[P1] OT: Setting up Public Wi-Fi

[Michael Elliott]

Not interfered with anyone's property?  If the person pays by the 
gigabyte for data downloads, as happens in some areas, you sure are.  
It's a 2-edged sword:  the owner of the router has a responsibility to 
password his router, and the "innocent user" has the moral requirement 
to make sure that he's using a connection he's authorized to use.

Michael


>> I think listening to someone else's radio is much closer than using 
>> their hammer or stealing their car.  I turn on my computer, my 
>> airport automatically connects to the network, my mail downloads by 
>> itself before I even notice I'm connected.  Yes, I've "used" the 
>> signal being broadcast by somebody nearby, just like I've listened to 
>> the music being played on the next beach blanket.  But I haven't 
>> interfered with anybody else's property and haven't even actually 
>> done anything other than turning my computer on.  So, is it my 
>> responsibility to search for the neighbor with the unprotected 
>> network so I can ask permission, or alternately, am I expected to 
>> turn airport off when I use my iBook at home? From the lively debate 
>> on this list, it appears that the answer is far from clear.
>> -----------------------
>> Gina Wallace
>> Topsham, Maine