Would you use a neighbour's broadband?

rdwarr

I think all of you "I'm clever and my neighbours are stupid" freeloaders have missed one chilling scenario here.

Let's try to imagine that your neighbours are not stupid but using the internet for something they shouldn't be (child pornography is an extreme but documented example). In this case they deliberately leave the network open so that, if caught, can claim that it's nothing to do with them.
"I think my neighbours may have been using the network", they say. So you get a visit from the police who find a few nasty files on your PC that are there because your neighbours are not as stupid as you think.

Pride comes before a fall - be careful out there.

MSE_Martin

Dear SC

Asking people what they do - isn't the same thing as suggesting they do it. The poll includes options both that "i'd use it" and "I'd not do it".

The other week there was a "what would you do with a fraudulent note" question - the fact it was a poll doesn't mean I was recommending people act fraudulently - but asking peoples attitudes.

If I asked "do you use cannabis" the fact I do a poll on it is instructive over how many people use it - not a recommendation to do so.

If you find me recommending people break the law anywhere on the site, do tell - as I always try and avoid it

Martin

Sillychuckie

Hi Martin, thank you for the reply.
I do however feel that you are taking for granted the fact that we are aware of the legal issues here. Many are not, and as such, I can clearly see this poll giving them the impression that there are none to have to consider.

Whilst I see the point you are trying to make by comparing it to a poll on marijuana, marijuana is well known as being an illegal substance. Using someone elses broadband however, is not well known as an offence (nor would many consider the costs that may be incurred by the victim as a consequence).
The poll is very different to the purely moral issues we are used to seeing. If in future you have a poll relating to an illegal activity, I think it would be wise to include a clear note advising people of that fact. Whether you directly advocate doing it or not, you should be covering your back side and keeping things very clear to those without the knowledge.

Regards, SC.

jimmypirate

The first thing id ask is why isnt it secure? - I was told yesterday a lock on the door merely stops an honest man from temptation. If people leave the door open to more serious abuse ie Hackers or those with ill intention then the folks next door piggy backing on the unsecure connection are taking whats being offered, opposed to deliberately going out of their way to get round a secure connection!!

I would be happy to share my 6.5 meg connection if i was able to secure my pc from outside access, i would have the control to make it secure (prevent it getting hammered) if i ever needed to anyway!

Sillychuckie

jimmypirate wrote: »

the folks next door piggy backing on the unsecure connection are taking whats being offered

That doesn't justify it, or make it right. I'd like to see you try that argument in a court sometime. Many lack the techy know how to do this and it is never easy (for some) as locking a door might be.

I would be happy to share my 6.5 meg connection if i was able to secure my pc from outside access, i would have the control to make it secure (prevent it getting hammered) if i ever needed to anyway!

Thats good for you, but missing the point. Many are unable to configure their networks so well, and some have capped monthly allowances.

I suppose I'd share my house with strangers too, if I could guarantee they left no mess and were never in a room I was in at the same time. If I didn't notice them, it would be OK with me.
BUT, I wouldn't want this going on without my permission. A rather different kettle of fish entirely.

neildonn

I read in Metro that two people parked right out side a house with a wireless connection with broadband access. they both got caught and were charged by the police.

I do think it's right that they did get charged as they were stealing and using a service without prior permission.

It also shows just how many people who don't have a clue how the make there wireless router safe with just a tick of a box and writing down the security key to access the router for each pc/laptop.

I've chosen E, must admit though, it has been tempting, but to warn them that there wireless router is not safe, plus there pc/laptop as any one can access their documents, etc...

teddyco

How would you feel if someone was stealing your broadband connection? Would you want them to steal it or come tell you about it and help you get more secure?

Treat others the way you would like to be treated!

Deleerious

This will make you laugh...

About a year ago i shared a house where one of the lads there had wireless broadband installed from his work. Naturally i used it with his permission. It wasn't secured.

A few weeks later we were in the hotel over the road when i overheard someone from behind a laptop advising his friend to "not bother with the hotels broadband as some tw*t over the road hasn't secured theirs".

I went home and looked at the user list who had logged onto the house broadband... there were over 400 people who had logged onto it in the space of 3 weeks!

No wonder it was running slow at times!

SECURE YOUR BROADBAND!!!

Deleerious D

bertie2000

reehsetin wrote: »

did you see it on the real hustle? the likelyhood of that actually happening is very low plusa lot of places you dont log on and give a credit card number you buy time at a till and enter a code on the computer

Didn't see that episode of the real hustle. Was talking about it with a friend who designs web site applications for a living and is very conscious of web security issues.

A lot of web services are free and require no password to log on, even if they do it is a simple matter for a fraudster to find out the day's password and set their password to the same. From there as I said they just need one person to enter their credit card details to buy, for example, a dvd, and they're set to go.

raymond

So you are watching TV and a neighbour notices your back door is open and he pops in and uses your toilet and drinks your water then thats Ok is it ?

Theivin gits