Community Newsletter: Q&A: 10/28/05 If a wireless network signal is available, can I use it?
- 10/27/05 5:12 PM
Change the original passwords
by HiF|yer - 10/28/05 8:34 AM In reply to: can people acces my network? by peanut2Use the CD that was provided by Linksys to access your account on the internet. Then page thru the information one page at a time and change the passwords from the default to one that you make up.
Its very easy and no one will access your information after that. It takes less than 10 minutes and is highly secure.
Then each computer will have to enter the network password to access the wireless. You will have to learn how to do that, although it is relatively easy as well especially on Win XP--it has a wireless wizard that walks you thru the whole thing.
Good luck!
YES, you can
by g52ultra - 10/28/05 8:32 AM In reply to: 10/28/05 If a wireless network signal is available, can I use it? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
simple enough. Any more to that answer and I would be patronizing you.
TURN ON WPA OR WEP...
by napsterlover2375 - 10/28/05 8:38 AM In reply to: 10/28/05 If a wireless network signal is available, can I use it? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
This would not be an issue if people would stop beig so ignorant about computer security. It really is not that difficult setting up WPA or WEP on a wireless router, if you chose to skip that step, you deserve to get hacked. I recently read an article in the November 2005 issue of PC World about some dumb lady's computer getting infected with spyware and losing thousands of dollars in productivity and hiring computer techs to remove the spyware from her computer. I really didn't feel that bad about it, she chose to go on the internet without adequate security and she paid the price, don't cry about to PC World.
Find out who your neighbor and offer to co-pay to help
by guberro - 10/28/05 8:43 AM In reply to: 10/28/05 If a wireless network signal is available, can I use it? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I would not glom unto anyone's network without their permission. The only exception (for me) would be if that were the only form of communication avavilable and it was an emergency: house on fire, out of gas, broken down vehicle, washed out road, etc.
What I have suggested to coworkers who encounter this situation is to find out who owns the WiFi network and offer to pay to share their connection, which is reasonable. I would offer my network for hire, assuming it would be used for non-illegal activities, such as browsing anything, email and web maintenance. File sharing is out and a signature from them would protect me in the event of their abuse.
The WiFi network should not be available in the first place, but people who don't know much about computers probably don't realize the probability of their paying for freeloader's use of their resources. Most Manufacturer's stress the point of setting up encryption but some users, in the haste of getting set up and enjoying their wireless abilities, totally space the fact that they are not secured and are offering free broadband to the world nearby.
Whether legal or not, it is just not morally acceptable (to me) to steal someone else's resources. If you are computer literate, why not be a responsible person and offer your services to set up WPA or even WEP for your neighbor and explain how you have a choice of paying $35+/mo for broadband or simply using theirs for FREE every month, they will probably get it then!
simple answer
by u2in99 - 10/28/05 8:46 AM In reply to: 10/28/05 If a wireless network signal is available, can I use it? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Answer to your question is simply-
No you should definitely not use the unknown signals of neighbors or local business's that you may find unless you have a specific agreement to do so.
Both for security, ethical and legal reasons.
It may not be against the law per se but if you do this i am sure you will eventually regret, perhaps even sooner rather than later.
This can easily lead to your computer being hacked.
Enough said.
How can I be sure I don't use a neighbors wireless?
by wkmaccaughey - 10/28/05 10:14 AM In reply to: 10/28/05 If a wireless network signal is available, can I use it? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
How can I make sure I only log on through my wireless and not a close neighbors?
Bill MacCaughey
Stealing Wireless = Jail Time?
by kwright05 - 10/28/05 10:24 AM In reply to: 10/28/05 If a wireless network signal is available, can I use it? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
If I remember correctly, a couple of months ago, a man in Florida was arrested for sitting in his car outside of a home in Florida when the owner of the house called the cops b/c he saw him with his laptop.
Here is the article:
Miami, FL - Earlier this week, police in St. Petersburg reported that a man who was arrested for stealing a wireless internet signal faces a pretrial this month...
Benjamin Smith III, 41, is one of the first to be arrested and tried for this very common occurrence. Smith faces charges of unauthorized access to a computer network, which is a third-degree felony.
It is unclear as to why Smith was using the Wi-Fi signal from the home of Richard Dinon, and Smith was unable for comment. Dinon reported that Smith's SUV was parked outside his home, which is where Smith would access Dinon's wireless signal.
Using unsecured Wi-Fi signals, pending the outcome of this case, may prove to be grounds for new precedent. However, users should be aware that in most cases, wireless routers and other devices emitting a Wi-Fi signal can be secured. This can help prevent unwanted signal stealers that may use the signal for acts which may be illegal, or which might result in legal ramifications in the future.
Wireless article
by pleporini - 10/28/05 10:50 AM In reply to: 10/28/05 If a wireless network signal is available, can I use it? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
As for the last part of your question, (If I do use it, can the person with the service see who is using it and what I am looking at? ) The answer is YES. You can be seen on their pc. If they have proper knowledge of how to check for other PCs connected to the network, they may very well catch you.
