Is It Illegal To Tap Into Someones WiFi That Isn't Locked?

Question

I have a friend that has 5 neighbors with WiFi.

Three of them have their networks locked

The other two have their wide open.

So instead of paying for internet, she uses theirs. (I know un-kewl)

I told her it wasn't a good idea for her security as well.

But, is it legal that if they choose to leave their networks open for her to connect

Answer 1

It's illegal. She's using up their bandwidth without their permission. However, there's close to 0% chance that she'll actually get in trouble for it.

Answer 2

If you sit in your car in the library parking lot after it closes for the day to use the signal..... with the other folks who drive by to log on for mail;  like he says, "Public Domain".

Answer 3

Let's provide a similar example:

You do not lock your car.  You leave the keys in the ignition switch.  Clearly this is very risky behavior.  Someone walks by, opens the door, climbs in the driver seat, runs errands and returns the car.  You did not notice it gone.  Was the driver involved in car theft and unauthorized car use?  If he had been stopped by the police what would have happened?  

Now back to your case.  The unsecure wireless network is clearly foolish.  Stealing its capacity just because it is unsecure is just like helping yourself to someone's unlocked car.  There is no difference.  Legally this is a clear violation.

Now let's discuss the moral and ethical viewpoint.  There is no way you can from a moral or ethical viewpoint justify this.  You do not have the approval to do this and it is just wrong.  

Answer 4

go with the free internet

Answer 5

well, it's not illegal. it's just not safe.

Answer 6

Is dat u tapping into my account??? Dat is bad. Berry bad.

Answer 7

I don't think so but if she has like personall files or something the other people can easily hack onto it

Answer 8

Yes it is illeagal, and can be very easily tracked to your friend

Answer 9

well she should probably ask and if they say yes that seams ok. but it  they say no or she doesn't ask, dont use the wifi.

Answer 10

It is legal.

If the signal is out there for her to log on with, it's in the public domain.

The only downfalls are the security issue, and the sad fact that she may be  doing something really important when the signal owner decides to turn off the power.

- Stuart

Answer 11

Yikes this scares me because I do this too since we just moved and I cant afford the net yet..... I hope they cant trace me...

Answer 12

Dont worry about it, if these ppl are stupid enough to leave them unlocked, then i doubt they have the intelligence to realise someone is using their bandwidth .... I don't think it's illegal, if it was illegal, then how would shops and stuff be allowed to advertise Wifi hot spots in cities!

Answer 13

Perfectly normal - i do that all the time. Its not illegal.

Answer 14

It depends how the local laws are phrased - some require you to 'break' into the network but others all you have to do is connect to be charged with unauthorized use of computer resources.  These laws aren't always enforced though - unless for example the owner complains to their ISP that things are going slow and the ISP discovers someone is leaching - then the ISP could file charges...

Think of it this way - if you left you car at the mall, unlocked, with money inside, would it be illegal to take since the owner didn't lock the door?  Your car is in the public domain but you're still the owner...

Here's some info about it that would be good to read...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legality_of...

Even if it isn't illegal, it's stupid - all the information sent on an unsecure network could be monitored, it could be a "honeypot" (fake connection that someone sets up with the hope to catch passwords and personal information), or the someone else on that network could access your computer if it doesn't have all the patches and firewalls up to date.

There is a way around it - if she ASKS the neighbor AND gets permission to connect, it's then authorized so there's no problem...but I'd wouldn't want to unless it was secure...

I know if this happened on my network (although mine is secure) I would be trying to probe the intruding computer and monitor where/what they do to identify them and then boost my security...it's my network and I have the right to manage it however neccecary and if someone is there without permission they should have no expectation of privacy.