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Should those who slurp WiFi be jailed? by Illiad 2007-10-08 11:34:07
"Slurp" as in use someone else's unsecured WiFi. There are some who see this as theft. Others think that a wireless router left unsecured is an open --if only implied-- invitation to use it at will.

I don't think it's theft, and I don't think anyone should be arrested for it. I do think using someone else's wireless bandwidth without their express permission is bloody rude. Maybe that's because I was raised to ask first, before using something that doesn't belong to me. :p

[ Reply ]
  Have done it once. by silverwyvern2007-10-08 11:38:59
  No. they shouldn't. by subbywan2007-10-08 11:40:05
  People use my wifi all the time. It don't bother by taitano2007-10-08 11:40:26
  Yes. by CynicalRyan2007-10-08 11:41:32
    Agree, with second part anyway. Besides, if by taitano2007-10-08 11:45:22
      If you leave your house's door open, by CynicalRyan2007-10-08 11:46:47
        Different situation by subbywan2007-10-08 11:47:56
          How don't I have that claim? by CynicalRyan2007-10-08 11:51:33
            Because you're technically broadcasting. by shadowsystems2007-10-08 12:00:56
              Which means that the system is wrong. by CynicalRyan2007-10-08 12:04:48
                The owner of the AP is actively broadcasting by joecrouse2007-10-08 12:17:02
                  Actually, it is not "actively broadcasting". by CynicalRyan2007-10-08 12:20:57
                    CMIFAW. An unsecured AP is actively distributing by joecrouse2007-10-08 12:23:13
                    You have to set that up. by subbywan2007-10-08 12:24:53
                      When setting up an AP, You are litteraly asked by taitano2007-10-08 12:38:48
                        Like a trucker's CB radio. (n/t) by taitano2007-10-08 12:39:31
                        nope, not with many of them by Freakazoid2007-10-08 14:22:29
                          Yep, and many of them end up connecting by ToLazyToThink2007-10-08 16:50:03
            Because you're broadcasting into THEIR space by subbywan2007-10-08 12:08:13
        Not as I understand it. by Irrelevant2007-10-08 14:34:26
      Come to think of it, you sound like my grand pa... by taitano2007-10-08 11:48:09
    Only if it's volume-based by subbywan2007-10-08 11:46:52
      Not with the general cries for a "computer by CynicalRyan2007-10-08 11:49:45
        Oh yes. Definitely by subbywan2007-10-08 11:58:08
          Yes it does excuse them. by CynicalRyan2007-10-08 12:00:35
            Nope. by subbywan2007-10-08 12:10:50
              No, it's not. by CynicalRyan2007-10-08 12:18:10
                perhaps that's a german thing :P by subbywan2007-10-08 12:25:52
                  I wish.. by CynicalRyan2007-10-08 13:30:14
                    Then there's no excuse not to expect the customer by subbywan2007-10-08 13:34:41
                      They'll call teh support hotline. by CynicalRyan2007-10-08 13:45:53
                        It's not an obvious problem. by subbywan2007-10-08 13:50:03
                          It is an obvious problem. by CynicalRyan2007-10-08 13:54:20
                            it *is* a best practice to secure your router. by subbywan2007-10-08 13:57:53
                              It is a best practice in corporate environments. by CynicalRyan2007-10-08 14:02:51
                                As are corporate ones. by subbywan2007-10-08 14:06:18
                                We are arguing past each other, methinks. (n/t) by CynicalRyan2007-10-08 15:10:47
                                yep. You need to see my point, dammit, by subbywan2007-10-08 15:16:06
                                Only if you do it first. :D (n/t) by CynicalRyan2007-10-08 16:11:06
                                Already have! by subbywan2007-10-08 16:15:11
                                You? Three laughs to that! by CynicalRyan2007-10-08 16:28:59
                            Umm...That game analogy analogy doesn't work. by ToLazyToThink2007-10-08 16:56:24
      Not anyone. by Illiad2007-10-08 11:50:53
        Even in general. by subbywan2007-10-08 12:06:42
          I can agree with that. by Illiad2007-10-08 12:18:15
            Because there's not always a way to know by subbywan2007-10-08 12:23:42
              The default behaviour... by Illiad2007-10-08 12:29:41
                Arrogant, absolutely by subbywan2007-10-08 12:33:14
                  It's illegal in Texas. See my other post for cite (n/t) by merlin2007-10-08 12:34:37
                    *nods* but not everywhere by subbywan2007-10-08 12:39:57
