Networking Ethics Question

Didn't think this should go in the Networking forum, as that seems to be the place for those with networking issues. Mine is just an ethical question.

Does MGs consider networking on say, your neighbors wireless connection, to be ethical, if you have not asked your neighbor if you may do so? Is it just an acceptable "risk" a person takes for having a wireless set up?

 

In my opinion, anytime you use something that someone is paying for and dont have their permission you are being highly unethical. Not to mention stealing.

 

So when we log on to MGs *grins* from work on the work internet, we are being unethical...... ? And stealing.....?

 

True...this is a hypothetical btw. I have no intention of. In fact, since I am about to take out wireless DSL I was actually wondering who I would be providing internet coverage for in my locality

 

I Agree!

At home, I have a choice of 3 seperate wireless networks. 2 unsecure, 1 "secure". Though, no WEP/WPA network is really all that secure. Though, WPA2 is pretty tough to beat. From what I've read. These are neighbors who I can access.

I personally, hate wireless networks. To much trouble to deal with.

I pay for my internet access.

Soon, I'll have a wired network setup for my basement. I'm planning on having a 2x125 watt receiver with bose speakers (upgrading my 2 tiny front Bose speakers to Bose 301s, then taking those small speakers downstairs). Then either buying a media router, or an "audio" router, to pipe music from my computer (and internet radio) down to my pool/dart room in my basement.

 

See this thread and its responses to secure your wireless network: http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=79187

With regard to the "hypothetical" "ethical" question - this depends on whether it is intentional or not. If not, and you accidental were using the someone else's wireless connection without yourself being aware then not. If it was intentional then you are using their bandwidth and line costs, for example they may have a cap on how much they download per month. But if you had permission then this is would be acceptable, maybe you could contribute to their costs. However, the onus on securing the wireless connection is on the owner of the wireless devices and in this day and age would be negligent if they did not impose some form of security to prevent a felony from those not just in the near vicinity.

 

I am not sure, but I think Lev might be one of those evil Spammer/ Hacker Type people and she is planning on taking over the World one wireless network at a time. Beware and be very Afraid!!!!!!

 

Darn...busted!!!



@D3m3nt3d....I know...I just wanted to clarify for any newbies reading who perhaps don't know me yet

 

Arrests have been made, using someone else's wireless network without their consent.

Unethical would be the least of your worries

Hypothtically speaking, of course.

 

Get my DSL Dec 14 Went for Qwest finally.

 

Sweet!

You will love it!

 

Awesome! I'll have a little bit of Chaslang-techno in my house

 

The chaslang-techno is installed and running sweetly

Ya think I'll gone done for speeding in MGs now?

 

Lev,

Kodo will probably write you the speeding citation, but if you're lucky, AbbySue may be the judge!

 

I'm the executioner baby!!!

 

@Lev,
Be afraid, be very afraid, as per Kodo's reply!

 

WEP is so insecure it's funny. But, it's better than nothing. Personally, all my wireless traffic is encryped both with WEP and through a SSH tunnel to a wired server. Unfortunately I can't use WPA because some clients on my network (namely my step dad who has his eqipment provided by work) don't have driver support for it. Which really sucks.

I've also got a MAC filter list, as well as some great blocking rules too

People who use unencrypted connections are really silly. If I walk around with a packet sniffer and my wireless card in promisc mode, I get all sorts of unencrypted junk. Peoples MSN conversations, emails, google queries... it's worrying people don't realise that it's all public information if they don't even make an attempt to secure it.

 

oh do tell

 

I'm becoming a speed freak!

Last night....DLS (at home)

Today, at work, I crashed my PC doing some simple chart work in Word. Turns out they only put 128 RAM in my PC , so they upgraded it to 256! Haha!

I'm whizzing along now............comparatively

 

You get the occasional HTTP Packet with the GET location like http://www.google.co.uk/?q=major+geeks (of course google querystrings are getting longer by the minute what with personalised pages and all that), or a MSN packet which says "hey" or somthing.

I wouldn't go round intentionally trying to listen to peoples conversations/watch their web queries. That'd just be weird. It's not my fault that when I go doing wireless surveying that I get all this crap as well.