Stealing Wi-Fi A Crime?
Stealing Others Wifi?
Some of us who have no Internet and don’t like to fuss up cash to pay monthly for Internet bills always try to find other ways to access the Internet. It can be going to a friend’s or relatives house and always check your email or log onto your Myspace, but sometimes when we have wi-fi capable laptops, would you take time to go over a friend’s house who has Internet? Many times we rather do something that is very easy to do and requires only a few clicks….. stealing wi-fi from other routers around you, it might seem easy and good to know that you are getting free Internet, but at the same time, is it really worth it? Now with several laws and even neighbors that are fed up seeing some of their other neighbors outside in the car with their laptop, arrest and felony charges have stepped in with “wi-fi stealing”.Back in the day, we could do it very sneaky as many of us could find several unprotected wireless networks and just click “Connect To This Network” and boom, you’re connected. But with many several issues arising with hackers and unknown users logging into networks and using it for illegal purposes, many of the owners of that Internet service have gotten in trouble since unauthorized users have logged onto the unprotected network and either hacked, downloaded illegal files from the Internet, and so fourth using someone Else’s Internet. Some of the worst cases is unauthorized users who steal wi-fi and hack or download child pornography, and since they are using the IP’s of someone else, the owners take the fall while the bad guy simply walks away.
Wifi Stealing = Arrest
You’d be amazed on how many people have gone to jail and have been fined for using unprotected networks without the owner’s consent. Some do it from their car, or some do it from their house, nevertheless, someday they are caught, and they can be given either:
1) Jail Time (or prison if they were using it for illegal purposes)
2) A pretty big fine
3) Both (the worst)
It kind of bothers me to know that many people can get arrested for stealing wi-fi, it is of course, rude and incorrect, but at the same time, the owners should do more to protect it, if they simply can’t or don’t know how to protect their network, they are many online resources or CD’s that should come when buying a router to setup your router and security. Using a password for logins onto your Internet is the best way to secure your Internet and also preventing from broadcasting your SSID. But not too many are tech-savvy about adding WPE/WPA (most common) encryption and security and hiding your network name onto a network.
I know some who are against this because, of course, the owners are paying for their Internet service and some come by and steal, its not right, but also should owners at least do something about their networks and protect them? What do you think?
Filed Under: Security
Although some people steal wifi from others, i think that they do deserve time to learn that asking without permission is wrong, but at the same time, felonies and huge fines are taking too far for using their internet, especially if it is harmless such as reading email or surfing the net.
If its hacking or doing illegal things, then yeah the felony should be for those who break the REAL LAW.
I don’t think people should go to jail over stealing Wi Fi, although it’s wrong (unless they download illegal material or hack).
The whole issue can be avoided if Internet service providers and modem/router manufacturers do more to make people aware that they can protect their network with passwords in few easy steps.
Hi, gr8 post thanks for posting. Information is useful!
now I’ll be tuned..
If my neighbors signal is inside my home, how can this be stealing? If it is, can i conversely have him charged with trespassing? or how about illegally irradiating me with dangerous microwave radiation? Would he not be guilty of terrorism by irradiating me? Going off topic, can a smoker be charged with disseminating radioactive material since all tobacco smoke contains polonium isotopes? Seems a simple abuse of the terrorism laws could rid us all of secondhand smoke. Just round up the smokers and send them to Gitmo, or, turn them all into bio diesel and solve the energy crisis at the same time, gosh I’m a genius!
Now you agree why most of the laws that the government makes are really ridiculous (im talking about online and technology laws), 99% of these lawmakers don’t know squat about technology nor computers, we need real people that know technology to make fair laws, but I agree with your comment.