Ethical question

I'm at my Mother in Law's place, and I have my wireless enabled work laptop. The guy downstairs has wireless internet and I can use it. Other than the obvious question about getting something for nothing, which I have no problem with(I pay my taxes), is my accessing his network causing him any problems? That I wouldn't want.

 

If I can slow him down, I won't do it. I think the stealing question isn't an issue if there is no effect on his usage. Heck, there's worse in the world. But I don't want to affect what he is doing.

 

Use the opportunity to gain a friend. Be a good neighbour and inform him that his machine is wide open to the world and offer to help him fix it. If he appreciates your gesture enough, with your help, he may create a user account for you.

 

it cannot be compared to power theft

power is priced per Kw/hr

internet is priced per month with an unlimited amount of use during that month

if you dl something every second of every day of that month
and then next month you disconnect the computer from the wall or however
you will get a bill for both months that is the exact same

as per the question of will he notice see what speed he has

is it 54 mbps 128.....256?

if its less than 54 he might notice but i highly doubt it

but if hes running 8mb cable over wireless he wouldnt possibly have a clue

 

Assuming MIL and downstairs neighbor are on friendly terms, what's wrong with simply asking him?

 

He may have caped bandwidth, so it could cost him a lot.

 

I LOVE this idea..he may not even be aware anyone CAN access his internet connection, and even know HOW to password it. And then add on GT's suggestion once you have secured it for him, ask if you may use it when visiting your MIL's place. All above board and everyone happy

 

I'm in a hotel now, so no more issues. Well, the towels look nice....

Seriously, thanks for the replies. I never thought about capped download size. I didn't use it any more after I read that.

 

Just HAD to jump in here! New to posting in forum, so I apologize in advance for any blunders. I admit to being "Computer-Challenged", know enough to be dangerous. I've been reading your forums for a long time & got a lot of help. Anyway, here's a story to respond to your quote.
For Christmas, my husband (who is still looking for the "any key"), gave me a fantastic computer that he had his Geek buddy build. Got DSL, a Netgear router, & thought I was all that! Well . . . could not get online with my desktop & laptop! Verizon said it was Netgear's fault, Netgear said it was Verizon's fault, & neither would budge. After numerous unsuccessful calls to both, got Geek buddy over to make the calls. Eventually, system was set up. About six mos. later, DSL got disconnected (hubby forgot to pay the bill - too busy looking for 'any key'). Paid the bill & was told we were back in business. Could not get back on line! Again, the phone calls. Verizon even sent a new modem! Nada. Zilch. Called Netgear for help. Was told that since my router was over 90 days old, I would have to PAY for any help I requested! Needless to say, the router is in a box in the basement. Their website isn't very friendly as far as any help in securing the router. With what they spent on overseas calls, they could have sent me a "younger" router & still saved money! Wireless no more . . .
Thanks for letting me vent some frustration. And to all of you at MG - you have saved the lives of untold computers!

 

welcome to the forums Biz and nice rant BTW i worked with someone who use to hook up wireless networks and wired networks for hotels so i know abit about that stuff now. so i know how you feel about the compenies not wanting to help lol its hard sometimes untill you get someone who really cares about what they are doing.

 

Ethically it is stealing which is in contravention of one of the three human rights. Legally it is theft of services. Just because someone leaves a package on the seat of his unlocked car, can you go ahead and take it? It's the very same question.

"The basis of character is what you will do when you think no one is watching - God is always watching." "A petit (aka petty) thief is morally the same as a grand thief - the only difference is opportunity." Ayn Rand.

.bh.

 

I don't think it would be good idea to steal bandwidth from another neighbor..
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Unless you ask.

Where I work, it wouldn't be an issue cause I allowed clients or employees, who brought wireless laptops, to use company's internet bandwidth. However, they have to get 25 feets closer to the wireless router to gain access to the internet.

 

tritto!

What a great suggestion.


