Wireless Network legal stuff

Post by **Cakedaddy** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 12:24 am

Is it legal for you to use your neighbor's wireless access point to get on the Internet? As in, you live in an appartment building and you know your neighbor's have it but you are too cheap to pay for it. Is it legal to just use there's if they don't lock it down?

Post by **TheCatt** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 8:06 am

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 8:34 am

Yeah, it's not legal.
Even if the neighbor gives consent, that's (most likely) breaking their deal with their ISP, so it's still illegal.

Now, is anybody going to spend the time/money to persue and prosecute... probably not, unless you're causing a nuissance.

Post by **GORDON** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 11:58 am

Nope.

DoctorChaos · Post by **DoctorChaos** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 12:54 pm

Yeah, it's not legal.
Even if the neighbor gives consent, that's (most likely) breaking their deal with their ISP, so it's still illegal.

Now, is anybody going to spend the time/money to persue and prosecute... probably not, unless you're causing a nuissance.

Right.... that's why the feds broke down their door

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 1:16 pm

The article isn't loading up for me.

I assume they were being a nuissance (bandwidth hog, file theft, online crime, etc.) rather than just using the internet for typical use.

I don't see a judge issuing a warrant to break down the door of someone's who's doing the equivelant of stealing cable.

Zetleft · Post by **Zetleft** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 10:43 pm

Acutally in that article some cable subscribers altered their own cable modems to get more bandwidth then normal from their cable providers and got noticed by the ISP. Computers taken no charges filed as of yet for the break of terms and service.

Doesn't exactly relate to wireless networks where you are stealing from another users bandwidth, still illegal mind you but really not noticable from an ISP point of view.

Post by **GORDON** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 10:53 pm

IIRC, the FBI raided the homes of peeps with altered cable modem settings.

I want to say it was in... Toledo?

DoctorChaos · Post by **DoctorChaos** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 6:07 am

Yeah the link is to the Toledo Blade. You're right it doesn't pertain to wireless but more toward the anal attitude of the ISPs. The folks uncapped their modems to get more bandwith. The ISPs took exception and got the FBI to storm their houses. No criminal offense here just breach of contract. Just google for 'toledo fbi cable'.

Post by **TheCatt** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 9:03 am

In all, they seized 23 computers, including three laptops; three hard drives, and 13 cable modems. No charges were filed and no arrests were made. "To the best of my knowledge, there have been no similar search warrants executed or investigations in the country," Detective Beavers said.

wazzafuck?

Post by **thibodeaux** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 10:47 am

Property seized. No charges filed. Will the property be returned?

Riiiiiight.

Post by **GORDON** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 11:08 am

You know, there's a reason I find Boss Tweed to be such an interesting person. When every level of authority was corrupt, he filled a vacuum and actually did something for the downtrodden.

HE WAS CORRUPT AS ALL HELL. But buying a vote with a bottle of whiskey got more for the little guy than the official authorities of the time ever did.