# Wireless Network Connection **URL:** \ **Category:** Uncategorized\ **Created:** [August 10, 2004, 5:42pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/wireless-network-connection/118984 "2004-08-10T17:42:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![krilnon](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/forum.kirupa.com/krilnon/32/34_2.png) [@krilnon](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/krilnon)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 4:37am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/wireless-network-connection/118984/21 "2004-08-11T04:37:00Z")
> [@bombingpixels](#): > > I don’t encrypt my wireless network, just because I want to see people trying to connect 😛 > > I carefully watch my router to make sure nobody connects that I don’t know about though, if I were you, I would definately not do it! > > and it’s illegal 😉 What if you’re sleeping while they’re accessing your network? ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Wheeler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/59ef9b/32.png) [@Jeff\_Wheeler](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/Jeff_Wheeler)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 4:37am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/wireless-network-connection/118984/22 "2004-08-11T04:37:39Z")
I can still see it on the access logs of my router ;)… which I check quite often 😃 ---
**Author:** ![krilnon](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/forum.kirupa.com/krilnon/32/34_2.png) [@krilnon](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/krilnon)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 4:42am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/wireless-network-connection/118984/23 "2004-08-11T04:42:02Z")
So would you ban that person from accessing it? ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Wheeler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/59ef9b/32.png) [@Jeff\_Wheeler](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/Jeff_Wheeler)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 5:07am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/wireless-network-connection/118984/24 "2004-08-11T05:07:07Z")
no… I’d figure out who it is and contact them ;)… not sure how yet though 😃 so probably ban them, plus my dad is a security freak (writing a book on mafia in the fbi… long story :P) so he’d do tons of stuff… ---
**Author:** ![Vexir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a183cd/32.png) [@Vexir](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/Vexir)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 5:30am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/wireless-network-connection/118984/25 "2004-08-11T05:30:26Z")
Lol, I’m surprised he hasn’t put security on your network yet 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Wheeler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/59ef9b/32.png) [@Jeff\_Wheeler](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/Jeff_Wheeler)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 5:42am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/wireless-network-connection/118984/26 "2004-08-11T05:42:02Z")
he doesn’t know how, I do 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Vexir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a183cd/32.png) [@Vexir](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/Vexir)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 9:10pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/wireless-network-connection/118984/27 "2004-08-11T21:10:25Z")
I thought he was a security freak? ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Wheeler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/59ef9b/32.png) [@Jeff\_Wheeler](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/Jeff_Wheeler)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 9:20pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/wireless-network-connection/118984/28 "2004-08-11T21:20:26Z")
he is… he just doesn’t know heck about networks 😃 he just trusts me to make sure I watch it all the time 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Vexir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a183cd/32.png) [@Vexir](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/Vexir)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 3:32am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/wireless-network-connection/118984/29 "2004-08-12T03:32:49Z")
Ok so now you have to betray his trust and let your network be hacked! Just because! ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Wheeler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/59ef9b/32.png) [@Jeff\_Wheeler](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/Jeff_Wheeler)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 3:37am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/wireless-network-connection/118984/30 "2004-08-12T03:37:19Z")
no… he knows I do it… and his computer isn’t connected to the internet anyways 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Vexir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a183cd/32.png) [@Vexir](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/Vexir)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 6:54am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/wireless-network-connection/118984/31 "2004-08-12T06:54:22Z")
> his computer isn’t connected to the internet anyways Typical 😛 ---
**Author:** ![ya3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e95f7d/32.png) [@ya3](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/ya3)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 10:09am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/wireless-network-connection/118984/32 "2004-08-12T10:09:36Z")
> [@SlowRoasted](#): > > Alright just a quick question…Is it illegal to connect to someone’s wireless network without them knowing about it? I just moved into an apartment and was contemplating spending like 50 dollars a month on cable internet when i came across 3 different wireless networks within range. Ive been using them for the past 2 weeks, but im not sure if its legal or not. Can anyone let me know? :drool: omg! LEACH THE CABLE! LEACH THE CABLE!!! 😃 😃 …wish i had cable… ---
