wireless

Anonymous-0 · Feb 10, 2009

Question been asked today. Is it legal or ilegal for someone with a laptop to use some other persons signal who might live in neighborhood an have a wireless router in home. or at public place?

omahagreg · Feb 10, 2009

Don't know about legality, BUT. Dad is a retired stationary engineer. Honeywell was installing some software on a desktop for him, but they needed something else, which they did not have in their laptop. They drove around, looking for an unprotected wireless signal, because it was the easiest way to acquire. Gave up on the idea when they could not find one. Greg

Matt_In · Feb 10, 2009

I would doubt it would be illegal. That's why you can put a password on the signal to keep other people from using it.

In college my neighbor paid me for the use of my wireless. We split the bill.

Anonymous-0 · Feb 10, 2009

I should have explaned person asking question today just got laptop at winter hideway in Florida an neighbor told her she should not do that.Neighbor was somewhat upset so maybe it was her signal. Appreciate response.

tko2009 · Feb 10, 2009

I always take the laptop with me when the wife is shopping. I go to a local motel and park outside, the usually have it available. Same way with work, I always use thiers on lunch. I cant see how it would be illegal or how they would find out.

davediehl@hotmail.com · Feb 10, 2009

Indiana considers it a theft of service just as if you were tapping into a power source from someone else. In fact I just read a case report where someone was sending spam as they were in front of a home. The router logs and a few other locations surfed were recorded and pointed back to a specific website. The homeowner recorded a plate number that was in front of his home as his router lights were flashing. Upon contact with the registered owner, it was found that he was tapping off the wireless service. Charges were filed as a D felony theft. Motels and libraries that advertise free wireless service is "giving" away service. It does make a difference.

IH2444 · Feb 10, 2009

Everyone should password protect their wireless network. I even encrypt mine so it can't be monitored.

How would you like to have the govt come in and seize your computers and arrest you for recieving Kiddie porn or something? They will trace it to your router....

Anonymous-0 · Feb 10, 2009

I would think it would be rather difficult for the owner to detect, provided that unusually large files were not being downloaded or something. About the only way is perhaps they happened to notice the lights on their wireless router blink reporting its use when they were not using it. It's still not right.

There are businesses all over that offer free wireless "hot spots" and advertise it so the public knows to come use it. I've gone out to a gas station many times to use free high speed before DSL was availible out here in the boonies. For many years all I had was a 56K dial up connection.

MarkB_MI · Feb 11, 2009

It is a theft of service, no doubt about it. Will you be prosecuted for it? Probably not. Can the network owner tell if you're using their network? Yes, but anyone so unsophisticated that they don't password-protect their network probably isn't going to be able to figure out who is using it.

Having an unsecured wireless network is one of the dumbest things you can do. If someone accessing your network does something bad, guess who the cops will come looking for?

Anonymous-0 · Feb 11, 2009

Thanks for replys I forwarded response to person last evening . Was informed this morning folks will be getting public system installed in future.In meantime they will have to use best judgement. There are others using signal that probably comes from one of retires in park.

Beans-OH. · Feb 11, 2009

Naw, the router will tell ya new hardware found. Then all you have to do is look at your routers network and then remove then or track as an intruder. Problem Solved!

Kelly C · Feb 11, 2009

It is theft of service. Same as if you were a land lord and your tennant was subleting out the rooms in the house. You would probably have a problem with that.

I am pretty sure you can order the level of service you want. If you wish to be a ISP they will sell you the band width to do that. Ofcourse at the oprepriate price.

Usually though ISP's control this by band width limitations. Not to easy for them to go chasing down every college students sharing DSL connections.

And you can have as many of your own computers on a home network as you want. Believe it or not. I have 11 at my house. I cant seem to ever get rid of the old ones. I just add a computer to another room or shop.
Just got the wife a new Dell. Put that in her room and took the old one and added it to the network in her Scrap booking room. Now she can scrap book and check for the new Cricket cartrages all at the same time. After i got the room done and computer added. I didnt see her all day.

You guys with Scrapper wifes know what I am talking about.

tjdub · Feb 11, 2009

You should not use it unless there is an indication that it is intended for public use or you have the owners permission. There are people/groups out there who purposefully leave their wireless networks open as a community service, but most likely it is just someone who didn't know how to set up WEP.
Like this guy...

BLinWMI · Feb 11, 2009

Well it looks like I am about 6 years behind the ball. I have had this wireless router set up in 2 different houses and never had anykind of password or encription. If it is something that important to have, is there anyone that could help guide me thru setting it correctly? The neighbors might be using my signal, never really mattered as long as it was working when I got home. But from the sounds of it, the neighbors might not be the only ones. I have 2 laptops and a wireless printer if it makes any difference. Thanks

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