                      What about the laziness on the part of the by merlin2007-10-08 12:42:58
                        He shouldn't. And he is leeching by subbywan2007-10-08 12:45:17
    implied consent? by unjust2007-10-08 17:01:21
  If you leave your stuff out on the street by shminux2007-10-08 11:45:06
    I don't see the parallel. by Illiad2007-10-08 11:49:40
  To quote the Queen of Hearts.... by shadowsystems2007-10-08 11:51:30
    Agreed To encryption an the off switch! *clink* (n (n/t) by taitano2007-10-08 11:59:04
  Where are the boundaries, anyway? EMF (WiFi) by taitano2007-10-08 11:56:32
    You have explicitly join a WiFi network by CynicalRyan2007-10-08 11:58:33
    That too is a false analogy. by Illiad2007-10-08 12:02:01
      I'm not sure that is the best, either... by imperito2007-10-08 12:08:41
        Wow. I like that one... Just tell the by taitano2007-10-08 12:21:45
  Interesting you bring this up by andyz2007-10-08 12:00:50
  Personally, I think it's theft of service. by merlin2007-10-08 12:01:53
    (Looks up, looks around, and smiles sheepishly... by shadowsystems2007-10-08 12:05:58
    And the Texas Penal Code agrees with me by merlin2007-10-08 12:26:45
  I tend to think yes by imperito2007-10-08 12:04:09
    Now *that's* an interesting Q. by Illiad2007-10-08 12:10:06
      Easy! Setup a small solar panel and point it at by taitano2007-10-08 12:16:43
    Except in the electricity case by Egaeus2007-10-08 13:19:24
  Even with the "unlocked house" analogy: by taitano2007-10-08 12:10:12
    Not the same. by Illiad2007-10-08 12:15:14
      But when you set up the router.. by taitano2007-10-08 12:52:14
        My router came pre-configured from my ISP, and by merlin2007-10-08 12:53:16
          I was referring to the wireless AP routers (n/t) by taitano2007-10-08 12:57:56
            Verizon Wireless gave me a DSL modem/wireless by woodburn2007-10-08 13:00:57
              Most APs are open by default, I think this is an by taitano2007-10-08 13:15:42
            As was I. My router was provided by my ISP, by merlin2007-10-08 13:18:59
  Jailed? No. Fined? Maybe. by toysbfun2007-10-08 12:11:34
  No by madnessasap2007-10-08 12:16:45
  I just reset my connection... the computer actualy by taitano2007-10-08 12:31:07
  My first reaction...should be civil offense only by altordwm2007-10-08 12:33:25
  IANAL (yet), but in England & Wales by pas512007-10-08 12:46:23
    Does the UK not have "theft of services" laws? (n/ (n/t) by merlin2007-10-08 12:48:42
      Fraud Act 2006, section 11. (n/t) by pas512007-10-08 12:51:04
        My apologies. I completely misread that in your by merlin2007-10-08 12:52:15
    Another possibility: by pas512007-10-08 13:52:20
  Ask me if you can login, and by notdeadyet2007-10-08 12:51:08
    Now THAT'S how you do that! ;-D (n/t) by taitano2007-10-08 12:53:50
  No No NOOO by oedlan2007-10-08 12:57:17
    s/bad/illegal/; perhaps? (n/t) by krikkert2007-10-08 13:06:34
  I agree, rude, but not theft by Egaeus2007-10-08 12:58:07
    Illiad took that point above. by krikkert2007-10-08 13:05:23
    encryption doesn't cause the latency by Freakazoid2007-10-08 14:35:54
  Theft, 'tis not. Not in Norway. by krikkert2007-10-08 13:04:25
  Here's an interesting take from a friend. by merlin2007-10-08 13:27:18
  I see it as trespassing by unixdude2007-10-08 13:30:51
    that i can see. by unjust2007-10-08 17:06:29
  So, what about those of us who WANT to share our by taitano2007-10-08 13:44:27
    Does the agreement with your ISP allow you to? (n/t) by toysbfun2007-10-08 13:45:53
      I've yet to see an ISP agreement that says that by taitano2007-10-08 13:51:17
        One is usualy resposible for visitor's by taitano2007-10-08 13:52:13
          But there are sometimes rules against reselling. by toysbfun2007-10-08 13:56:36
            Reselling is provided for as long as by taitano2007-10-08 14:52:16
    But it wouldn't be unlawful. by pas512007-10-08 13:57:56
      That's my point. Cracking WiFi encryption is by taitano2007-10-08 14:32:44
        Correction: by taitano2007-10-08 14:41:09
          Sorry not 'your", "my spigot if I allow..." 8D) (n (n/t) by taitano2007-10-08 14:42:40
  I don't think bandwidth stealing is the real issue by shadowboy8132007-10-08 14:25:30
  analogies used... by unjust2007-10-08 17:00:14
  If the owner of the router is going to be ignorant by Cural2007-10-08 18:32:14
  In a pinch I'd say it would be O.K. by Hieraco2007-10-08 19:26:28
  It *might* even be identity theft. by kahuana2007-10-08 20:58:23

 

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