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By Gemma Simpson , Silicon.com
Posted on ZDNet News: Nov 16, 2007 8:18:00 AM

Fifty-four percent of computer users admit to using someone else's Wi-Fi without permission, according to a new survey by security firm Sophos. And many Internet-enabled homes fail to secure their wireless connection properly with passwords and encryption, allowing others to steal Internet access rather than pay an ISP, said Sophos, which carried out the 560-person survey.

Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos, said borrowing Wi-Fi Internet access may feel like a victimless crime but it deprives ISPs of revenue. Furthermore, if you hop onto your next-door neighbor's wireless broadband connection to download movies and music from the Internet, chances are that you are also slowing down their Internet access and depleting their download limit, Cluley added. In addition, using an electronic communications service with the intent to avoid paying is breaking the law.

Gemma Simpson of Silicon.com reported from London.

©2007 CNET Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. CNET , CNET.com , and the CNET logo are registered trademarks of CNET Networks, Inc. Used by permission.

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Why I would have the right...
The second you chose to broadcast your signal, I have the right...

Since you seem to want to use the dictionary so much, why don't you look that up there sparky (Broadcast).

If you set ... (Read the rest)
Posted by: dialated8 Posted on: 02/18/08 You are currently: a Guest | | Terms of Use
Wi-Fi piggybackers confess  goldenpirate@... | 11/17/07
Hackers is the key word  i8thecat | 11/19/07
Yes! That's what I'm talking about! ...  JCitizen | 11/19/07
Vive la resistance...  Information_z | 11/24/07
One day in the US ; maybe...  JCitizen | 11/26/07
RE: Hackers is the keyword  TacoSauce | 11/19/07
wrong analgoy  adr5@... | 11/20/07
Not Quite  Pony99CA | 11/20/07
Correct!  thx-1138_@... | 11/22/07
Where's the sign?  d_r_p_ | 11/24/07
Uptight and foolish...  Information_z | 11/24/07
just one more thought...  Information_z | 11/24/07
no  dialated8 | 11/26/07
Remember, it's not just internet sharing here!  kamahl928 | 11/19/07
But it IS Illegal  hforman@... | 11/19/07
You are correct...  D-Ram | 11/20/07
re: You are correct...  goldenpirate@... | 11/21/07
re: Hackers is the key word  goldenpirate@... | 11/21/07
I think you mean crack  AJ-Ubuntu-User | 11/24/07
Thank you  spookyone1 | 11/24/07
Logically, you are right  spookyone1 | 11/24/07
Why don't you go WiFi and secure your network?  tikigawd | 11/19/07
What if you learn to read English instead?  XweAponX | 11/19/07
How about you?  VistaUranus | 11/19/07
UHMMMM....just speaking for myself here....  1stcyberian | 11/19/07
We Agree!  Pony99CA | 11/19/07
Nah, no 'genious' in these 'jeans'...  1stcyberian | 11/19/07
re: Why don't you go WiFi and secure your network?  goldenpirate@... | 11/21/07
Confession  xrayangiodoc | 11/19/07
Wi-Fi piggybackers confess  pegarner@... | 11/19/07
Wi-Fi piggybackers confess  pegarner@... | 11/19/07
Freudian slip?  plawler | 11/19/07
Owner's Responsibility  GeneBuettner | 11/19/07
Radio Waves Bye Bye  adstock | 11/19/07
Leave a penny take a penny...  forbes9000 | 11/19/07
Kudos pegarner!...  JCitizen | 11/19/07
There are a number of flaws going on here...  Media-Ted@... | 11/19/07
I realize everything you are saying...  JCitizen | 11/19/07
BTW - CBs transmit.  JCitizen | 11/19/07
True Weakness in the CB Analogy  DigitalFrog | 11/20/07
Yes someone should pay for the infrastucture...  JCitizen | 11/21/07
