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OT: Free internet? Should I cancel my own landline subscription?

I had some connection problems, ever since the Vodafone network went down in a major way all over the country.. with the laptop. But I could still connect with the mobile phone to the internet, same network. So started suspecting my wireless USB plug in modem, it did drop on the (soft) carpet about a week ago. Tried to open it, not possible without breaking anything. Then decided to hit it on the table the opposite way it fell, you know those things have a feeble piece of metal in it that mysteriously works as antenna, could be bended, well hitting it seems to have bended it back, never had such a good connection since. But as I now was checking the other wireless options, noticed a new WiFi station on *my* channel, and very strong. In trying to find out where it came from, walked around the house to see on what side the signal was strongest. Well, I think I know who it is, it is encrypted, good. No problem. But I found an other one, not encrypted, very strong on once side ... Connected, and could surf the world at high speed. Some fool who did not set encryption? Did some searching on internet, and found a hotel, just visible from here, that advertises free open WiFi for all guests... OK, that must be it... Would it be legal to use their connection? In my view they should encrypt and give guests a password? Else I have free internet ... Seems to work OK. LOL

Reply to
Jan Panteltje
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Probably not. Ask in nl.juridisch

--
Failure does not prove something is impossible, failure simply
indicates you are not using the right tools...
                     "If it doesn\'t fit, use a bigger hammer!"
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Reply to
Nico Coesel

IMHO, at best it's unethical to leech on a service that's obviously intended for paying guests and, according to your account, advertised as such. Whether it's legal or not, I'll leave that to those who know more about the law. If I were one of those people whose sole use of the internet is to check mail once a week, maybe I'd feel less guilty about taking advantage of such a semi-public service. I wouldn't use it for regular access.

In fact, while trying out a friend's laptop after reinstalling the OS last month, I found that there were two unencrypted wifi networks within range from my home. I did a sample google search with both and speeds were quite reasonable. I haven't tried to connect again since then.

Reply to
pimpom

Probably not.

However ! A couple of us used to drive down to town and go park up near a hotel and do exactly that. We also found that we could access the same hotels WiFi from the wine bar across the river.

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Best Regards:
                     Baron.
Reply to
Baron

work.

rks as antenna,

station on *my*

on what side the

od.

,

As others have said, probably not. In the USA it's called "Defrauding an Innkeeper", though it usually relates to dine-and-dash.

Can't argue with that.

One of the big supermarket chains here has in-store Starbuck's coffee stands with tables and chairs both inside and outside. Store has WiFi "for customer use only" but the password is posted on decals on the store doors. Signal is good for about a three-block radius.

I used to live right across the street from the store, and shopped there weekly. Would it have been OK for me to use that as my primary Internet connection from my living room?

Mark L. Fergerson

Reply to
alien8752

as antenna,

station on *my*

what side the

In the apartment where we lived in Ohio there were a couple of dozen WiFi systems visible, with about a quarter being open. Comcast would constantly get my router screwed up so I'd log into one of the others. Perhaps illegal, but tough.

Reply to
krw

On a sunny day (Sun, 29 Nov 2009 21:09:56 +0000) it happened Baron wrote in :

Could change my MAC address and download a lot of illegal stuf ;-) Then see them raided by the police .... I just realised I cannot really run my servers via that WiFi link without being detected.

Reply to
Jan Panteltje

On a sunny day (Sun, 29 Nov 2009 14:38:15 -0800 (PST)) it happened " snipped-for-privacy@bid.nes" wrote in :

I think yes, you are a customer then.

Reply to
Jan Panteltje

Probably not. But with all that bandwidth going to waste it seems a real shame not to use it ;->

Just think of all those electrons you'll be saving!

Yep, their silly fault for not adding basic protection.

Correct. Use it wisely.

Dave.

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Reply to
David L. Jones

Probably not. But with all that bandwidth going to waste it seems a real shame not to use it ;->

Just think of all those electrons you'll be saving!

Yep, their silly fault for not adding basic protection.

Correct. Use it wisely.

Dave.

--
================================================
Check out my Electronics Engineering Video Blog & Podcast:
http://www.eevblog.com
Reply to
David L. Jones

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