is using someone elses wireless legal?

I did not know where to post this as I have a wirless card so I posted it here. Is it legal? I thought it was at first, then some ppl say it is not then another person said it is legal because it is like submitting waves outside your house and they have passed it saying it was legal because it would be just like them aressting you for listening to the radio.

 

it's NOT legal becuase you are accessing someones ISP using THEIR account and THEIR bandwidth. They are paying for it, not you; so the person who said it's like listening to the radio needs to have his logic chip checked. There was a recent article about someone being busted for doing this

http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/07/07/wi.fi.theft.ap/ .


Just becuase someone's front door is unlocked doesn't mean you can go inside and use thier stuff.

 

Thing is you're not listening to the radio: you're also transmitting it. That logic makes about as much sense as "I'm holding a knife out in front of me completley innocently, and if I walk forwards and the knife goes into you thats your own fault".

Listening is perfectly legal. In fact, I do it quite often

 

The guy is really stupid to get in his car and use someone's Wi-Fi beside the house. Just like if the thief will call the bank to tell he's coming to get the money.

BTW, there are those Wi-Fi detectors on sale. It is pretty much useless since we normally know where our wireless connections are.

You could always ask the owner if you could use his connection if he's a good neighbour or something.

 

Only if you have permission. Otherwise it's not legal. Public access points pose an entirely different problem though.

 

Yeah, it is tempting. I can receive two wireless networks within my house. None of which are mine. But, no matter, I'll be adding my own sometime in the future. Though, mostly it is going to be wireless music from my computer, so I can broadcast downstairs where my dart board, future pool table, and home brewery is located.

 

not here
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/07/07/business/wifi.php

 

A similar article with the same story was already posted. I wonder if the police would arrest someone that does this here in Canada. I think they are too busy giving speeding tickets (theres one police here that caught 3500 people last year, lol).

 

Ask mcadam 88

 

Whos mcadam 88 ?

 

Funny you should ask this, it was in the seattle PI yesterday..
if it is somone elses or a company's then it is not legal although many people do it anyway.
some places have wireless access for public use though... here it's in all the parks and such and most coffeeshops.

 

I look at it this way.. if the network is open maybe they want to share?
But then again maybe they are looking at traffic passed on their network
to collect data ... I personally have worked (NOT borrowed bandwidth) on many wireless networks installed by the local cable company and they leave them all wide open with default passwords and all... so while I dont believe there are any real laws specific to "wifi theft" .. let your consciencious be your guide.

 

This is a new area for law to deal with; in some localities it may not be necessary to pass news laws regrading wifi theft. Existing laws may cover this type of theft; such as theft of services or similar laws.

Just because someone leaves the door open, does not give you the right to enter their home.