Using Someone Else's Internet Connection.

[andyzee]

Tomorrow my Verizon FIOS get connected at my new apartment. Today it was disconnected at my present apartment. No problem, I got wireless so I figure I'll see what I can find out there, sure enough no problem. I'm hooked up under someone else's connection, a bit slow, but it works. Funny how people leave their connections unprotected. :blink:

 

[ckofer]

Hence the problems with STDs.

 

[andyzee]

Hence the problems with STDs.

Was wondering what that itch was.

 

[Hawkshot99]

I have been lost while driving before so i pulled into a neighborhood and fired up my laptop and searched for a signal, then went to google maps for directions.

 

[Trekchick]

I have an unsecure connection at my house. There is nothing I need to worry about and since I live in the country, its not likely a neighbor is steeling my signal.

One of my senior neighbors travels in the winter and has gotten a lap top to pay his bills on line while he travels. He asked me if he could use my wireless signal, so, he parks in my driveway to use the signal and sometimes he even comes in for cookies and a chat.

If I lived in a neighborhood with closer neighbors, I may protect my internet.

 

[SkiDork]

I believe that is illegal activity .. tapping into a system that you don't have permission to be on..

Based on? You would have to find the FCC laws that pertain that frequency etc... Not saying you're wrong, but I've never heard of it.

 

[dmc]

I believe that is illegal activity .. tapping into a system that you don't have permission to be on..

Don't think so... You broadcast a signal into my house.. and it's mine..

 

[wa-loaf]

I own/live in a two family. I include free wifi for my tenants, although it is pw protected.

 

[gmcunni]

Based on? You would have to find the FCC laws that pertain that frequency etc... Not saying you're wrong, but I've never heard of it.

i used to know more about this subject but from what i recall it can be considered "theft of services" to use someone's wi-fi/internet access without permision. That said, i've been known to do it myself from time to time Besides, if they didn't want to "share" they'd put a password on the darn thing!

i giggle when i see the default SSID in use because you just know the default password is still on the stupid AP as well.

i haven't done it recently but i used to leave my laptop running in the back seat of the car while driving and run a program that "detects" wireless networks. usually 50% of the networks seen didn't have security running on them.

 

[ctenidae]

I had to leave my wireless unprotected for a while because my wife's work computer's security wouldn't allow for the encryption. At least, not in a way that was worth the hassle.

I'm keyed now, though I still use the default SSID- I changed all the other passwords, but couldn't find the way to change the SSID at the time, and dont' really care enough to go back through it.

 

[jack97]

802.11 standard (WIFI) was architected from the ground up to allow pcs or laptops to get access to any access point (hence the name). Back in the days when this was written, laptops were still pretty expensive and some figure a PC were static in there locations so security and intrusion was not a big deal. Prolly the wrong decision in hind sight, but it is what it is. Given that any wireless card can get access, the 802.11 standard body put in various levels of security which were analogous to software patches, some good and some not good.

 

[dmc]

Another thing you can do is limit the number of IP addresses available to the system...
If you have a laptop, xbox and desktop - only open 3 up.

 

[bvibert]

Another thing you can do is limit the number of IP addresses available to the system...
If you have a laptop, xbox and desktop - only open 3 up.

I've set them up to only accept connections from known MAC addresses.

 

[jack97]

I've set them up to only accept connections from known MAC addresses.

Yep, the access point is by definition a bridge, as a bare minimum it has to recognized the hardware address which is unique to any network interface card. Devices that recognize IP address (software address) are known as routers. Back in the days, routers were still pretty expensive and routing protocols were not unique, hence the standard body made the access point a bridge.

 

[Trekchick]

Am I correct in assuming that the biggest purpose of securing a WIFI connection is to avoid:
1) someone steeling free service
2) protect your information from being scammed from your database

???
I secure my office, but not my house, but then my home computer doesn't have anything that I'm worried about scamming

 

[dmc]

I didn't start encrypting my wireless until i started working from home.
Now I have to because my agreement with work..

 

[dmc]

Am I correct in assuming that the biggest purpose of securing a WIFI connection is to avoid:
1) someone steeling free service
2) protect your information from being scammed from your database

???
I secure my office, but not my house, but then my home computer doesn't have anything that I'm worried about scamming

So what can happens is people can setup "sniffers" that intercept your wireless signal and read that signal... CCNs, passwords,etc... Between your PC and your router...

 

[jack97]

So what can happens is people can setup "sniffers" that intercept your wireless signal and read that signal... CCNs, passwords,etc... Between your PC and your router...

Yep, you beat me to those points. Thats why I put in encyption. Setting up a sniffer; hardware and software wise is kinda of easy.

 

[andyzee]

Am I correct in assuming that the biggest purpose of securing a WIFI connection is to avoid:
1) someone steeling free service
2) protect your information from being scammed from your database

???
I secure my office, but not my house, but then my home computer doesn't have anything that I'm worried about scamming

Nother possibility, I want to do something illegal on the net, would make a lot of sense using someone else's connection to do it.

 

[BeanoNYC]

I mask and password protect my network.