I knew a guy who was not such a good neighbor...
There was an open network near by and he found the manual for the router, logged on and locked the guy out.

that sucks.

security is a good thing.

 

I'd never even thought about that I didn't know it was possible, but I guess if you know the right (or wrong, in this case) stuff, it could be feasible. Anyone?

 

Thats a case of two dumb non geeks one for leaving his wireless connection open for anyone to use. The other for being stupid and telling the first one what he was doing by shutting the other out, there goes his "Free Stolen" access as the first will just shut down his router, there by know one has access.

 

HA!
We had an engineer here do that to his neighbours wireless router, thinking it was his own!

Not sure if he's owned up to it or not. I do believe his intentions weren't spiteful or malicious.

Ethically, this is a tough call, I think. I do believe that the security of the network should be the onus of the network administrator...how's the average user to distinguish between a network where security was overlooked, or outside the administrator's capacity, and networks that are intentionally left unsecured to promote sharing of internet?

I agree that asking for permission is the high road in this case, but don't attach any real negative stigma to connecting without. Of course, I would only connect for casual surfing; I wouldn't tax the hell out of his connection.

I have to admit I did a bit of Wardriving during a recent trip to the US. I connected only to get directions and maybe a bit of info, and I was off. I don't feel like a real criminal for this, and wouldn't want to persecute if my own network was accessed.

 

Say no more.....would i do it? probably! (if i could)

Halo makes some very valid points though, however this is one of those moral issues.

If you found a 'fifty' lying on the ground, would you hand it to the cops?

Regards....

 

I never use some one's wireless with out asking first. And if I found a 50 on the ground I would ask people around if they lost money before pocketing it.

It's hard to preach at people about being egocentric boobs if you aren't willing to go out of your way not to be hypocritical about it all. But that is just me, and I could be wrong. I frequently am wrong anyway...

 

very true....the world would be a better place with more like you BM!

good job!!!

(if no takers...would you pocket it, hand it in, or place it back?)

 

What about scumbags like me who will say that it IS my fifty? I don't think most people would deny a $50 bill.

 

Hey MM your no scumbag and you wouldn't say that fifty was yours!! You've spent many hours on this site helping us dweebs, to convince me otherwise

 

i don't know that i would give it to the police. i don't trust british police at all, and its hard to adjust that to a different place. i have to say that most people here would endevour to find the owner. we still get to leave our cars and homes unlocked here. thats not to say dishonesty doesn't exist, just that its rare and still frowned upon. alohas

 

I found 5 quid on the floor outside when I was about 11. I handed it in to the local police station (much to their surprise) and they said to come back in a week to see if it had been claimed. It hadn't, so they gave it back to me and I bought my first pair of jeans with it. That shows you how long ago it was ...Jeans = 5 UKP

 

Ok guys, what's going on here? Mr Pewty, you're nearly 50 years old and you have doubts about what's right and wrong here? Let's all be the true-hearted, honourable geeks we know we should be. Stealing, no matter what it is, is wrong. It can be pardoned in situations where people steal food/water because they (or their children) are starving to death - that's something anyone can understand. But internet access??? I agree with those who said be a friend and let the guy know he's wide open - not being very computer-savvy myself, I know I'd appreciate it if someone helped me. As many of you have already helped me. But remember, I didn't steal your knowledge: all I had to do was ask, and you were glad to help me (as well as many others).

 

there is the rub, I would have never said that it was a 50. I would have just asked if you had just dropped something. And expected you to tell me how much it was.

I have "Confidonemo" tattooed on my chest for a reason.

And if no body claimed it, it would depend on where I was at, as to how I would dispose of the money.

 

You mean, if you were outside the bar, then........... lol

 

My Mom and Dad never told me about wireless access when I was growing up. Also, I didn't ask if it was right or wrong. I asked if it would cause him any problems. I ceased when I found out it might.

If stealing can be pardoned then it's a judgement call, and who are you to judge?

 

If I was outside a bar, I would be a really heavy tipper that night.