Using another's wi-fi is not the same as leaving your door unlocked and somebody walking in and getting it. I have a better analogy for you. It would be more like if you put your belongings on my property and didn't want me to take it. If the wi-fi transmits onto the street, i think he has every right to use it (granted he was in their parking lot so he could be accused of trespassing, but thats a different situation all together). It really isn't that hard to put on the simplest of protection for wi-fi. If there is any type of protection, then i think he should be prosecuted for hacking into it.
Interesting analogy but I like this one better. If the guy was walking past the library and used a light outside the library to read something (perhaps a book he took out before it closed), is that illegal? The library is paying for the electricity for the light, right?
He/she is not infringing on or preventing the use of the utility for the one paying for it, nor is it creating additional expense for the municipality. He's just using something that would otherwise go unused. The whole concept of "stealing bandwidth" is a crock. It's no worse than "stealing light" from exterior lighting.
That being said, leaving your door unlocked in a bad neighborhood is like leaving your wifi unprotected. If they didn't have the sense to protect themselves, then they should call a computer place to have them setup security for the Library.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Andrew @ Feb 25th 2007 4:52PM
Using another's wi-fi is not the same as leaving your door unlocked and somebody walking in and getting it. I have a better analogy for you. It would be more like if you put your belongings on my property and didn't want me to take it. If the wi-fi transmits onto the street, i think he has every right to use it (granted he was in their parking lot so he could be accused of trespassing, but thats a different situation all together). It really isn't that hard to put on the simplest of protection for wi-fi. If there is any type of protection, then i think he should be prosecuted for hacking into it.
Dirt's Dad @ Feb 25th 2007 8:18PM
Interesting analogy but I like this one better. If the guy was walking past the library and used a light outside the library to read something (perhaps a book he took out before it closed), is that illegal? The library is paying for the electricity for the light, right?
He/she is not infringing on or preventing the use of the utility for the one paying for it, nor is it creating additional expense for the municipality. He's just using something that would otherwise go unused. The whole concept of "stealing bandwidth" is a crock. It's no worse than "stealing light" from exterior lighting.
John @ Feb 27th 2007 12:26PM
That being said, leaving your door unlocked in a bad neighborhood is like leaving your wifi unprotected. If they didn't have the sense to protect themselves, then they should call a computer place to have them setup security for the Library.
Yes, you can change the WPA encryption key daily.