i have connected to my next doors wireless

dickibobboy

well i sat in the room today and my wireless would not connect so had a look and it said it is because there is one or more networks in the area, so i clickd on the other one and i connected i can use the internet. its only connected at 11mbps, do you think i should go round and tell them to secure it? that would be better to?

Browntoa

I had the same dilemma, decided in the end to leave it as

1) did not know which neighbour

2) comes in handy sometimes

dickibobboy

i thought that it may come in handy, is my ip is down or anything, i may just leave it, his fault if i connect to it

Rex_Mundi

I would actually tell my neighbour (I regard peoples online security/privacy in the highest respect).

This is completely apart from the fact that using someone elses internet connection without their permission is theft of their bandwidth (and a case has already gone through court setting a precedent).

So many people want wireless networks in their home without realising the possible downsides of it. If we are aware that they have an open connection, it isn't right (or legal) for us to take advantage of it.

You would be a better neighbour by letting them know. I'm sure they would think more highly of you if you did.

mparter

I think that case was actually classed has breaching someone's network ("hacking"). It could be argued that you knowingly accessed their network, without their knowledge or consent and that by continuing to do so and not notifying them, you were "hacking" their network.

Better to be safe than sorry I reckon. You never know, you may even get a few bob for securing it for them

phill79

There is a thread going on usenet about this:

http://groups.google.com/group/uk.telecom.broadband/tree/browse_frm/thread/6776008cf93f1a72/fb585fd0856cede8?rnum=1&hl=en&q=replytogroup%40nospam.domain.invalid&_done=%2Fgroup%2Fuk.telecom.broadband%2Fbrowse_frm%2Fthread%2F6776008cf93f1a72%2F554cd62cf51cb399%3Flnk%3Dst%26q%3Dreplytogroup%40nospam.domain.invalid%26rnum%3D3%26hl%3Den%26#doc_fb585fd0856cede8

May give you more info.

John_LG

I'd agree with other posters, that if you feel confident enough to approach them, to do it. Some ISP's have download limits, so if others are connecting too, they maybe in for a shock bill. They might appreciate the assistance - a good ice breaker if nothing else. Gave a neighbour a jump start the other day - felt good about stopping to assist, and it's good to get an extra nod or hi in the mornings when you're feeling fedup about going to work! Do it for the moral reasons, not the legal ones.

albertross_2

I have to agree with most of the posters, always good to get on with the neighbours, they may help you back one day. I'd secure your network first..

Connecting to other peoples networks also exposes you to worms, snooping etc..

fairytooth

Rex_Mundi wrote:

I would actually tell my neighbour (I regard peoples online security/privacy in the highest respect).

This is completely apart from the fact that using someone elses internet connection without their permission is theft of their bandwidth (and a case has already gone through court setting a precedent).

So many people want wireless networks in their home without realising the possible downsides of it. If we are aware that they have an open connection, it isn't right (or legal) for us to take advantage of it.

You would be a better neighbour by letting them know. I'm sure they would think more highly of you if you did.

Having read a report of this case I would disagree. In that case the owner had tried to secure the network and the user had been asked to cease using it. So not quite as stated avbove. I think the onus is for the owner to secure the network. If it is left unencryted then surely you are accepting others may access the internet wirelessly via your connection.

However I still believe it is a good idea to tell the neighbour and perhaps offer to contribute something for the benefit of using the access .... common sense? ...

Rex_Mundi

fairytooth wrote:

Having read a report of this case I would disagree. In that case the owner had tried to secure the network and the user had been asked to cease using it. So not quite as stated avbove. I think the onus is for the owner to secure the network. If it is left unencryted then surely you are accepting others may access the internet wirelessly via your connection.

I remember reading the report a few months ago, and can't remember the exact details presently, but for sure, a guy was jailed for knowingly using someone elses network without permission.

A surprising number of people, and companies, have a complete lack of knowledge where it comes to securing a wireless network. I can't agree that it is down to the neighbour to secure the network.

If I had my milk delivered in the morning by the milkman, and my neighbour came along and used some of it for his coffee. Going by what you say, it would be my fault for not securing the milk well enough. As you would agree, that would be rubbish. Knowingly taking something that someone else has paid for is theft. Whether that's a bit of milk, or a bit of the bandwidth they've paid for.

dickibobboy

well, i am thinking about going to tell him, i could get into the shared folder on his pc and the printer was there, it is not at all safe,