wifi

[Ben]

is it wrong to use someone elses unsecured wifi broadband? You are probably suprised so see me on at this time of day. Well i'm on my break, parked up in a residential street in a place called clifton campville. And would you know it, some resident is providing a hot spot. So here i am. Gotta go now, work to do. N95 if you were wondering.

[dansansome]

if its an unsecured connection, then its fair game imho.

N95s rock

[hagis]

My friend used the broadband connection of a shop for several months when he was living in a flat this way. It's the user's own fault for not securing it. Whilst wifi isn't that secure it's not that difficult to put basic security on it.

My broadband router was entitled "Everton FC are poo" for a while to see if my neighbour ever picked up on it, but I don't think he did.

[Bilibong]

You may not think it wrong, but it is illegal. New laws were passed recently regarding this.

Unless it is advertised as being free wi-fi or you have the bill payers permission and you get caught there could be a large fine. But who's going to check anyway?

[hagis]

From what I've read, our computer security laws in England are a bit out of date and don't really encompass many of the legalities the Internet has brought. Parliament was due to update the 1990 Computer Misuse Act but it's not become statue yet, except in Scotland.

I'm no legal expet but:
Looking at: http://www.davros.org/legal/cma.html#s3n I can't see what using someone else's Internet connection would come under. I'd guess that they could claim it you impaired their system by using their bandwidth, reducing the amount to them.

Before computer security laws people breaking into computer systems were charged with unauthorised use of electricity.

[Bilibong]

The theft of wi-fi comes under The Communications Act 2003 and says a "person who (a) dishonestly obtains an electronic communications service, and (b) does so with intent to avoid payment of a charge applicable to the provision of that service, is guilty of an offence".

From what I can find out there have been very few people who have been convicted, if any. A BBC article refers

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6960304.stm

Just found another BBC page where a guy gets a £500 fine and 12 months Conditional discharge

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4721723.stm

[hagis]

Interesting, I'd not realised there was a specific law for it.

Whilst having nice stuff visible from the window in your house doesn't make it right that you get burgled it doesn't take much nouse to put a few basic security steps on your wifi.

[jack71]

Interesting, I'd not realised there was a specific law for it.

Whilst having nice stuff visible from the window in your house doesn't make it right that you get burgled it doesn't take much nouse to put a few basic security steps on your wifi.

says the king of cod 4!!!!! you must have thumbs like 2 baby turnips now,lol

[as-i-said]

yes its illigal, the lad bumming off mine, he'd hacked in somehow, but wont be using that laptop again, since i removed it from his lap with my size 11

[Desertfish]

I think you provided the keyword there yourself by mentioneing that somone "hacked" into your wifi network. Using the broadband connection from someone who hasn't gone trough the trouble of securing their network is entirely their fault. It's like leaving your house with the door wide open and then complain that you got burgled while you were away.