Wifi Hijacking - good or bad?

braindigitalis · Idler Joined: 22 Sep 2003 Posts: 443 Location: IRC

Do you think its acceptable to steal other peoples internet by connecting to insecure wireless networks?

Names withheld, but ive heard from a few people recently (some from these boards) who are doing this, and in my opinion its pretty low. It makes me glad ive secured my own wireless network so that people cant do stuff like this, if you want internet, pay your own damn bills.

]Daniel · Idler Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 319 Location: Boise, ID

ol · none Joined: 29 Jan 2006 Posts: 1

Sometimes, it can be useful to set up a temporary open AP, I must admit. However, in tune with some of the complaints in IRC Abuse, this is a possible vector for the nastier set of people to use to annoy the rest of us.

Rob_ · Idler Joined: 13 Dec 2003 Posts: 309

So err, who's responsible for whatever traffic leaves your ip address ? :)

long as "but i run an open wi-fi" is accepted as a legal excuse why your IP address was the source of the largest illigal activities empire on the whole internet, sure why not, i'll go with open wi-fi for all :)

magpie · Idler Joined: 18 Jan 2004 Posts: 453 Location: Essex, UK

Of course hijacking somebody else's wireless network is bad, and I believe it's also illegal. Oh, and the excuse that you can't afford internet access otherwise is a pathetic justification for it, imho.

braindigitalis · Idler Joined: 22 Sep 2003 Posts: 443 Location: IRC

magpie · Idler Joined: 18 Jan 2004 Posts: 453 Location: Essex, UK

Indeed. Anyway, it's not like BT Openzone is particularly expensive either. I actually used it quite a lot when I worked at BT as their own in-house wireless signal was too weak! :)

Aven · Idler Joined: 05 Aug 2005 Posts: 393

"Terrible idea". Basiclly, it's stealing which is a bad thing.

]Daniel · Idler Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 319 Location: Boise, ID

lol...if you was in the position i was, you'd understand...the money we have is going for my nieces food, and she is 2...we got 4 people living on an income 1400 dollars, and the rent is 600...and some more stuff..

Om · none Joined: 30 Oct 2004 Posts: 24

It's stealing, and stealing is bad.
Admittedly it's usually only possible because people can't cope with actually configuring a network. And maybe they need some kind of wakeup call to make them realise what's happening, but just casually stealing the internet access THEY pay for does not do that, and is a Bad Thing (tm) imo.

Aven · Idler Joined: 05 Aug 2005 Posts: 393

Just get dial-up... There's dial-up as low as $7 a month.

And you can always get a 90 day trial from AOL. Yes, AOL sucks a LOT but it's better than stealing.

Honestly, when I first got my PC, my parents were too tight with their money to afford internet so I went ahead and used AOL's 90 day free trial, better than nothing or stealing. Although, now I have cable (thank goodness) Razz

Besides, AOL stays connected 24/7, better than what you're using because I see you pinging out a lot.

]Daniel · Idler Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 319 Location: Boise, ID

WhaLberg · Posted: Feb 03, 2006 2:58am Post subject:

My cousen does that and it's really good. Razz

MOVIEBOT · Lurker Joined: 24 May 2004 Posts: 229 Location: Poland

i use my neighbours wireless network Very Happy

and its like 30mb/ps lol and use it to stay on irc Very Happy

and use mine just for downloading Razz

magpie · Idler Joined: 18 Jan 2004 Posts: 453 Location: Essex, UK

It makes me laugh that people supposedly strapped for cash, and struggling to buy food, nethertheless find the money to have a PC or laptop. Reminds me of UK council estates where everybody has Sky TV.