Piggybackers are not stealing... The owner of the router is illegally tx  dialated8 | 11/27/07
54Mbps ? and legal access or not, for UK.  applecart2000@... | 11/20/07
FCC Rules CRF 47.  lscott@... | 11/20/07
I don't see you getting off topic at all...  JCitizen | 11/21/07
Letter or Spirit of the Law?  mail@... | 11/19/07
Agreed...  JCitizen | 11/19/07
I would argue that open wi-fi is merely balancing the outstanding injustice  1stcyberian | 11/19/07
Interesting aspect...  JCitizen | 11/19/07
CALL ME SCROOGE But....  applecart2000@... | 11/20/07
Costs?  GM Fedorchuk | 11/20/07
Moral World  Pony99CA | 11/20/07
problem there  merc2dogs` | 11/21/07
ISPs are Thieves  Pony99CA | 11/20/07
That's you conscience speaking...  Technogeez | 11/19/07
My conscience is clear...  MarkHarrison | 11/19/07
WiFi Courtesy  rjacksix | 11/19/07
I so agree...  German Bosco | 11/19/07
Open Door  fyao | 11/19/07
Apples and oranges  Ryoko_z | 11/19/07
Actually, it's not apples and oranges  maldain | 11/19/07
Not even a fruit.  TechinMN | 11/19/07
Nutty As A Fruitcake  Pony99CA | 11/19/07
Your argument is also faulty  alaniane@... | 11/19/07
Message has been deleted.  1stcyberian | 11/19/07
There's a huge difference here...  kamahl928 | 11/19/07
Federal Telecomunications Act  theunpilot | 11/19/07
According to your interpretation, then...  TechinMN | 11/19/07
I argue that you got it wrong...  JCitizen | 11/19/07
and you have it wrong as well  1stcyberian | 11/19/07
Just an FYI...  JCitizen | 11/19/07
Really, you show your own ignorance.  Farrell.McGovern | 11/19/07
Correction!  Farrell.McGovern | 11/19/07
Technically....  scole@... | 11/19/07
Yes and the old adage that...  JCitizen | 11/19/07
The Federal Communications  Ole Man | 11/23/07
no. that's not what he's saying  Pathman | 11/19/07
Again a straw man argument  maldain | 11/19/07
uh no.  Pathman | 11/19/07
????  sid6767 | 11/19/07
Whose stuff?  bpolhemus@... | 11/19/07
try that with your insurance company  bstreet | 11/19/07
Insurance Companies vs. The Law  Pony99CA | 11/19/07
Intelligence vs. YOUR 'common sense'...  1stcyberian | 11/19/07
Wrong Again  Pony99CA | 11/19/07
wronger still  1stcyberian | 11/19/07
The difference is...  kamahl928 | 11/19/07
Not the same thing  balsover | 11/19/07
Thank you...  German Bosco | 11/19/07
Does your use...  bpolhemus@... | 11/19/07
You're Stealing Service  Pony99CA | 11/19/07
Again, you fall far short of the mark..as you always will  1stcyberian | 11/19/07
The Ignorance Is All Yours  Pony99CA | 11/19/07
Actually, you didn't respond to the argument at all  1stcyberian | 11/19/07
permission is key  emjeyzee | 11/20/07
re: you fall short-always will  tachyon888@... | 11/21/07
Well Actually.....  Quickiwi | 11/19/07
In your case, you are exactly right...  1stcyberian | 11/19/07
Paying For Data Usage  Pony99CA | 11/20/07
Technically this is wrong.  jskline0@... | 11/19/07
Everything about law is technical..  JCitizen | 11/19/07
Kudos to pegarner...  JCitizen | 11/19/07
But they didn't secure it, so they don't care if you connect (NT)  kamahl928 | 11/19/07
You should send your legal info to these guys...  conchchowder | 11/19/07
All I can say is...  JCitizen | 11/19/07
Where do you live??  Tech-tock | 11/19/07
He probably lives in the US..  JCitizen | 11/19/07
YES, but...  cjcon | 11/19/07
Lets face facts  pcguy777 | 11/19/07
Huh?  spstanley | 11/19/07
Trespassers shot on site  Jim Johnson | 11/19/07
Re: Tresspassers  parkerti | 11/19/07
IT IS ALWAYS FREE if it isn't encrypted  ideallypc | 11/19/07
Actually, a thief is a thief  maldain | 11/19/07
I think not.  TechinMN | 11/19/07
Not Thinking  Pony99CA | 11/19/07
