[AF] WiFi is getting dangerous

[Dana Puopolo]

Many computers will automatically hook to the strongest un-encrypted  signal.
I can think of lots of times I found my laptop hooked to my neighbors' router
and theirs connected to mine. At one point the most used SSID was Linksys,
followed closely by Netgear and Default.

It's one thing if you hook into an access point that requires a password
without permission-but I find it hard to believe that hooking to an
un-ecrypted one (especially one DESIGNED for public usage) is criminal at all.


If the coffee shop wanted to control access, they could have used a simple
password, and printed it on the customers' receipt. Or, they could have
diverted the opening page to a special web page (like most hotels do), where
the terms of service are spelled out and you have to click to agree. They did
NEITHER of these things!

If their unprotected, un-encrypted, unlicensed wifi signal spills out onto
public property, why shouldn't the public get to use it? Let them use shielded
paint if they want to control it (yes, it's available; movie theatres use it
to stop cell phone use).

The cops in Sparta. GA should be ashamed of themselves! They have nothing
better do then arrest people for committing non-crimes? How about enforcing
REAL laws and catching REAL criminals.

-D

UPDATE: The police Chief is CLEARLY a moron who can't read! Scholars who Have
dissected the law he used say that CLEARLY says for it to apply, there has to
be some active way you've defeated a "barrier to access". Since no barrier
existed here, there was no crime. I hope this guy OWNS Sparta GA by the time
he's done suing them!


------ Original Message ------
Received: Sun, 27 May 2007 03:33:09 PM EDT
From: Kevin Tekel <amstereoexp at yahoo.com>
To: af at radiolists.net
Subject: [AF] WiFi is getting dangerous

Dana Puopolo wrote:
> Not to mention that wifi is UNLICENSED...
>
> Big difference.

Another thing... if using someone else's WiFi without their permission
counts as theft, then what if I drive along next to a car with XM or
Sirius and listen to it on my car radio via their FM modulator signal? 
Could I be charged with "stealing a paid subscription service"?



       
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