[kitkin15]

ok, now i want to understand more about open wifi. i was told that it is illegal to get on someone elses wifi EVEN if they have it open(no block)...is this true? i was told that that person, and the internet company can sue you...i want to see if this is true. and if it is true, than why can coffie shops do it? i have a friend that has his internet set up to be open (says so in the name) and he has some bad sites blocked (p2p and porn sites) and is that still illegal? i want to know this so he dont get in trouble at all. please dont take this post down all itll do is help me, and help others to be safe and to compleatly understand this topic.

and is it better to keep your wifi open? or block it from others? if someone hacks passed and look up illegal stuff....you will get blamed right? so if its open than they cant say that you did it....so is it beter open? or closed?

[JohnWill]

It is illegal to connect to another person's network without their permission, and it's also simply wrong. Internet hotspots are giving implicit permission to anyone in range to connect and use their wireless connection, your neighbor who simply doesn't understand network security is not giving you such permission. It's the same as him leaving his door unlocked, to you think you have permission to enter and steal anything you like in the house?

I'm somewhat surprised that you'd even bother to ask the last question. I would think it's obvious that encrypting your wireless is the right choice. Not only does it protect you legally, you also get to use all the bandwidth that you've paid for!

[TerryNet]

Adding a little to what John said, coffee shops and other free public hotspots have an appropriate business service from their ISP. The terms of use of a residential service, which I assume is what your friend has, do not permit sharing the service outside the household.

[kitkin15]

...ok with the last question i asked, there WAS a reason for it, ive been doing searches on whats better....yes i know with common sence password protecting is better...but if you live in a neighborhood with people who are good with computers.....maybe they can hack your WEP key, i mean i probly could (i will not and have not tried) so whats stoping those people who are smarter than me? well if they hack into it and look up illegal stuff like perverted pictures of kids, use of p2p and all that kind of stuff...isnt it a little harder to prove you case? that you DIDNT do it? if its open than itll be easier to get you in trouble. now im not saying that you could get away with it...thats messed up. but if that was to happen do you know how much prision time you would do? and you are innocent the whole time...thats not right is it?


and another thing, i asked this question because i wanted to know more about the topic, so please dotn think of me as stupid or anything. not that you did, but im asking to learn more...so ya thanks for helping i think im going to leave this "un solved" though, so this way i can get morei nfo if possable =)

oh and if my neighbor has wifi and they DO let me get on, even if its not blocked could i legaly get on? im just woundering, they dont use it much anymore and i help them out alot. i do NOT get on it or anything, i am just woundering agin =)

[JohnWill]

WPA2-AES with a strong key is very secure, there is no known exploit for it. There is a small crack in the WPA-PSK armor, but it only allows injection of bogus packets, not actual access to the data on the link.

WEP is weak, which is why I specifically recommend at least WPA.

[dlsayremn]

The fie print in the ISP service agreement limits the use of the connection to one residential unit and its occupants or temporary visitors.
It may not be shared wired or wireless with another residential unit or its occupants.


Neighbor's wifi:
If you are in their house/apartment or on their property and have their permission, it is legal.
If you are NOT in their house/apartment or on their property, it is NOT legal, even if you have their permission.

Your neighbor can access his wifi from anywhere he gets a signal.

.

[kitkin15]

ok thanks =) that helps lol...i was scared it was illegal when i went to my dads...because i didnt permenatly live there lol...he has wifi that he pays for...well i dont know if he does now, but at the time he did lol

[JohnWill]

As a guest in a location, they're free to allow you connection to the network.

[kitkin15]

ok, i was scared at first lol...i didnt want my dad or me to get in any trouble.