Thread: Piggybacking wireless connection

Lately my gf and I moved flat, the second time in 3 months. The net connection wasn't set up and we had to wait about a week in the new place for it to be made active (is there a man who throws a switch??).

I checked to see if it had been made active before the date we were given but alas no luck. What was available though was another unsecure network. I used it, just a little, only to check some emails and a few threads on here. Nothing bandwidth heavy like BBC iPlayer.

Ethics: should one use an open network if one has no way of knowing if it was meant to be left open? Our connection is up and running now, should I leave it open to return the favour/ pay it forward?

A big NO

Originally Posted by grim

A big NO

I'm with the Grimmeister here. Even though I've bent my own ethics in the past it still isn't right. First of all, someone else pays for that, would you want someone say tapping into your phone and making calls even if they don't cost you any extra? I think not. Plus for your own security unless your using an SSL connection the owner can be sniffing your packets and see everything your sending/receiving.

For the most part, I've had good success with just asking people. For instance I was in FL visiting a friend and noticed their neighbor had their network work wide open, heck it's name was linksys. LOL. I met the neighbor in the back yard and said hey I couldn't help but notice your network is wide open to anyone. His response was "my what?" lol I explained and said If you'd like I'll help you secure it with a password..Do you think I could use it while I'm here to check my email though? No problem he was cool about it. I've even surfed Rotten.com with him, he happened to be an undertaker and enjoyed the site. :sroll::sgrin:

Generally most people are decent enough and realize it doesn't cost them any extra so let you just go a head. I've always operated under the assumption that if someone isn't savvy enough to at least put a password on their connection, they probably wouldn't realize if someone else is using it or not. However, you should still do the right think and at least ask.

Originally Posted by Big Dan

However, you should still do the right think and at least ask.

We did pop a Christmas card into the 3 neighbours letterboxes. :scheesy: We got 2 back, which was nice, but wonder if it was the 3rd family (who sound slightly rougher below us) that own the unsecured connection. Those are the only ones we don't know by name yet.

My networking lecturer at uni brought up the point and said he runs an open network at home.

Originally Posted by Big Dan

I've even surfed Rotten.com with him, he happened to be an undertaker and enjoyed the site.

Yikes! I wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of him.

Rotten.com, must...look...away. :sshocked: Ogrish.com was even more graphic, but it bizarrely points to liveleak.com now.


If I get talking with whoever has the open line I'll mention if they want to protect it, although we'll keep ours open for now unless I see strange people sitting in a car outside with a laptop.

How best to bring it up with the neighbour though?
"I was using your internet connection and..." :sroll:

@Halobitt

So that's why my wireless connection acted strange lately.. you're the one robbing me of my bandwidth.. Bad bad boy.. You need some spankin' .

@Halo: Ethics say you should not connect. Think of it this way...

If you walk by a house and the door is wide open, do you just walk in? No.
If you walk past a car that is running with the door wide open, is it OK to take it for a spin? No.


And, as for your network, close it up, dude. You're not just granting free access to the internet, you're also granting free access to your computers and your files. And, you're also granting free access to your network traffic, which includes all exchanged passwords and cookies.
To further the analogy, this is the equivalent of leaving your car running, with the door wide open.

Originally Posted by Zap

To further the analogy, this is the equivalent of leaving your car running, with the door wide open.

You forgot the full tank of gas, and loaded gun with your finger prints.

Thieves/hackers love other peoples networks

No, it's not right... but I'd be lying if I said I hadn't done it myself

Originally Posted by Zap

If you walk by a house and the door is wide open, do you just walk in? No.
If you walk past a car that is running with the door wide open, is it OK to take it for a spin? No.

House: Depends, they might have had a break in. People could need help. :swink:

Car: I can ride a bike but never learned to drive a car, so probably not a great idea.

I suppose saying "I used it a little bit", is like saying to someone "I took your car, but don't worry, I only used it to get a pint of milk from the shop".

Originally Posted by Zap

@Halo: Ethics say you should not connect.

I won't do it again then. Turned over a new leaf for 2009, although our connection flaked out and it automatically hooked onto the neighbours signal. Maybe they have a stronger signal depending on which room the laptop is in.

Originally Posted by Zap

And, as for your network, close it up, dude. You're not just granting free access to the internet, you're also granting free access to your computers and your files. And, you're also granting free access to your network traffic, which includes all exchanged passwords and cookies.
To further the analogy, this is the equivalent of leaving your car running, with the door wide open.

Even if I've turned off File sharing, Public folder sharing, Printer sharing and Media sharing? mg:

I have to agree with others on the ethics thing. However, I know how frustrating it can be not to have access. When I got my first wireless access laptop, I drove around trying to find networks because my dial-up was so damn slow, I could not even do software updates. There was no high speed service available in a three mile range around my house.

It was wrong but it happens a lot. Good lesson to everyone to secure their networks.

Originally Posted by Halobitt

House: Depends, they might have had a break in. People could need help. :swink:

True enough, but my own sense of self preservation would force me to knock on the open door and ask permission to enter first. If they've just had a break in, they might be walking around the inside of the house, looking for intruders to neutralize. Just my luck... I'd happen by a house like that and get hit over the head with a baseball bat for trying to help. :shuh:

Originally Posted by Halobitt

Even if I've turned off File sharing, Public folder sharing, Printer sharing and Media sharing? mg:

Even if. They still have access to the computer enough to try hacking into it and turning all those things back on again. And, securing your computer will still not stop them from sniffing packets on your network, which include passwords, etc.
Not a good idea to leave your network unprotected for any reason.