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Connecting to unsecured wireless: Is it hijacking? by ChuckAB 2006-11-19 12:55:59
Thought it interesing enough to start a discussion here. what do you think? (Now must go to w*rk <sigh>)

Source

I came in today to my job at CNet Network's Cambridge office, and had to wait in the lobby for a fire alarm to clear.

I pulled out my laptop and decided to see if there were any available networks...turns out there were 10, 3 or 4 of which were not secured. So, I proceded to IM with my colleage Steven upstairs. Before long Steven asked me "so you don't have any qualms about hijacking a wireless connection?"

When I setup a wireless access point, I consciously assume that if I set it to broadcast the SID and disable security it's tantamount to offering a public service.

However, Steven's question threw me for a loop, because I think he has a point as well...no one gave me permission to connect to the access point. Just because my computer connects automatically doesn't necessarily make it right.

Any thoughts out there on the legalities or general ettiquitte of this?

Posted by: Ned Rhinelander (CNET) Date: 01/21/05
[ Reply ]
  People get arrested for that quite often by Havoc2005-01-27 06:41:12
    do you have links, or proof? by plblark2005-01-27 06:43:05
      Google is your friend by Havoc2006-11-19 12:55:59
        is it really?? (n/t) by Garath2005-01-27 06:49:00
          Those are iffy because of associated activities by plblark2005-01-27 06:51:38
  Hmmm. i don't know. by Eev2005-01-27 06:50:46
  in germany its not by scum2005-01-27 06:52:43
    correction by scum2005-01-27 06:53:42
    Circumwenting is a word Pitr might use. by webishop2005-01-27 08:08:18
      Pavel ? (n/t) by joecrouse2005-01-27 14:43:21
  What's the SSID set to? by Control2005-01-27 06:56:50
    I transposed the u and e and spit coffee by plblark2005-01-27 07:00:25
      *Snort* I hadn't noticed that until now by Control2006-11-19 12:55:59
  I would think that is is hijacking. by Merlin2005-01-27 07:02:06
  If you are sitting at by Vamp!2005-01-27 07:10:18
    Again, what if he has a note laying beside it by Control2005-01-27 07:19:27
      If the SSID actually SAYS "Free Internet" by Havoc2005-01-27 08:16:04
    I was thinking the same thing... by Rattler2005-01-27 07:20:07
    Faulty by MikeCDN2005-01-27 09:15:03
  That's like walking into a private home by Havoc2005-01-27 07:10:26
    But if there's a big flashing sign by Control2005-01-27 07:17:58
      It's more like leaving the front door propped open by Rattler2005-01-27 07:26:19
      SSID is not a 'come in' sign by Havoc2005-01-27 08:01:55
        I love the Kender Analogy by plblark2005-01-27 08:05:30
          Actually, Tasselhoff's retionalizations of his by plblark2005-01-27 08:14:40
        Uh, No... by hemlock2005-01-27 08:05:41
        Wrong SSID = Service Set Identifier by Control2005-01-27 08:08:03
          What if by Vamp!2005-01-27 08:33:08
            I think they have that. by nin_man2005-01-27 08:40:38
  Spying on private data or just getting online? by scum2005-01-27 07:17:19
  The law never made much sence to me. by dotCOMmie2005-01-27 07:36:59
  Is it yours? Did you get permission? by nin_man2005-01-27 07:37:52
    You make it sound easier than it is by Control2005-01-27 07:41:11
      you make the analogy simpler than it is. by plblark2005-01-27 07:44:43
        drat I'm trying to type too fast between work by plblark2005-01-27 07:47:42
        Maybe, maybe not by Control2005-01-27 07:50:47
          No, it doesn't imply that. by nin_man2005-01-27 08:04:59
            I didn't take anything by Control2005-01-27 08:15:17
              We aren't talking about simply by BloodyViking2005-01-27 08:24:35
                Nope - wasn't me. The writer I quoted was employed by ChuckAB2005-01-27 14:03:59
                  Oops. Sorry. (n/t) by BloodyViking2005-01-27 14:10:54
              For the sake of argument, I have been. by nin_man2005-01-27 08:32:15
          classic view doesn't apply here... by scragman2005-01-27 08:16:04
      Yes, it is. by nin_man2005-01-27 07:46:20
        What about sound? by Control2005-01-27 07:52:08
          You're going to look like a ninny. by nin_man2005-01-27 08:00:09
            I don't agree by Control2005-01-27 08:04:14
              Someone has to pay real money by BloodyViking2005-01-27 08:06:32
                No because it doesn't cost them any more by Control2005-01-27 08:11:24
                  How do you know it is "waste light"? by BloodyViking2005-01-27 08:15:48
                    Now that's a point I must conceed by Control2005-01-27 08:19:16
                      Most ISPs don't have a hard cap by MikeCDN2005-01-27 09:20:13
                        AFAIK, It isn't uncommon for them to charge by BloodyViking2005-01-27 09:36:26
                          Neither shaw nor telus have ever charged by MikeCDN2005-01-27 09:43:54
                  how about stealing by gibuu2005-01-27 11:32:14
                    How is that considered stealing? by Control2005-01-27 11:35:54
                      no, you're not. by plblark2005-01-27 11:39:43
                        My dad had one of those chips for years by MikeCDN2005-01-27 11:44:34