Please elaborate on how to see if someone is using ones network.
Thanks,
Paul
Wirless Signal, Can You Use It If Its' Available
by kfews1 - 10/28/05 11:17 AM In reply to: 10/28/05 If a wireless network signal is available, can I use it? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
CNET Tech et AL
I want to say that it is good to see the many issues you folks address and respond to; a great service indeed !
As a former Computer Tech, and Consultant for many years I have had the pleasure to see the industry grow and change. As well, it has been great to be a small part of it working as a tech and later as a conssultant
but one can never know everything.
One of the greatest things to come about in the industry has been wireless! It is great and I not only have it on my home network, but I "partake" in my neighbors, only when I have emergencies; i. e. power and network outtages.
I have had to use my neighbors access to get utilities restored and to get messages out in real emergencies. But I never exploit their failures to secure their networks...not even to plant a message that their networks are at risk.
K. Fews
Rockville-Gaithersburg, Maryland
yes its free
by mustek5000 - 10/28/05 12:09 PM In reply to: 10/28/05 If a wireless network signal is available, can I use it? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Yes it is legal Why? you have the option to secure the line , a secured line denies you access , unless you know how to hack. as that is a perfect owrd for the topic. imagine the opposite scenerio, they are looking for a sucker like you, and you grab the bate , now the hacker got your pc and off they go to that stuff hidden deep inside your pc. so Yes it is legal, and thee are no laws at all to stop you from viewing, wireless networking are free at starbucks, hotels even at a park, limitations may apply
A scary experience while in Hawaii
by treschic97 - 10/28/05 12:30 PM In reply to: 10/28/05 If a wireless network signal is available, can I use it? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
While sitting in our parked car, waiting on my fiance to return from the DMV, I was playing with our new laptop. A man drove up beside me and rolled his window down and asked if I was using a wireless network. To which I said, no. He told me that he wasnt' being nosey, just wanted to advise me that someone had been arrested the day before for sitting outside someone's condo, using their wireless network. Wow.., was I shocked. With a little research I found out it was indeed true. The man went to jail.
Knowing how difficult it is to get a network connection on the Big Island, I suspected the person was innocently using the connection.
Having only gotten the Toshiba just prior to leaving on this trip, I didn't really know it very well yet. But when I looked at my settings, it was set to connect to any available wireless network. Which I changed IMMEDIATELY.
Just a fyi.
The Arrest
by drwho - 10/28/05 12:54 PM In reply to: A scary experience while in Hawaii by treschic97I would guess that it was more than a CASUAL USE thing. It would be rather hard to find out WHO was using your signal by just looking out the window; there would have to be multiple days of surveilance first. It could have been someone in an adjoining condo which would be more difficult to watch since they would not be out in an open public space with no expectation of privacy.
Of course the person in the condo is partly to blame for not setting up his WiFi router with WEP encryption. If I were the judge in this case I would admonish the 'victim' for not doing that and give the 'thief' a slap-on-the-wrist penalty.
Software
by rgoalie22 - 10/28/05 1:07 PM In reply to: 10/28/05 If a wireless network signal is available, can I use it? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
whats the software that u can use, when your connected and you can hide yourself from the host of the network without getting seen on the network?
re:If a wireless network signal is available, can I use it?
by ronjon - 10/28/05 2:37 PM In reply to: 10/28/05 If a wireless network signal is available, can I use it? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Apart from the various technical issues, the answer in law is NO.
It is illegal in the UK. There has already been a prosecution for this offence in July 05(Google 'Gregory Straszkiewicz' for details).
In some places, it is illegal!
by GiveMeABreak - 10/28/05 2:57 PM In reply to: 10/28/05 If a wireless network signal is available, can I use it? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
There was a case in London a short while ago, slightly different to this in some aspects, but the basic same question of "Can I use someone elses wireless network"?
The basic answer in the UK, is NO! It is covered under the digital millenium act, and is considered theft! You are using something that you have not paid for, at the expense of someone else.
What happened in London, was that a person was seen parking outside a house, and using his laptop. This hapenned over a period of time, and his antics were bought to the attention of the local police, who promptly arrested him on suspision. When he attended court, he was found guilty under the digital millenium act, was fined a £500 (approx $900), given a 12 month conditional discharge, and to add further injury, his laptop and wireless card were confiscated. See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4721723.stm
In the UK, a lot of ISP's are now offering "limited" broadband accounts, with download caps. If you were on a service like this, and someone downloaded, lets say, the Administrators XP2 Service Pack, the MS Office 2003 Service Pack 2, and an eval copy of MS CRM 3.0, well, there's a gig of your 2 gig download limit gone in less than an hour, hence the prosecution of theft.
But, at the end of the day, would you really trust an unsecured wireless network? What if they have packet sniffers, and gain your userid and password to your email, your bank accounts, ultimately, your identity!
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