Maybe you need to STOP thinking, cuz obviously you're not very good at it  1stcyberian | 11/19/07
So by your argument....  Quickiwi | 11/19/07
Sorry Typo  Quickiwi | 11/19/07
It Is Not Stealing!  parkerti | 11/19/07
Right on! (NT)  JCitizen | 11/19/07
So if someone flys over your air space...  JCitizen | 11/19/07
RE: Wi-Fi piggybackers confess  cmeitl@... | 11/19/07
I also have a PDA that supports WiFi  balsover | 11/19/07
actually....  Ryoko_z | 11/19/07
Some thing, never seen a 100 % access point while traveling  balsover | 11/19/07
You ARE responsible for how your laptop is configured  Too-Tired Techie | 11/19/07
I think imposing fines and jail terms for people ...  JCitizen | 11/19/07
RE: Wi-Fi piggybackers confess  conchchowder | 11/19/07
consent?  plawler | 11/19/07
an unlocked door is implied consent  davagain | 11/19/07
Implied Consent  Mr_Wizard | 11/19/07
re: an unlocked door is implied consent  goldenpirate@... | 11/21/07
yes, consent  mkreutzian | 11/19/07
Sorry, that's rather twisted.  maldain | 11/19/07
The problem  alaniane@... | 11/19/07
Total true...  JCitizen | 11/19/07
It happens around my local...  JCitizen | 11/19/07
Very very weak excuse for criminal behavior  balsover | 11/19/07
sigh  Pathman | 11/19/07
Mine is open - ON Purpose  cwho@... | 11/19/07
RE: Wi-Fi piggybackers confess  cjc5447 | 11/19/07
Not much grey  maldain | 11/19/07
If you are charged with a violation...  JCitizen | 11/19/07
RE: Wi-Fi piggybackers confess  tqdavis1@... | 11/19/07
You are wrong  balsover | 11/19/07
Actually,  alaniane@... | 11/19/07
Yeah, and water used to be 'free' too  Too-Tired Techie | 11/19/07
RE: Wi-Fi piggybackers confess  mead.rose@... | 11/19/07
RE: Wi-Fi piggybackers confess  sysop-dr | 11/19/07
RE: Wi-Fi piggybackers confess  leeepson7800 | 11/19/07
Burger King's WiFi is illegal?  nickc@... | 11/19/07
RE: Wi-Fi piggybackers confess  johngayfer@... | 11/19/07
RE: Wi-Fi piggybackers confess  WGPhaneuf@... | 11/19/07
RE: Wi-Fi piggybackers confess  Sloan Miller | 11/19/07
Maybe they aren't so dumb  JDough | 11/19/07
So true! (NT)  JCitizen | 11/19/07
It's always free if the front door is unlocked  LeeW274 | 11/19/07
If the front door is unlocked....  Mr_Wizard | 11/19/07
In Europe: I am told...  JCitizen | 11/19/07
How is it different?  gitmo | 11/19/07
Who to blame.  specer_jamestomlinson@... | 11/19/07
I believe most AP providers that have a brain...  JCitizen | 11/19/07
RE: Wi-Fi piggybackers confess  djhill8262 | 11/19/07
Exactly...also points to the intent part of my argument...  JCitizen | 11/19/07
Unencrypted = Free ?  l.bunker@... | 11/19/07
To me the free air wave concept that we have...  JCitizen | 11/19/07
Free for all  avibp | 11/19/07
RE: Wi-Fi piggybackers confess  kathy2193 | 11/19/07
Router Setup nightmares the #1 cause  dbrimlow | 11/19/07
Which brings me to the point....  Quickiwi | 11/19/07
It's not quite the same as unguarded property  jtlogan9694@... | 11/19/07
stealing wi-fi from othere  vger_z | 11/19/07
Fools, thieves malcontents and free-loaders?  avibp | 11/19/07
IP Cop  rimbaud@... | 11/19/07
Unsecured Wifi  lyndaj70@... | 11/19/07
RE: Wi-Fi piggybackers confess  j2mitchell1@... | 11/19/07
stealing is stealing  Tinker@... | 11/19/07
Message has been deleted.  1stcyberian | 11/19/07
Yes sir, you are correct!  handydan918 | 11/19/07
Shut Up?  Pony99CA | 11/19/07
Ain't much common about YOUR sense then, apparently  1stcyberian | 11/19/07
Lawyers?  Pony99CA | 11/19/07
Apparently you went to one of those 'funny-mentalist' churches  1stcyberian | 11/19/07
Freely Offered  Pony99CA | 11/19/07
Sorry pony: but I got to agree with 1stcyberian...  JCitizen | 11/19/07
Enforcement Isn't The Issue  Pony99CA | 11/19/07
