[X4U] Re: Wireless "theft"

[ed]

I had an open wireless router in my home...one day I received a cease-and-desist from my ISP for downloading movies. Apparently one of my neighbors was using it (and geez...could they at least have picked a *good* movie to pirate? But I digress...). Did my ISP care that I wasn't guilty? Nope. It's coming over my connection. I'm responsible.

The only solution? Lock up the wireless router.

If someone is using your connection to download anything illegal (movies, music, child p*rn, etc), guess who'll be at least *initially* "responsible"?

While I admire the philosphy of "helping society" to freebies...nothing is ever free. Somehow, somewhere, someone is paying for the "free" connection. If that someone is willing to pay. Great! If not...oh well...

Ed


>
>
>On Jun 16, 2005, at 1:09 AM, Robert Ameeti wrote:
>
>>  I am NOT saying that crimes done over wireless networks are not  
>> prosecutable. I am saying that no one has ever gotten arrested for  
>> the activities of someone else's accessing their wireless network.
>
>Are you sure about that? I don't have a specific counter-example, but  
>its not like innocent people are never arrested -that's why we have  
>trials. Of course its also not unheard of for an innocent person to  
>be convicted.
>
>> Having an open network is not illegal but should in fact be done so  
>> that society will more quickly have a high quality wireless mesh  
>> network throughout our communities.
>
>But if you do this, and someone does use your net access for illegal  
>purposes, don't be too surprised when law enforcement comes in,  
>confiscates all your computer/electronics equipment and takes you  
>downtown for questioning.
>
>I don't know how likely that is (probably depends on where you are)  
>but I'm not willing to take that chance.
>
>-Mike