said by hrickpa :

how about some one cracking the WEP key to gain access
i am running 802.11b my neighbors keep getting access
when i change the WEP key 24 hours later there back in
linksys befw11s4
WEP 128 bit
been going on for 4 months
they started getting bandwidth greedy that's how i found them
leaching
i have a program that warns me if there is a computer that is an intruder (not belong on my network}
the program gives me a network map of all computers and devices attached

said by TimmyDanny:

You should configure your router to only accept your MAC addresses.

Of course, your neighbor might possibly already know the MAC addresses for your equipment (since they've snooped your network) and be able to pretend to be one of your computers, but it's worth a shot, and simple to do.

said by bent :

I think that the majority of people who leave their WAPs open wouldn't have the first clue that someone was using their connection, much less how to document it so that it would stand up in court.

said by TK Junk Mail :

If they get the offender with the laptop in his hand and before he can erase any traces, they have all the proof they need. Also, they can subpoena the ISP records and have further proof there.

But, obviously, you will catch very few in the act. But the point is highly publicising the consequences of those you do catch, thereby scaring off many many more.

said by TK Junk Mail :

If they get the offender with the laptop in his hand and before he can erase any traces, they have all the proof they need.

Also, they can subpoena the ISP records and have further proof there.

But, obviously, you will catch very few in the act. But the point is highly publicising the consequences of those you do catch, thereby scaring off many many more.

said by bmn :

ISP records won't help if the person is browsing from behind a router because the IP address is shared among multiple computers.

said by manfmmd :

You are forgetting about the index.dat for IE and browser cache for other browsers that will 'tell' where you have been on the internet.

said by fiberguy :

You, little boy, need to chill out. Back down unless you want a flame war bud. (what are you, one of those libbys that think they know everything in this world? And that the collective knows better? Tell me why the government is going to hollywood to help them think of possible ways that people can slip through the cracks or new ways they can hurt us? Because they try to think outside the box - MORON!)

said by fiberguy :

Unless you have antying usefull to add to the discussion, skip the post. Your editorial isn't necessary.

I can't believe that the babies here get all bent out of shape because someone posts a though.. wow! Shows the mentality here. (Sorry, I didn't check with the borg collective before posting a message that conforms)

Now where's that Sarcasm Emoticon or better yet, the finger. Lighten up!

said by fiberguy :

...Some people may think I am over reacting, however, if you wanted to cause terror or what ever these people want to do, open Wi-Fi is an even better place to use the internet than an internet cafe where you have to physically sit and risk getting found...

said by fiberguy :

Personally, I think they need to make some stiff examples of some of the ones doing it now. So, I see it a very worth-while cause for the police.

If you think about it, this plays into home land security issues. Some people may think I am over reacting, however, if you wanted to cause terror or what ever these people want to do, open Wi-Fi is an even better place to use the internet than an internet cafe where you have to phyiscally sit and risk getting found.

Again, is it over reaching? We never thought that air planes would take down the trade towers too...

Along with getting people who use these access points, I think there should be a drive to get people to secure them as well for the same reason.

said by manfmmd :

You are forgetting about the index.dat for IE and browser cache for other browsers that will 'tell' where you have been on the internet.

said by psb777:

I was in Ottawa until yesterday. When I got there a week ago I fired up my WiFi equipped laptop and my browser gave me a login screen for TelecomOttawa. I paid CAN$29 for a month's access and used the Internet everyday. Last day on the main pedestrianised street sitting on a bench only after an hour did I realise I had not been using TelecomOttawa that day at all! There was an open Linksys AP nearby that my laptop had connected to. Unconcerned, I shrugged and continued until my battery flaked out.

How should one act? I need never have found out that I wasn't connected to the correct ISP. At what point did I start breaking the law? How do you explain yourself to the RCMP who asks what you're doing? How do you prove to an IT-illiterate cop you are accessing an ISP to which you have a subscription?

said by scott1527 :

if theres no security set i would say its a free hot spot. its upto the owner to lock it down if he doesnt want ppl using it. if its open its there to be used.

said by richk_1957 :

No-one is saying a thing about the owners of the unsecured hot spots.

said by fiberguy :

Correct, because HOTSPOTS are public routers used for that purpose, however some charge. Are you talking about a home wireless access point or WAP?

said by branley:

If I'm sitting in my bedroom, and my laptop, which just connects to whatever signal is available, connects to my neighbors wifi, do I have to worry about the police knocking on my door and hauling me off?

With wifi becoming so common now, states are going to have to start working on some laws so that we can understand what is legal and what isn't. Wifi is even more tricky because it does not stay within property boundaries. I would say that if I walk onto your property to use any of your utilities that I could be arrested for trespassing, but if I'm not on your property and your wifi extends onto my property, then is it still yours? Or is your wifi service trespassing on my property. Maybe I'll have you arrested for littering my property with your wifi!!

One further comment: if you were broadcasting a private radio station for your house, and my radio picked it up, is it illegal for me to listen to it? Surely not. If you stand naked in your backyard, and there is no fence, is it illegal for me to stand in my backyard and stare at you? Nope.