                          they refused to sell it to him, he took it by plblark2005-01-27 11:58:13
                            Yep, Legal reasons, Canada laws by MikeCDN2005-01-27 12:00:42
                              takk a service w/o paying w/o permission: wrong by plblark2005-01-27 12:20:04
                                Guess a very different base ethics by MikeCDN2005-01-27 12:25:06
                                they said NO, we CAN'T sell to you by plblark2005-01-27 12:33:31
                                Not really by MikeCDN2005-01-27 12:50:15
                                there is a reason it is illegal in Canada by gibuu2005-01-27 13:07:07
                                Your right, there is a reason by MikeCDN2005-01-27 13:09:58
                                so to circumvent a law placed by your elected by plblark2005-01-27 13:17:59
                                Actually it wasn't the company prosecuting by MikeCDN2005-01-27 13:31:46
              Is a cordless phone signal a material object? by nin_man2005-01-27 08:08:01
                Don't worry about me coming. by krikkert2005-01-27 08:11:27
                  Sure you are. by nin_man2005-01-27 08:14:47
                It isn't illegal to use a cordless phone signal.. by hemlock2005-01-27 08:12:03
                  They're not that encrypted. by nin_man2005-01-27 08:19:30
                    This is true. by hemlock2005-01-27 08:53:08
            Try this one on for size: by Peace_man2005-01-27 08:58:02
              Control tried that already. by nin_man2005-01-27 08:59:38
                Nice logic:-P by Peace_man2005-01-27 09:08:09
                  Yep. by krikkert2005-01-27 09:10:11
                  wow, self depreciation even (n/t) by plblark2005-01-27 09:10:14
                  Its not a good analogy. by gibuu2005-01-27 11:37:31
              The problem with that analogy by BloodyViking2005-01-27 09:34:38
                Ok, so I touch the roses by Control2005-01-27 09:40:14
                  you were in trespass (n/t) by gibuu2005-01-27 11:38:16
                    No, they're hanging over the sidewalk by Control2005-01-27 11:42:38
                      you're not helping yourself by re-writing the by gibuu2005-01-27 11:47:32
                      The signal is, the network isn't. by BloodyViking2005-01-27 11:52:26
                uh but when you leave by MikeCDN2005-01-27 09:44:57
                  but if he had running processes, by plblark2005-01-27 10:07:30
                    but thats not true by MikeCDN2005-01-27 10:27:26
                      but during the time you were there by plblark2005-01-27 10:36:31
                        s/CPU/bandwidth/ (n/t) by plblark2005-01-27 10:38:23
                        yes i'm reading it by MikeCDN2005-01-27 10:58:12
                          I see a lot of Ass and U and Mptions by plblark2005-01-27 11:24:02
                            Well that falls into abuse categories by MikeCDN2005-01-27 11:30:48
                          just because you think the crime by gibuu2005-01-27 11:41:01
                            replace illegal with wrong :) (nt) by gibuu2005-01-27 11:42:13
          Bad analogy. by BloodyViking2005-01-27 08:02:57
      Well, by krikkert2005-01-27 07:57:38
        That takes up into the whole mess with copyrights by Control2005-01-27 07:59:14
    Did you pay for the air that you are breathing? by Peace_man2005-01-27 08:52:30
      No, try to keep up. by plblark2005-01-27 09:06:55
  like I have said before by evilsysadmin2005-01-27 07:40:00
  Another analogy by Rattler2005-01-27 07:55:47
    Analogies with real property don't work here by Control2005-01-27 07:57:52
      But this is not all the money the person has. by Rattler2005-01-27 08:05:02
        That's not the point. by firehawk2005-01-27 08:09:21
          So the person walks by and drops another $20. by Rattler2005-01-27 08:17:56
            Still doens't work by Control2005-01-27 08:20:02
              I thought it was called an ATM ;) by Rattler2005-01-27 08:33:06
    With money someone has lost something by MikeCDN2005-01-27 09:13:42
  Country of origin has a lot to do with legality.. by hemlock2005-01-27 07:58:59
    I agree. by Peace_man2005-01-27 09:04:45
  Clarification -Do you mean hack/hijack as in by evilsysadmin2005-01-27 08:08:43
  No, if.. by tom-2005-01-27 08:27:43
    Tired, bad grammar. You know what I meant.. (n/t) by tom-2005-01-27 08:33:06
      oddly enough, there's no permission stage by plblark2005-01-27 08:38:00
        yeah, i know by tom-2005-01-27 08:55:29
  I do it when i'm in the city by MikeCDN2005-01-27 09:11:30
    Wrong wrong wrong! by BloodyViking2005-01-27 09:39:54
    Using your logic... by Illiad2005-01-27 10:05:18
      Nonono, we had that already by Control2005-01-27 10:09:10
        No, that's your interpretation. by Illiad2005-01-27 10:12:54
          Sorry, I can't agree there by Control2005-01-27 10:21:03
            Which amounts to this morality: by Illiad2005-01-27 10:24:26
              That's a compliment I can return by Control2005-01-27 10:29:05
                Impasse. by Illiad2005-01-27 10:31:11
              I disagree by MikeCDN2005-01-27 10:30:35
                Assumption again: by Illiad2005-01-27 10:33:08