Okay, I'll bite! But I still prefer to err on the side..  JCitizen | 11/19/07
Clueless in Seattle  Pony99CA | 11/19/07
And YOUR analogy is even weaker...  1stcyberian | 11/19/07
Apples?  Pony99CA | 11/19/07
I haven't earned it as long as you are still posting  1stcyberian | 11/19/07
Well, duhh...  handydan918 | 11/19/07
Theft of services.  Technogeez | 11/19/07
Poor Memory  soulfyremac@... | 11/19/07
And I expect you to keep your 'transmissions'...OUT of my 'personal space'  1stcyberian | 11/19/07
And I trust you....  Quickiwi | 11/19/07
RTFM  TechinMN | 11/19/07
Oh, so what? Let's 'dumb it down' then?  1stcyberian | 11/19/07
Same Old Problem  Pony99CA | 11/19/07
YES EXACTLY LIKE THAT YOU MORON!!  1stcyberian | 11/19/07
Ad Hominem LOL  Pony99CA | 11/19/07
oooh, my bad...making you feel all 'bullied' and all  1stcyberian | 11/19/07
Enabling  Pony99CA | 11/19/07
Pretty Typical  Technogeez | 11/20/07
Arguing WHAT?!  handydan918 | 11/19/07
Privacy  Pony99CA | 11/20/07
Good for you.  avibp | 11/19/07
Trespassers Denied?  Pony99CA | 11/19/07
Yet another dipwad checks in...  1stcyberian | 11/19/07
Negligence  Pony99CA | 11/19/07
Keep posting...each one is more amazing than the last.  1stcyberian | 11/19/07
More Ignorance  Pony99CA | 11/20/07
Uh, no...it isn't.  handydan918 | 11/19/07
Trespassing  Pony99CA | 11/20/07
Why I would have the right...  dialated8 | 02/18/08
Thief? Criminal? Illegal? Wrong? Give me a break  JonathanSeer | 11/19/07
You got it right, for the most part.  1stcyberian | 11/19/07
No! you are wrong! it is theft to steal quota  On Site PC | 11/19/07
RE: Wi-Fi piggybackers confess  Mike.Waters | 11/19/07
RE: Wi-Fi piggybackers confess  ingle1@... | 11/19/07
RE: Wi-Fi piggybackers confess  dcsummers | 11/19/07
Kids? What do you expect? wink  avibp | 11/19/07
Message has been deleted.  1stcyberian | 11/19/07
I don't defend the leechers...  JCitizen | 11/19/07
Lots of gray/grey here  DLee_z | 11/19/07
Gray/Grey  parkerti | 11/19/07
just a heads up  donthetech | 11/19/07
My Wi-Fi....  3dtodd | 11/19/07
The problem is with the survey  joanne@... | 11/19/07
Unless of course  Quickiwi | 11/19/07
RE: Wi-Fi piggybackers confess  ads@... | 11/19/07
Lots of insecure WAPS  ads@... | 11/19/07
Using an unsecured Wi-Fi is NOT stealing  justinsail | 11/19/07
Canadians can't have their wifi open  avibp | 11/19/07
RE: Wi-Fi piggybackers confess  rick. | 11/19/07
No, you got the analogy wrong.  1stcyberian | 11/19/07
Only it's not your yard  rick. | 11/19/07
Yes...you're right  1stcyberian | 11/19/07
Stealing Or Not  Pony99CA | 11/19/07
Thank you  avibp | 11/19/07
Free Choice  Pony99CA | 11/19/07
and if somebody is denying permission, they need to state it  1stcyberian | 11/19/07
Equally amazed that you don't get it  1stcyberian | 11/19/07
You're Simply Wrong  Pony99CA | 11/19/07
I'm not wrong, you're just blind  1stcyberian | 11/19/07
Illegal?  handydan918 | 11/19/07
We need solutions for the real problems  zdnet@... | 11/19/07
Who the hell is the ONLY agency to offer satellite launching services?  1stcyberian | 11/19/07
The only reason the public doesn't own all the assets..  JCitizen | 11/19/07
RE: Wi-Fi piggybackers confess  CitizenW | 11/19/07
RE: Wi-Fi piggybackers confess  donnamarievincent@... | 11/19/07
RE: Wi-Fi piggybackers confess  dennyc5@... | 11/19/07
RE: Wi-Fi piggybackers confess  madmax_2069 | 11/19/07
NO!!! IT IS NOT CONSIDERED STEALLING! ARRRRGGGHHHH!!!  1stcyberian | 11/19/07
It's the wi-fi owners responsibilty to secure from others  dtoolman | 11/19/07
Sigh  Pony99CA | 11/19/07
BIGGER SIGH....  1stcyberian | 11/19/07
that's not the point  kathy2193 | 11/19/07
