illeagal?
- Thread starter Yo-Yo
- Start date
Yah it's ilegal. And really it's illegal for them to "share" it publicly as well, so even if you do get permission you and them can still get in trouble for sharing. You're supposed to keep your internet access to you own home, letting your neighbors and friends use it isn't allowed, it's basically giving people free internet, and the ISP is losing money.
Curt
New Member
Hairy_Lee said:
Not sure what the laws are there in the UK but in the US this is not an issue because in all honesty ANY time you use a wireless router you are "publicly" transmitting content. Of course the wise thing to do is to secure your network. The only time you need a license is for broadcasting a certain stength of radio signals (not certain what though) but a router isn't NEAR that strong.
It really isn't illegal, it will however violate your providers TOS which could risk you getting your internet shut off. It would however be illegal if they were paying you for your service. However the chances of them catching you share your broadband via wireless router is VERY VERY VERY slim because they would never be able to tell that that computer is outside of your house.
But then of course you are also putting yourself at risk because you don't know if they will be using your internet for illegal activity. Risky business if you ask me and definately not worth it.
Now as for the original post, yes its illegal and not worth the risk. I however have personal issues with this because up untill wireless routers became a common household object nobody "owns" the airwaves (including radio transmissions). This is basically giving people ownership to transmissions.
If someone taps into your phone that is illegal, but if someone receives signal from your cordless phone and listens in, it's not illegal because they don't own those waves. I don't think it should be any different for this situation. Not to mention I think its their own fault for not securing their network.
But then again I also wish people would just suck it up and pay for their own internet. It's not that expensive these days so there is not excuse. I'm torn
Anyway, thats just my 2 cents.
Chris Chan
New Member
Technically, it isn't illegal for the reasons Tom mentioned. Go for it. Just amke sure that you are connecting to an UNSECURED wireless network because guessing WEP keys to invade an encrypted network is illegal.
Mr.Suave said:
I think it's because places like Starbucks or w/e uses free wi-fi has a contract/aggreement with the ISP to be able to share access. It brings in business for Starbucks, and the ISP gets publicity (and i imagine a large check.) Businesses and individual home users operate on a different level, i dont think an individual could rig a deal like that.
Yeti
VIP Member
That's pretty much what I go by. If I need to ping a license server or check email, I'll use someone's unsecured wireless.
There seems to be a lot of differing opinions on this. Does anyone have something other than hearsay to support their opinions, such as an actual law or a court ruling establishing presedent? The last I heard was that this was a very gray area and people were waiting for some court rulings.
M0ddingMan1a
New Member
lol.. well its their fault they dont set up security for their network now right? LOL. just be like. O... i connected to the wrrrrong network myyyy bad. ehehehe. but yea, do wat u want. i wouldnt recommend stayin connected to their network for a long time. but yea, it is illegal. u can use it as back up if urs is offline for some reason.
bigdogz4u2
Member
Yo-Yo said:Is it iileagal to access someone elses wireless network and use there internet as long as you dont touch there files?
in my neighborhood, i can pick up about 5 different wireless networks at a time.
You got alot to learn....