Can the RIAA bust someone for using a wireless hotspot?

Question

My friend has access to a unsecure wireless network...I think it's actually a parole office, ironically. He often downloads music through utorent. We debated about it, I said that they could catch him because they can find his mac address and track him down, but it would take a lot of investigation. What do you think?

Answer 1

The RIAA (or anyone else for that matter) won't see your friend's MAC address unless they are in the same network as your friend.  They can, however, trace the IP address, if they wanted to, but they won't find the specific computer that's downloading unless someone goes to the office and asks to investigate the network.

The chances of your friend getting caught, yet alone, bothered to be taken to court is very, very low.  I wouldn't worry about it unless the parole office people know and report him/her to the authorities.

But hey, better safe than sorry.

Answer 2

They could trace the traffic back to whoever owns the hotsopt, then get the logs and find out who's doing it eventually.  Then who knows what could happen...and the hotspot could press charges for illegal activities using their connection...

Answer 3

Yes, you're right, and it's easier than you think. If you know the zone where it lives all you have to do is drive around listening on the IP/MAC broadcasting from the wireless card of it's laptop. If it's doing the pirating from it's house , less than 10 minutes.