Open up your WiFi network!

[Prof.]

It's a nice gesture. In fact, I did it for a while but someone tried hacking into my MacBook so I ran to the basement and reset my modem and locked my Wi-Fi down.

You try to do a nice thing then some @$$ takes advantage of you.

 

[MacSamurai]

With the prevalence of handheld wifi-enabled devices, it is only kind to open up your network for others to use.

I live in an area that has some university students. Often they will hop onto my network. Fine by me if they are just doing some light surfing. Now and then one of them will be downloading big files over the network, so I simply ban their MAC address. At the same time, I guess it would be fair to filter any actual neighbouring computers out, since they all have broadband anyway, and there's no reason to use my network.

An open wifi network is a gesture of goodwill towards your fellow human being. It's great to be able to check the bus schedule on my iPod touch while I'm walking down the street, or to receive email wherever I am.

hmm maybe if this was goverment backed... but
A)im paying for it
B)it's illegal
C)in alot of countries you can pay for wireless plans that work through out your country
D)basically C) but if it doesnt exist in your country it will(so be patient)...

 

[ucfgrad93]

With the prevalence of handheld wifi-enabled devices, it is only kind to open up your network for others to use.

There is absolutely no way that I would do that. Sorry, too many risks involved.

 

[yg17]

Strange, that link seems to work for me.

But here's a link to the DoJ: http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/cybercrime/47usc553.htm

47 § 553:

(1) No person shall intercept or receive or assist in intercepting or receiving any communications service offered over a cable system, unless specifically authorized to do so by a cable operator or as may otherwise be specifically authorized by law.​

If I'm reading that and the Time Warner website right, then technically, it's illegal for a friend of mine to come over and use my internet connection or watch my cable TV because they're not paying for it.

The way see it, I'm paying for it, I should be able to let who I want use it, even if that "who" is some random person walking past my house.

 

[juanster]

laws are there to be broken, a slong as ity doesnt hurt anyone else, give something that i paid for or will be paying for is up to me...my wireless is not secured

 

[MacSamurai]

laws are there to be broken, a slong as ity doesnt hurt anyone else, give something that i paid for or will be paying for is up to me...my wireless is not secured

well when your performance starts to suffer due to the ammount of people using your wireless...and no, laws arent there to be broken.and the "i paid for it" argument rarely works lol i.e. sharing bought music.although by all means....

 

[EricNau]

If I'm reading that and the Time Warner website right, then technically, it's illegal for a friend of mine to come over and use my internet connection or watch my cable TV because they're not paying for it.

There's an obvious difference, and neither your cable company or the law is trying to prevent you from sharing your connection with anyone in your house.

The way see it, I'm paying for it, I should be able to let who I want use it, even if that "who" is some random person walking past my house.

Well, that's not the case so you're wrong.

 

[Sesshi]

Personally I regard any open WLAN with extreme suspicion.

 

[gonyr]

My network is totally open, but there's virtually no chance of anyone else using it. I live out in a pretty rural area - it's about 250 ft from my house to my closest neighbor. Someone would literally have to park in my driveway to do anything. I'm pretty sure I'd notice.

 

[sterlingindigo]

With the prevalence of handheld wifi-enabled devices, it is only kind to open up your network for others to use.

I live in an area that has some university students. Often they will hop onto my network. Fine by me if they are just doing some light surfing. Now and then one of them will be downloading big files over the network, so I simply ban their MAC address. At the same time, I guess it would be fair to filter any actual neighbouring computers out, since they all have broadband anyway, and there's no reason to use my network.

An open wifi network is a gesture of goodwill towards your fellow human being. It's great to be able to check the bus schedule on my iPod touch while I'm walking down the street, or to receive email wherever I am.

I like the idea. I also live in a U town. All my neighbors had open systems until one day I caught someone shlurping songs off me. The next day, everyone had locks on theirs. Nice avatar!