**Author:** ![Maizoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Maizoon](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/Maizoon)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 12:00am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/wireless-network-connection/118984/33 "2004-08-14T00:00:36Z")
Quoted from a mailing list I’m on > The law is mixed on this. It is clearly legal to provide a free wireless access point for people to use. It is illegal to use an unsecured wireless access point to break into a company’s database and steal credit card information. [http://www.crn.com/sections/breakingnews/breakingnews.jhtml](http://www.crn.com/sections/breakingnews/breakingnews.jhtml)? articleId=26806554 Recent cases involving lan networks have indicated that it is the duty of the “owner” to make a reasonable and prudent effort to secure a network. These cases arise when a “bad person” uses an intermediary, unsecured network to attack the plaintiff. The case of an unsecured wireless network device in an apartment building is a little different than a tv broadcast because it isn’t passive. Once you connect to the device, you use that person’s ip numbers and bandwidth. However, I believe most reasonable and prudent professionals would say that it is fine to do that unless you have taken steps to prevent people from being able to. There are huge debates on the morality/ethics of whether it is ok to leech off your neighbor’s unsecured wireless. One interesting discussion that equates the situation to trespass is here: [http://www.mail-archive.com/nycwireless@lists.nycwireless.net/](http://www.mail-archive.com/nycwireless@lists.nycwireless.net/) msg02062.html I’ve read a couple of threads where people have written heated posts about how you are taking advantage of people’s ignorance, but I think equating it to trespass is probably a better way to view the situation. If you have a yard, it might be perfectly fine with you that the neighborhood kids cut across it to get to the other side. The neighbor next to you might not be fine with it at all. My experience with wireless tells me the same is true. Some people care and some people don’t. If you care, you should take some step to show you care. Basically there are no set in stone laws regarding unsecured wireless networks…YET. As they become more prevalent and as people find out that people are using there networks I’m sure the courts will change this. But as of now, there are no laws regarding this…its your own morales and ethics in question. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 12:05am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/wireless-network-connection/118984/34 "2004-08-14T00:05:05Z")
no… it’s called leeching - it’s the same reason you can’t steal your neighbors cable…the signal travels over the same line and is in the same account, even the same idea for telephone service… it is illegal, plain and simple. ---
**Author:** ![955](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/9/4bbf92/32.png) [@955](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/955)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 12:07am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/wireless-network-connection/118984/35 "2004-08-14T00:07:35Z")
ah well… good to know if your neighbour ever pisses you off 😛 run a 24hr bittorrent of Fedora Core and get his service suspended 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Wheeler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/59ef9b/32.png) [@Jeff\_Wheeler](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/Jeff_Wheeler)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 12:19am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/wireless-network-connection/118984/36 "2004-08-14T00:19:06Z")
hm…? bittorrent? ---
**Author:** ![ya3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e95f7d/32.png) [@ya3](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/ya3)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 12:26am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/wireless-network-connection/118984/37 "2004-08-14T00:26:38Z")
> [@njs12345](#): > > ah well… good to know if your neighbour ever pisses you off 😛 run a 24hr bittorrent of Fedora Core and get his service suspended 😃 :thumb: :pleased: ---
**Author:** ![Maizoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Maizoon](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/Maizoon)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 12:54am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/wireless-network-connection/118984/38 "2004-08-14T00:54:00Z")
> [@prstudio](#): > > no… it’s called leeching - it’s the same reason you can’t steal your neighbors cable…the signal travels over the same line and is in the same account, even the same idea for telephone service… > > it is illegal, plain and simple. No, its not illegal simply because the laws that would govern this type of thing are older than the technology. Its a very large ‘grey’ area at the moment, much like file sharing was when napster first surfaced. If I’m using your open wifi network, you can tell me to stop…but you basically have to legal recourse in getting me to stop. I’m sure as time passes the laws will change. If you find open wifi networks, you _should_ do some research to find out if they are public or someone who lives near you that doesn’t know how to secure it. As I said before, its your morals and ethics that come into play, not the law of the land. But one thing remains clear, how would you enforce the laws once they were written. [http://www.netstumbler.com/2004/08/05/is\_sharing\_wi\_fi\_illegal\_answer\_hazy\_try\_again\_later\_lawyer\_says/](http://www.netstumbler.com/2004/08/05/is_sharing_wi_fi_illegal_answer_hazy_try_again_later_lawyer_says/) [http://cfp2004.org/blogs/wardriving/archives/000056.html](http://cfp2004.org/blogs/wardriving/archives/000056.html) [http://www.jsonline.com/bym/tech/news/aug02/64167.asp](http://www.jsonline.com/bym/tech/news/aug02/64167.asp) quoted from: [http://www.auditmypc.com/freescan/readingroom/wardriving.asp](http://www.auditmypc.com/freescan/readingroom/wardriving.asp) > But the state, known for its Live Free or Die motto, could become the first in the United States to provide legal protection for people who tap into insecure wireless networks. A bill that’s breezing through New Hampshire’s legislature says operators of wireless networks must secure them – or lose some of their ability to prosecute anyone who gains access to the networks. House Bill 495 would, experts say, effectively legalize many forms of what’s known as war driving – motoring through an inhabited area while scanning for open wireless access points. ---
**Author:** ![Vexir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a183cd/32.png) [@Vexir](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/Vexir)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 7:14am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/wireless-network-connection/118984/39 "2004-08-14T07:14:12Z")
Ok, whoa, legal snazz, out of my league 😛 ---
**Author:** ![SlowRoasted](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@SlowRoasted](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/SlowRoasted)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 3:07pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/wireless-network-connection/118984/40 "2004-08-14T15:07:12Z")
> no… it’s called leeching - it’s the same reason you can’t steal your neighbors cable…the signal travels over the same line and is in the same account, even the same idea for telephone service… it is illegal, plain and simple. Why? because prstudio says its illegal? If there is no law against it its not illegal. It may be immoral to you, i personally dont feel convicted about doing it. [Previous page](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/wireless-network-connection/118984.md?page=1) [Next page](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/wireless-network-connection/118984.md?page=3)