WiFi: Don't Beg, Borrow, or Steal

You just bought your new laptop, complete with wireless card.  Unfortunately, you don't have the Internet at home.  But that's okay.  While playing with your new toy, you discover that several of your neighbors have Internet access as well as wireless connectivity.  So you decide to save yourself a little money and use their connection to access the Internet.  After all, they'll never know.

Sounds like a heck of a deal.  And it is...until the authorities finds you out.

Earlier this year a man in London was arrested for using an unsecured WiFi connection.  Under British law, he could be prosecuted for dishonestly obtaining electronic communication services and gaining unauthorized access to computer material.  And a Michigan man was arrested and charged with stealing the WiFi services of a local coffee shop.  Arrests and charges like this are becoming more commonplace as WiFi becomes more readily available in businesses, public establishments, and homes.

There are many excuses that people use for "piggybacking" on someone else's WiFi connection, and they're all pretty lame.  Some of them include:

"I don't have Internet access at home."  If you can't afford the monthly cost of going DSL or cable (as little as $20 a month for some low-end packages), companies still offer dial-up access for $10 a month.  If your laptop came with WiFi, it came with a built-in Ethernet connection.  An Ethernet cable plugs into your modem on one end and your laptop on the other.

"But I don't want to be tied into a cable."  Then spend the money to get a wireless router for your home connection.  These days you can find WiFi routers for as little as $30 for a low-end version with no frills.

"I don't know how to set up a wireless router."  The software included with your new router will step you through installation of the hardware (router) and software (laptop).  Think "router installation for dummies".

"I need access when I'm not at home."  So buy a wireless card.  They plug into a slot on your laptop and utilize a cellular phone network to connect to the Internet wherever cellphone service is available.  Keep in mind that you're not charged a flat fee per month for usage; you're charged for the minutes you use while connected.  (Leaving the computer connected to the Internet for an hour at a time while you watch TV could get expensive!)

"My company requires me to access the Internet for work."  Then your company can pay for that access.  Depending on company policy, a business may pay for all costs, or may require the employee to cover some of the expense.  You'll have to find out from your IT department.

"Businesses offer free WiFi.  I can use theirs."  Yes, you can, if you're a paying customer.  Businesses like coffee shops, restaurants, and the like lock down their wireless connection and give their customers the password to access the service.  Once you know the password, though, it doesn't give you carte blanche to sit outside the establishment and surf the 'net.

"Hey, if people are stupid enough to leave their WiFi access open for me to get in...!"  Oh, please.  That's what petty thieves say whenever they enter a public building, or walk up to a home to find the front door unlocked, and start moving stuff out.  Public access to an item does not mean it is free for the taking.  Law enforcement has some pretty stiff penalties when thieves start taking things that are not theirs.

So the next time you're tempted to piggyback onto your neighbor's wireless connection, think again.  You could very well find yourself in court.

Comment by Danny Davids^(13,045) (229 days 2 hours ago.)

Comment by Danny Davids^(13,045) (213 days 6 hours ago.)