Help! I am stuck in the middle of a debate. Is it illegal or legal to use other peoples unsecured wireless signals? I would appreciate legit laws but opinions are fine too. If someone could attach a source I would be real appreciative.
Help! I am stuck in the middle of a debate. Is it illegal or legal to use other peoples unsecured wireless signals? I would appreciate legit laws but opinions are fine too. If someone could attach a source I would be real appreciative.
There are some things about this I do not fully understand. Firstly, if you are publicly broadcasting a network, how can it be illegal to use it, even if accidentally? Is there any case where tuning into a publicly broadcast radio transmission is illegal?
Secondly, it is so easy to accidentally do this. I've often gone to people's houses and noticed their computers were connected to their neighbors networks. In fact, occasionally I notice that my Mac has switched from my network to my neighbors, such as when I reboot my router.
Shouldn't it be entirely the responsibility of network owners to secure their networks? If you are inside your own home, and you can access a network, how can that be argued as illegal?
There are some things about this I do not fully understand. Firstly, if you are publicly broadcasting a network, how can it be illegal to use it, even if accidentally? Is there any case where tuning into a publicly broadcast radio transmission is illegal?
Shouldn't it be entirely the responsibility of network owners to secure their networks? If you are inside your own home, and you can access a network, how can that be argued as illegal?
Think of running an unsecured wireless network as being like not locking your front door. Sure, I could go into your house and use your phone, and as long as I don't touch anything else, what's the harm? But unless you put up a sign saying anyone's welcome, I wouldn't do it.
OK, even better analogy:
My neighbor has Sirius or XM satellite radio unit on their home stereo. They are blasting a satellite radio station (that they pay for) so loudly that I can hear it in my house. Is it illegal for me to listen to it because I don't pay for it? It's being publicly broadcast into my house, after all. And what about iPod FM transmitters? What if this person has an iPod FM transmitter that I can pick up with a radio in my house, or even from my car (sitting in traffic)... is that illegal too?