Comments on Mom's Paranoia

I prefer to think of it as borrowing. If they didn't want to share it, they'd encrypt it.

If the neighbors had a tree that grew over your fence, you'd be free to prune it or pick the apples on your side. If their radio waves insist on travelling through your space, they're yours to use.

Exactly. This is why HamstaVille is encrypted - you want to use my wireless you either buy me a pint of cider so I give you the password or you spend some time breaking the encryption. Personally, though, I love all the unencrypted default password wireless sites around ...

When I first bought my laptop, it glommed onto an unencrypted wireless network and I figured, hey, if it's not encrypted, why not? I actually thought it might be from the cafe across the street, but it turned out to be my next door neighbor's. My sister was completely appalled at my renegade ways, but like Will in Seattle, I figured, if they can't be bothered to encrypt it, why shouldn't I? Said neighbor has since moved out, so I'm now sharing with a different neighbor with her approval. I pay her a few bucks a month, and the network in encrypted for just us + one other neighbor paying her the same thing. Everybody's happy.

the only problem is that if they find out, they can sue, they can get the police to prosecute, and you can end up in jail/paying fines/paying for all the access you stole.

and...

if you ever shop, email, do anything personal all your packets are running through their router.. and they may be like me.. a 1337 haxor who sniffs out credit cards and shiat from my asshole neighbor leachers.

be warned. it aint a safe practice.

oh and i forgot, there's this thing called wardriving, where people go around town stealing access to commit illegal acts via your net access. which can also land you in hot water.

it's kind of like anonymous sex without a condom, it's just not worth the risk.

Whoa, whoa, WHOA... say what you will about misusing other people's WiFi, but don't you ever speak ill of condomless, anonymous sex.

lol

ROFLCOPTER!!!

at least noone's trying to shove WiMax down our throats, to force us to pay money for what is free now.

I am part of the mindset that internet access, and by extention information, should be open and accessable to the public as a service and not a priviledge... a choice anyone with wifi is free to make.

Unprotected WIFI access is free access, plain and simple... not everyone minds sharing with strangers. Passwords are easy to add and are added by people who do not want to share with just anyone. If there is no password, it is open for use. If someone objects or calls "stealing", then they really need to get a grip, learn a thing or three about their computer, and protect it... now, if the signal is hacked, used for illegal/unethical purposes, etc. that is another matter entirely.

I "borrowed" access from my neighbors for years, but recently got my own. Of course, I have no password now so others can use it. It'd just be bad form, otherwise.

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