is it legal to use someone else's wireless network when your own is out?
Ours has been out off and on for days and ours is password protected so no one else can use it....but...I noticed an icon that told me of a close by network that I could get on...must be one of the neighbors as the signal strength is low.

My question is...should I? Is this legal? Is this impolite?

I don't know, alffe...not for sure. This is what I was told...

I, personally, wouldn't do it.

I do know that when I was at the store to buy my laptop, he explained to me about protecting mine because anyone could come up and use it and it would be on me...so I guess legally it falls to the subscriber unless they can prove they didn't.

See, if you "borrowed" their's anything you did online would come back to their IP. However, if they don't have it protected, anyone could pick up on it...not just you...

KD

I think the main problem is when people use it to do illegal activities. I know you wouldn't do that, Alffe! lol

The neighbour might not ever notice that someone else has used it, but as far as I know it's not something you should be doing.

I wouldn't do it.

Edited to add: Here's the first thing that I got when I did a search for technical answer.
It's from University of Delaware Police
http://128.175.24.251/wireless_security.htm

I agree.

Too, what if THEY were doing something illegal and it was somehow found out that I was borrowing? Whew, could be a mess to clean up. But, I'm really reaching there...hehe.

I would just be too nervous.

KD

I wouldn't do it, since I also would not know whom else could be doing the same thing without authorization to access (and what they might be using the service for). It seems like it could create a mess I wouldn't want. (And, it is stealing; I leave my B-B-Q in my backyard, for instance, but that's not an open invitation for neighbors - who can see it - to use it without my permssion.)



Also, even if it appears that the Network is available, it actually might not be: It could prompt for a password, etc.

My WI-FI often shows nearby networks that are seemingly available, but, they really aren't - as long I don't also have an account with those providers.

"HotSpots" - for WI-FI - are different; certain areas and businsses are wired for people to use the services freely, but make sure those firewalls are running .

OMG! I'll not sleep a wink tonight. *grin. I thank you for the responses...and I know that ignorance is no defense but now that I know, I won't do it again.

I've had men up on poles most of the day....right this minute it works. I remain the skeptic.

Alfie:
It is indeed very illegal. Very common, but very illegal. Below is a CNN story about a man that accessed his laptop while parked in front of someones home, evidently not realizing he accessed their WiFi. His Mac address showed up on their router and boom. My son who is in a computer networking program said that it is essentially breaking and entering at least cybernetically.

http://money.cnn.com/2005/07/07/tech...reless_arrest/

God Bless....In HIS Service....Dan

It is illegal, that's true. I just learned this myself (thankfully, not the hard way!)

I'm a serious recovering felon when it comes to this, during my crime spree days, I would buzz around a town and look for a signal to jump onto for a few minutes. I am now cured of my compulsion to commit crimes.

I still use coffee house and hotel signals because if they don't want them to be available to just anyone, I know they'll restrict access, and many already do so.

lol gave me a chuckle very early in my morning.