Am I stealing internet connectivity from my neighbors?

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Lepanto

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Wireless internet signals (Wi-Fi) from several of my neighbors apparently blanket my house, because from the moment I turn my computer on, it detects these signals and wants to connect with one. Most of the signals are not password-protected, so connecting to them can be done with just a mouse click.

Since I am in my own house, and their signals are “intruding” in my air space without my permission, would it be morally wrong to connect to the internet using my neighbors’ Wi-Fi signals if I don’t tell ask them first?

And now a couple techie questions:

If I did connect, would it slow down their internet experience?

Would they be able to detect that someone else has logged onto the internet using their signals?
 
From an IT ethics point of view, it would be best to inform your neighbor that his wi-fi is not protected and that you are able to browse with his signal. Point out that other people may not be as concerned as you are.

I won’t get into the “is it stealing” question, but you might be disrupting his own service if you perform heavy downloads, visit YouTube. He deserves to know the problem.

Then, maybe if you’re up to it, you can ask permission.
 
I prefer to call it a Commensalistic relationship. 😃 Sometimes I’ll be at Starbucks and there is no way I’m paying $10 to use their internet service for the short amount of time that I am there. So if I see any other unsecured networks I will go on them. It’s not illegal to my knowledge. As long as you’re not bogging down his service I believe you’re fine. However since he’s your neighbor, it would be courteous to let him know he is using an unsecured network and it may be possible for others to see his personal info. Now if you were doing just that(looking at his personal info) I would consider that sinful.
 
Personlly, if I’m using, for free and in secret, Internet connectivity that someone else is paying for, I’m stealing. :eek:
 
DHC1Chipmunk said:
Personlly, if I’m using, for free and in secret, Internet connectivity that someone else is paying for, I’m stealing. :eek:
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Agreed. The only difference between this and stealing cable is that one needn’t splice into any wires to steal WiFi access. The bottom line is that one’s neighbor is paying for a service that one has no authority to use – because paying for it is what gives one the legal authority to use it.

Is this as grave as robbing a bank? Probably not; nonetheless, one is taking something one has no right to take.

Peace,
Dante
 
I leave my wireless signal open so anyone can connect. Works great when anyone brings their Laptop and wants to connect.

Is this safe?

I’m the “VazNet” signal if you get within about 200 yards of my house.

Phil P
 
Lepanto said:
And now a couple techie questions:

If I did connect, would it slow down their Internet experience?
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Most likely, sometimes 3 people are connected to the wireless connection in my own home, and when someone is downloading it slows way down.

So yes it would slow their connection down.
Would they be able to detect that someone else has logged onto the Internet using their signals?
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Possibly, I’m hardwired to the router, but when someone on wireless connects it puts up a little wireless symbol, plus if you look at the router you can tell if someone is on wireless.

On the router there is Ethernet light, (hard-wired) then a DSL light, WLAN, and an Internet light, plus a power light, when someone is on the Ethernet, or WLAN (wireless local area network) then that light will flash every few seconds.
 
Morally, I would consider using an unsecured WiFi connection to be analogous to walking into someone’s unlocked/fenced back yard and using the pool. If you have permission, it’s fine, but if you don’t, I don’t see a good moral justification for it.

Now, on a purely semantic level, you could argue that all you are doing is detecting signals that they are beaming into your house and beaming your own signals out into the air, which just happen to be picked up by their router. But, if you look into your heart, you know that such an argument is just a justification for something you know you shouldn’t be doing.
 
tonyl said:
Morally, I would consider using an unsecured WiFi connection to be analogous to walking into someone’s unlocked/fenced back yard and using the pool.
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Except that in this case, I never intrude into the neighbor’s yard. Their messy pool “spills” some of its water into my backyard without my permission, whether I like it or not.
 
Lepanto said:
Except that in this case, I never intrude into the neighbor’s yard. Their messy pool “spills” some of its water into my backyard without my permission, whether I like it or not.
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If the wind blew their garbage cans or wagon or trampoline or sled or BBQ grill into your yard–and you knew it was theirs–would you return it to them or keep it and treat it as your own because it was in your yard? (And yes, all those things and many more can be blown into one’s yard).

Also, around here, at least the cable company charges a per computer charge to connect to the net through their service and so concentrating only on your neighbor does not end the analysis. You may also be taking from the ISP.
 
Lepanto said:
Except that in this case, I never intrude into the neighbor’s yard. Their messy pool “spills” some of its water into my backyard without my permission, whether I like it or not.
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Yes, but this breaks down by the fact that using their connection requires you to throw your signal at their router. Your not just picking up water that spills from their pool, you’re grabbing that water and carrying it back by jumping into the pool, then going back and getting more of the spilled water and carrying it back . . .

However, I did address this in my initial reply when I said: Now, on a purely semantic level, you could argue that all you are doing is detecting signals that they are beaming into your house and beaming your own signals out into the air, which just happen to be picked up by their router. But, if you look into your heart, you know that such an argument is just a justification for something you know you shouldn’t be doing.

Really, this is like saying that since the Cable company sends the digital signal into my home, It is not immoral for me to use an unauthorized decryption device to watch channels that I am not paying for. After all, the messy cable transmission is spilling them into my cable outlet!
 
I stole someone’s Internet for a year, now I’m giving back by leaving my connection wide open for 2 years for anyone who wants to steal from me. Steal Signal once, shame on me, Steal Signal twice, shame on you. Sorry I’m not very good at these tough moral/ethical dilemmas. Just popping in to visit the non-apologetics forum. 👍

Phil P
 
If you don’t block your signal, then it’s fair game. Period. It’s not against the law. To wield the power of wireless, you have to take on the responsibility to secure it. No one puts a pool in the front yard with no fence. You take the reponsibility to put it in the back yard under a locked gate.

Ignorance is no excuse! All the instructions that come with these things are very explicit on setting up wireless security.

If the intent is to cause malice by hacking, or doing illegal activities under their public IP address, then yeah, it’s a bad thing.

(BTW, I’m an IT director, so you can call me a ‘techie’. Oh, and the wireless at my house? Wide open. Join up, I don’t care. If it ever slows to where it’s a problem, I’ll lock it down. Otherwise, my PC is protected, there’s nothing else on my network. Have at it! I think most people don’t care if theirs is open or not.)
 
ForwardProgress said:
If you don’t block your signal, then it’s fair game. Period. It’s not against the law. To wield the power of wireless, you have to take on the responsibility to secure it. No one puts a pool in the front yard with no fence. You take the reponsibility to put it in the back yard under a locked gate.

Ignorance is no excuse! All the instructions that come with these things are very explicit on setting up wireless security.

If the intent is to cause malice by hacking, or doing illegal activities under their public IP address, then yeah, it’s a bad thing.

(BTW, I’m an IT director, so you can call me a ‘techie’. Oh, and the wireless at my house? Wide open. Join up, I don’t care. If it ever slows to where it’s a problem, I’ll lock it down. Otherwise, my PC is protected, there’s nothing else on my network. Have at it! I think most people don’t care if theirs is open or not.)
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I thought the question was one of morality, not one of legaility.
 
Is it moral to take something that is freely being given away?

Yes.

(Provided, of course, that the person is knowingly leaving it open).
 
Lepanto said:
Wireless internet signals (Wi-Fi) from several of my neighbors apparently blanket my house, because from the moment I turn my computer on, it detects these signals and wants to connect with one.
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You can I.D. the company, right? PLace a note in the common area asking to discuss the issue. Whoever subscribes may very well contact you and grant permission.

This may not be a problem at all.

Christ’s peace.
 
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