first criminal cases involving this fairly common practice.
Benjamin Smith III, 41, faces a pretrial hearing this month following his April arrest on charges of unauthorized access to a computer network, a third-degree felony.
Police say Smith admitted using the Wi-Fi signal from the home of Richard Dinon, who had noticed Smith sitting in an SUV outside Dinon's house using a laptop computer.
The practice is so new that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement doesn't even keep statistics, according to the St. Petersburg Times, which reported Smith's arrest this week.
Thank you geoscomp I think Mhubbard may live somewhere there isnt a law
"YET:
I guess just cause people put diamonds out on display they are fair game.
I mean its up to them to secure them isnt it
air waves, radio frequency in particular, is a little more ambiguous than diamonds...:DQuote:
Originally Posted by Ferrit
Not the product its the principle
That Florida report makes no mention of whether it was a secure network or not. If you lock your wireless down and someone hacks it, that is illegal and you can and should be prosecuted. If you leave it wide open to the public, well then that is perfectly legal here in my area I can assure you. It is no different than the local Panera Bread I wouldn't think but am sure you will disagree with me.
There have been cases taken to court where people have been caught using unsecured wireless networks without permission, and they been convicted. I'll find links and post here shortly. That may not be the law in your particular state at the moment, but rest assured, it will be in the future.Quote:
Originally Posted by mhubbard24
If you keep your money in the safe and someone visiting you breaks in to the safe, then that is illegal, but if you have it sitting on your dresser and the same person takes it, then that isn't?
I stand corrected, the two cases I've read where people were convicted, the one did not say for sure if the wifi was secured or not, and the other the guy was charged with using the unsecured wifi connections to send out mass SPAM, so that was the actual crime he was charged with.
People argue that all these things are different because you're not physically taking something, but the bottom line is that your stealing a service that you are not paying for.Quote:
Originally Posted by geoscomp