Unknown wireless network

seven-day-weekend

Our friend's computer has tuned in to an unknown wireless network.

Is it illegal to use it?

seven-day-weekend

Thanks for your rapid and unambiguous reply!

I'll tell them.

totalsolutions

No. leave them to it........

john_s_2

Yes it is. Although I'm sure the powers that be won't be too harsh on someone who used it without realising. My wife has complained that her connection seems slow only to realise that her laptop has hooked into a neighbour's network. I think you can click on something to say 'never use this connection' or 'always use this connection' to avoid such accidents.

When I was setting up my brother's new router I was surprised at how weak the signal was. So I went to the router's admin page and entered the default username and password (I hadn't changed it at this point - it was next on the list).

To my horror it wasn't my brother's router! He recognised the ISP username as using his neighbour's surname. I told my brother to have a quiet word in his neighbour's ear but I don't think he did. Obviously I disconnected from this particular connection pronto without changing anything. The neighbour had the same model router - in fact I think that was one of the reasons they bought the same one - on the basis that if they could see it from next door it must be good!

My kids have difficulty understanding why they shouldn't use a different network if it's unprotected. I try telling them that it's (legally) the same as walking into someone's house because they've left the front door open. Just because you can doesn't mean you may. Admittedly this analogy fails when hooking into someone's network is unintentional and not realised.

seven-day-weekend

Thanks everyone.