                  There you go again, assuming stupidity by Control2005-01-27 10:36:39
                    Why does it matter? by Illiad2005-01-27 10:40:49
                  If someone couldn't secure it by MikeCDN2005-01-27 10:38:46
                    OK, so they didn't read the manual. by Illiad2005-01-27 10:42:19
                      I just see it differently by MikeCDN2005-01-27 10:54:36
                        The server analogy... by Illiad2005-01-27 10:58:10
                          A WAP is specifically tasked to handle by MikeCDN2005-01-27 11:01:37
                            oh, all that being said by MikeCDN2005-01-27 11:06:27
                              um... and there you crossed the line by plblark2005-01-27 11:20:39
                                Hmm by MikeCDN2005-01-27 11:21:56
                                Same as telling a woman her mammary is hanging out by Control2005-01-27 11:25:36
                                I await Illiad or someone else commenting by plblark2005-01-27 11:35:47
                                Wasn't meant quite that seriously by Control2005-01-27 11:39:16
                                I didn't mean as a mod, I meant in response to by plblark2005-01-27 11:48:05
                                Information on a computer by MikeCDN2005-01-27 11:51:29
                                wouldn't it feel like stalking? by plblark2005-01-27 11:54:37
                                I'm sure it would by MikeCDN2005-01-27 11:58:04
                                I'd call the cops and place a camera to catch them by plblark2005-01-27 12:03:54
                                So you'd rather by MikeCDN2005-01-27 12:04:53
                                twist.turn. avoid. cloud. by plblark2005-01-27 12:07:30
                                It's exactly what you said by MikeCDN2005-01-27 12:08:41
                                I'd prosecute someone who entered my car by plblark2005-01-27 12:11:27
                                If someone was willing to leave a note by MikeCDN2005-01-27 12:19:25
                                here's my response: by plblark2005-01-27 12:24:47
                                I live in a house too by MikeCDN2005-01-27 12:27:49
                                Sadly, I cannot pick up dozens of hotspots by plblark2005-01-27 12:32:19
                                At home by MikeCDN2005-01-27 12:38:38
                                Legal maybe, Ethical... by MikeCDN2005-01-27 11:41:24
                                but that is an ENTIRELY different case by plblark2005-01-27 11:45:21
                                So you don't think by MikeCDN2005-01-27 11:48:09
                                you're twisting here and avoiding the intrusion by plblark2005-01-27 11:53:42
                                How would there be another way to warn? by MikeCDN2005-01-27 11:56:17
                                you consider putting a file on theit PC ethical? by plblark2005-01-27 12:02:35
                                Your hung up on the action by MikeCDN2005-01-27 12:04:24
                                the actions you took are unethical and illegal her by plblark2005-01-27 12:09:06
                                legal does not always equal ethical by MikeCDN2005-01-27 12:13:25
                                the stepstaken in warning breeched their privacy ( (n/t) by plblark2005-01-27 12:21:36
                                but it wasn't taken advantage of by MikeCDN2005-01-27 12:25:54
                                how do THEY know that? by plblark2005-01-27 12:30:29
                                Yeah by MikeCDN2005-01-27 12:34:12
                                agreed to disagree then by plblark2005-01-27 12:35:34
                                would you be offended if I TLP this since it's by plblark2005-01-27 12:38:32
                                Go for it by MikeCDN2005-01-27 12:51:17
                                net send? by lonegunman2005-01-27 12:50:12
                                Didn't consider that by MikeCDN2005-01-27 12:52:36
                                the popup is more regulated by plblark2005-01-27 12:55:24
                              Eh... by Illiad2005-01-27 11:26:09
                                You live in Canuckistan too :) by MikeCDN2005-01-27 11:28:38
                                You Liberal!!!1111eleven (n/t) by Illiad2005-01-27 11:32:14
                                Would you belive I voted Alliance? by MikeCDN2005-01-27 11:35:24
                                You neocon!!!!111hundredandeleven by Illiad2005-01-27 11:36:04
                                YOU pot smoking hippy!!!!111111111!!!!111!!! by MikeCDN2005-01-27 11:39:07
                                Hey man... by Illiad2005-01-27 11:58:47
                                Can't blame you at all by MikeCDN2005-01-27 12:01:25
                Other assumptions you are making: by BloodyViking2005-01-27 11:08:28
      I disagree by MikeCDN2005-01-27 10:24:06
        Completely irrelevant. by Illiad2005-01-27 10:30:23
          how is it selfish? by MikeCDN2005-01-27 10:36:03
            using up gas by plblark2005-01-27 10:37:49
            The harm comes from... by Illiad2005-01-27 10:39:29

 

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