Is it illeagal to use someone elses wireless?

Is there a way to check where a wi-fi connection is coming from?

There's a couple wireless connections in our apartment complex, but I think one might be set up for people to use in the complex, how could I check to make sure?
 
you really need to study law a lot more closely. Illegal use can be covered in the same way. Illegal use of an item witout right or permission. As i said, the law is a very broad term and I can guarantee you that IF someone decided to prosecute for this issue then there would be a case to answer.

You dont have to "take" it for it to be illegal, simply using it without permission can be enough. Which is what you would be doing
 
Well, when i dont have anything plugged into my tv, i get channel 50 over the air, so when i whatched that channel, would that be illegal since i never asked for permission?
 
Motoxrdude said:
Illegal: To take (the property of another) without right or permission.

You aren't taking any property....
Click to expand...

Yes you are. Property doesn't have to be something you can touch and feel. You are infringing on a contract between that individual and there ISP without any permission. Therefore, you are stealing that service from that person.
It's very similiar to infringing on someone's legal rights. You cant see or touch them, but you can certainly overstep your own rights and infringe on theirs.
 
in essence yes it could be, but it would never be prosecuted as you did not actively go and seek said channel out. With the internet issue you have purposely sought to use that in the knowledge that it is not something that you have paid for or own and thus can be prosecuted for
 
With the TV you do seek after the channel too, how else would you find it? I think whatching something broadcasted threw the air unecrypted is alright to use, i mean, if they didnt want you using it, why not encrypt?
 
Motoxrdude said:
Well, when i dont have anything plugged into my tv, i get channel 50 over the air, so when i whatched that channel, would that be illegal since i never asked for permission?
Click to expand...

That's free, the service provider which you are using allows anyone to get those channels. Just like with my TV antenna I can get about 20 channels absolutely free without paying anything. Those are local channels which require no kind of contract to watch, they are provided for anyone who can receive them.

And I'm not sure if this applies to this topic. But recently "ignorance of the law" is no longer an excuse. So simply denying you knew what you were doing was illegal, won't change anything. Again, this may not apply to this topic...but it's the law on the streets right now as of late.
 
Encryption is an option
Click to expand...
if you was a total computer phyco who could override the encryption then thats illegal, just for those who are unsure, because at least the owner of the internet has given himself some sort of shield.
 
Christian Darrall said:
if you was a total computer phyco who could override the encryption then thats illegal, just for those who are unsure, because at least the owner of the internet has given himself some sort of shield.
Click to expand...
Thats edzactly what i am trying to get at.
 
encrypted or not is not an issue, as mentioned previously saying that it wasnt encrypted so its ok is just ignorance of the law and would not hold up in any court.

Due to the simple fact that not everyone is as computer literate as some and thus may not realise how to encrypt there system no matter how simple it might seem.

At the end of the day you are using a service that someone else is paying for, doesnt matter if its simple to get hold of or difficult, its illegal.

I could use your electricity to your house very easily, simply attach the right cables and your paying for my electricity, can i get away with it because you didnt put ample protection over those cables?
 
Dude, you arent getting what i am saying. I am saying that if you use someone else's wifi, they are not paying more. And as i someone mentrioned before, something broadcasted over the air(that is not encrypted) is not illegal to use.
 
I think it's interesting how this debate is continuing back and forth. The fact of the matter is, people have been arrested for using other people's unencrypted wireless networks. If there was nothing illegal about that, then there'd be no grounds for the arrests, regardless of how many of those arrests resulted in prossecutions.
 
magicman said:
I think it's interesting how this debate is continuing back and forth. The fact of the matter is, people have been arrested for using other people's unencrypted wireless networks. If there was nothing illegal about that, then there'd be no grounds for the arrests, regardless of how many of those arrests resulted in prossecutions.
Click to expand...

Exactly. Why can't people just accept it for what it is. If there is ANY question of the matter, do the safe thing and assume it's illegal. If you assume it's legal, you can end up behind bars. This isn't a matter of opinion, look at the facts, people end up losing to the law.

And just because it's broadcasted over the air doesn't make it free. It's a payed service for those who pay for it and AGREE to the contract. If you're using it without the permission of the provider, it's illegal. If you don't have your own contract, it's illegal. If it's not encrypted, it's still illegal. Ask ANY ISP, they will tell you it's illegal and they report people for it. If that's not enough proof for you, then you're an idiot and deserve to be prosecuted if you're dumb enough to leech someone's internet.
 
Nothing wrong with restating points to make a final point lol. I'd be interesting in hearing actual cases/stories where this was discussed though, just to see the main arguments of both sides.
 
Motoxrdude said:
Dude, you arent getting what i am saying. I am saying that if you use someone else's wifi, they are not paying more. And as i someone mentrioned before, something broadcasted over the air(that is not encrypted) is not illegal to use.
Click to expand...


ahh so for it to be illegal your saying that they would have to be paying more for your unauthorised usage than they would normally.

Give me a break lad, educate yourself on the legal system a bit more and see that by taking a service provided to someone else without authorisation is ILLEGAL!!!!

WAter, Electriciy, Gas, tap into any of those supplies to a home and use them its illegal.....why? because you are stealing a supply of someone elses, whether it costs them more or not.

Tap into someone elses Cable TV line, is that illegal? are they paying more cos your using it? Exactly the same situation with Broadband.

Im giving you realistic situations, details of how the legal system would be able to prosecute given the situation.. Your throwing rubbish ideas in return.

Its illegal....thats a fact, dont believe me? do some research!


4W4K3 said:
Exactly. Why can't people just accept it for what it is. If there is ANY question of the matter, do the safe thing and assume it's illegal. If you assume it's legal, you can end up behind bars. This isn't a matter of opinion, look at the facts, people end up losing to the law.

And just because it's broadcasted over the air doesn't make it free. It's a payed service for those who pay for it and AGREE to the contract. If you're using it without the permission of the provider, it's illegal. If you don't have your own contract, it's illegal. If it's not encrypted, it's still illegal. Ask ANY ISP, they will tell you it's illegal and they report people for it. If that's not enough proof for you, then you're an idiot and deserve to be prosecuted if you're dumb enough to leech someone's internet.
Click to expand...


BINGO!!!!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top