Bandwidth Isn't The Issue  Pony99CA | 11/20/07
I know someone who leaves his wi-fi open  roaming | 11/19/07
RE: Wi-Fi piggybackers confess  CrashOverkill | 11/19/07
WIFI band is unlicensed; nobody owns it  rick. | 11/19/07
Aren't the ISPs MORE guilty of 'piggybacking'?  1stcyberian | 11/19/07
if you have a guarantee...  rick. | 11/19/07
Yes, you are exactly right (again)  1stcyberian | 11/19/07
Original Intent  Pony99CA | 11/20/07
Trolling  Pony99CA | 11/19/07
Not true  rick. | 11/19/07
You're wasting your breath....  1stcyberian | 11/19/07
Making Waves  Pony99CA | 11/20/07
The all-too-obvious answer...  handydan918 | 11/19/07
I'm guilty  sconaway@... | 11/19/07
RE: Wi-Fi piggybackers confess  aloisonline@... | 11/19/07
ZDNet is flat wrong  kristinh | 11/19/07
Repeat after me....  rcugini@... | 11/19/07
Amazed by Two things  sdbaumann@... | 11/19/07
spoofed  donthetech | 11/19/07
Never seen settings reset by loss of power.  Bob.Kerns | 11/19/07
RE: "Guess I'm just feeling negative about the whole thing, huh?"  1stcyberian | 11/19/07
HAHAHAHA MAC Address Tracking?!?!  Farrell.McGovern | 11/19/07
I buy dsl & router for my family not you & you know it.  T Mike | 11/19/07
I'd rather have laws protecting us FROM the stupid like you  1stcyberian | 11/19/07
owch happy  T Mike | 11/20/07
What if ?  zeusx64@... | 11/20/07
Another good point..  JCitizen | 11/23/07
lol...  dialated8 | 11/27/07
heh-heh-heh  T Mike | 11/30/07
From post #155, Titled "Enabling"...response...  1stcyberian | 11/19/07
You better protect your wireless connection  John Musbach | 11/19/07
RE: Wi-Fi piggybackers confess  Jeff Hayes | 11/19/07
Too many analogies!!!  kingmph@... | 11/19/07
Evaporation????  On Site PC | 11/20/07
Not The Same  Pony99CA | 11/20/07
The BIG problem is???  Rotary84 | 11/19/07
OFF TOPIC:- wow political correctness overload!  applecart2000@... | 11/20/07
RE: Wi-Fi piggybackers confess  FlameFlameFlame | 11/20/07
How about....  Forensicsguy | 11/20/07
I Confess  markdoiron | 11/20/07
I agree  fred@... | 11/20/07
A man walks into a buffet ....  TG2 | 11/20/07
Totally legal?  kwacka | 11/20/07
Hmmm disagreement  Krazyken39 | 11/20/07
VIsta Piggybacks WiFi For You...  NewOnTheBlock | 11/20/07
yes- U R guilty  T Mike | 11/20/07
WAIT the piont is...  NewOnTheBlock | 11/21/07
well, no you're not the 'bad guys' happy  T Mike | 11/21/07
This "points" to something else that should..  JCitizen | 11/23/07
Share the net!  rtalbert | 11/20/07
Share the net!  WPee | 11/20/07
Wi-Fi piggybackers  mjmce | 11/20/07
RE: Wi-Fi piggybackers confess  tsmith_47201 | 11/20/07
Stealing Is From Subscriber  M.J.D | 11/20/07
So anything the ISP does that reduces my bandwidth  1stcyberian | 11/20/07
I agree  r27smith200245@... | 11/20/07
Holes  DigitalFrog | 11/20/07
Are There Laws  Pony99CA | 11/20/07
Are There Laws?  Pony99CA | 11/20/07
Signal vs. Equipment  Pony99CA | 11/20/07
protection of property etc  applecart2000@... | 11/20/07
Wifi MoTD / banner \\ who says its illegal?  Tor Esproc | 11/21/07
Looking is not theft! But-  On Site PC | 11/23/07
On the other side of the coin..  JCitizen | 11/23/07
Yeah but...  dialated8 | 11/26/07
Feel Free To "Pick" My Door!  John Westra | 11/21/07
I'm glad there's someone out there...  thx-1138_@... | 11/23/07
sorry, but no...  dialated8 | 11/26/07
You could make the same argument for transmitting..  JCitizen | 11/26/07
I mean  dialated8 | 11/27/07
I definitely agree with you on reception..  JCitizen | 11/28/07
Consent forms  dialated8 | 11/26/07
They are responsible...  Leon Wells | 11/28/07
I agree with you, but...  dialated8 | 11/28/07

What do you think?

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