| Poll | Logging into your neighbor's wireless network is a risky proposition. You might be able to share Internet access (if the service provider allows that), enable your kids to play network games with their kids, and so on. But trusting your neighbors well enough to potentially open up your personal files to them is a different story.
Do You Log Into Your Neighbor's Wi-Fi Network? -
→ Vote: No | Yes - not very often | Yes - often | Results
→ See also - Should It Be Legal To Grab A Neighbor's Wi-Fi Signal?
Do You Log Into Your Neighbor's Wi-Fi Network? -
→ Vote: No | Yes - not very often | Yes - often | Results
→ See also - Should It Be Legal To Grab A Neighbor's Wi-Fi Signal?
I have a high speed cable connection without a network. But one time my son came by from out of state and turned on his laptop to find that his WiFi card was picking up a connection. He used it for awhile and then shut it down. I have no idea whose signal he had tapped into, but it seems like a breech of security on their part. Can you protect your wireless network from this?
I have my own internet service, so I don’t need to use my neighbor’s.
If I am away from home, then yes, I’ll use an open access point.
There’s nothing morally or legally wrong with this. My computer asks for permission to access their network, and their router grants me permission. The only laws are against “*unauthorized* access of a computer network”.
If the network were password protected and I cracked the password, then I’d be violating the law. Accessing an open network is perfectly legal.
I use my neighbors internet connection all the time. It comes into my home. ITs mine.
charlie
I agree it appears to be sneaky. But since the signal is passing through YOUR home without your permission, it’s fair game. It’s up to the originator to secure it.
The so-called “stealer” would be ill-advised not to become dependent on it as it’s an unreliable way to obtain internet access. And in most cases would probably tire of the practice.
This is fear mongering and from About.com? I came in here after reading EFF’s call to open home wireless networks to allow publically free hotspot use: “Open Wifi Movement” https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2011/04/open-wireless-movement
Seattle, Nyc, San Francisco (among others) have safely created free networks. The trick is to secure YOUR computer and to push for router manufacturers to allow safe use. The technology is there. WPA and WEP are easily hacked anyway. It’s a false sense of security to anyone with malicious intent. Illegal activity by an unknown user is covered.
Securing the network and pushing police to run around and “warning” people with open networks is another attempt to own everything by a few people who will never make enough money.
I recently lost my internet connection at home and it sure would have been nice to use a neighbors for awhile. I think it’s about time to stop viewing other people as all criminals and start trusting again. Crime is down, not up.
Yes , i have alot of times.
i use to vist my step-mom but didn’t have WIFI so i connected
to a wifi from neighbor accross street.
the neighbor had no clue
it was unsecured and open , so perfectly legal!