From the article it didn't look like the cafe really cared much. This is just a anal cop with nothing better to do. Cafe probably ran out of donuts.

I don't think it's being ignored.

Security is just common sense, because there are people out there with loose enough ethics to try and take stuff that doesn't belong to them - that's a fact of life.

But any lack of security still doesn't excuse the fact that they do.

I think the point that a lot of people here seem to be missing, is just because it may be easy to take something that doesn't belong to you, that doesn't all-of-a-sudden mean that you have the right to.

That's not comparable...places like Starbucks aren't giving it away for free, I know the Starbucks where I live you have to go inside and pay to use their wifi

I run a store in my neighborhood and do the same thing and i sure as hell would not stand outside and give away free samples to get customers and then have those who decided not to come in arrested....

i hope he can order a cup of coffee on the coffee shops

I concur, and I personally would not take something which does not belong to me or has been clearly offered.

But I am also not blind to the fact that, holee shit mah who would've thunked it, not everybody thinks the same way, and take steps to ensure my shit is secure.

Ah but in my area I know quite a few starbucks managers and they are giving it away for free (shared connections) accept for one who wants people to pay for it and he keeps his connection secure ad provides patrons with passwords

Standing on the corner of a street and you pick up a WiFi signal. I'll ask again how do you find the owner?

ding ding ding!!! if they dont secure it, its their own damn fault. kinda nuts he was in the parking lot lol he probably could of sat somewhere better than their parking lot.

hard to secure it for a cafe, someone could get the password then walk out and just start using it

I agree my point exactly, same as with other free accessible areas of a business...

a publicly accessible area is just that,..

as is a stores WiFi connection, bathroom facilities and or other areas accessible to the public...

If its not specified that its for paying customers only than the facility shouldn't bitch when others access it...

they should enact some sort of regulation that states any business that has wifi access available to their customers must use an encryption key if they want customers only to use it, all they would have to do is enable the security on the fuckin router it takes 5 minutes and a matter of a few clicks. if he feels it's a problem having a encryption key enabled you make up a card with the key on it when someone purchases something you hand them the card with the key on it... problem solved

otherwise it's open to everyone and it's their fault they hadn't done something to protect their network

absolutely true, it wouldn't be fool proof but it will cut back on those type of insidents... + new pass daily will eventually determine whos a paying customer and who keeps coming in getting the pass and walking out

i can't believe you people are such children.

i really dont care about anyone using someones wi-fi connection... BUT thats not the point. within the context of the discussion... EVERY SINGLE PERSON HERE understands that its not their free connection to use. EVERY SINGLE PERSON HERE understands that the owner of a cafe doesn't provide it for idiots in the parking lot or across the street... yet you guys want to play dumb like this is the 4th grade or something.

Exactly :thumbsup

absofuckinloutely that is such bullshit that he got arrested

Amazing how some ( PP ) are stuborn .....

Let's say that instead of WiFi of a coffee shop, it is a Bar with music... Obviously, the owners of the bar expect the free music to bring them clients ( same situation as the wifi ).
Now, that music can also be heard in the parking lot of the bar ... You are there with friends ... you hear it, you sing along, you talk about that tune better then that other tune...
Did you commit a crime ??? Did you steal anything ???

Sure, the owner can be pissed that you don't come in ... he just has to put better sound insulation ( way more expensive than having a daily user/pass combination )...

The original law was intented to prevent newbies ( at home ) from having their wifi connection used for spam, phishing, etc ... Also, the newbies can be hit with overages if he has a limited plan ..

The coffe shop owner is supposed to be a busines man, not a newbie. :2 cents:

Buy a fucking cup of coffee. Just because it is free to customers doesn't mean it is free to losers.

Cities offer free wifi. A business is different. You pay buy making a purchase in the Starbucks.

What He said :thumbsup

And the larger picture is that, although I can agree that, from an ethics point of view, using the guy's UNSECURED, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC wifi is wrong because he expects it to be used only by his customers although, let's repeat it, the connection is UNSECURED, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, the simple technological fact of the matter is that anyone passing by could use it either without knowing they should be in the cafe or assume, BECAUSE THE CONNECTION IS UNSECURED, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, that it isn't necessary.

In a simpler form for those whose reading comprehension skills are those of a cocker spaniel: OPEN UNSECURED WIFI CONNECTION: PUBLIC ACCESS. CLOSED SECURED WIFI CONNECTION: PRIVATE ACCESS.

It's not bout the cup of coffee (anyone can buy a cup) if U'd read the thread its more about publicly accessible areas... (in my opinioin which I'm entitled to!)

and its amazing to me that Canada hasn't forced you into sterilizing yourself and your immediate family.

the low, inaudible rumble of music happening inside a club that can kinda, sorta be heard outside of that club is hardly the same as using the same quality connection outside a coffee shop for free, when the owner is OBVIOUSLY providing that connection for patrons of his establishment.

i didn't know i shouldn't have raped her.

her vagina was just sitting there doing nothing.

pointless and weak ...

Who said the sound was " inaudible " ???

Who said that the wifi connection was as good as inside ????

YOU.

I run a PAYSITE ... if I don't protect it properly , I have only myself to blame :2 cents:

I honestly expected more from you.

Right, make it inconvenient to the customer, that makes sense.

You need to find another Starbucks. Should not be tough.

Right, make it inconvenient to the customer, that makes sense.

I was surprised when my attorney did not realize that he was violating a law when he was leeching off someone else's wifi

I read the thread, and although I have never seen your name before came to the quick conclusion that you are some kind of an idiot.

Nice to meet you.

I'm going to open an oxygen bar and have everyone that walks by and breaths in some of the oxygen that leaks out arrested for not paying for it.

Maybe I'll have a mural painted on the outside facade for my customers to look at. Anyone who walks by and just looks but doesn't shop will also be arrested.

So, if someone hacks in, you don't have a problem with that, because your security wasn't good enough?

dumb

Not even the same, and you know it

A bandwidth thief is treated like a murderer.

Only in America. ;)

Maybe he's providing it so people will stick around and when they get thirsty or hungry he is banking on getting their business.

Dude... seriously. get fucking real with the retarded analogies. its not about you running a paysite and leaving security holes... its about users realizing they can get into your paysite for free and doing it. thats theft. just because you are somewhat negligent in how you run your business, doesn't give everyone else a green light to steal from you or to freely access what they FULLY KNOW is content restricted to paying members... and knowing that they aren't paying and should be.

where did i say i was a mind reader?

You know when you login to a hotel WiFi and they have the home page that loads for the first time when you are connecting? If the cafe had a page like that which states the terms of use then it would make sense.

Sorta like when you see a bathroom with a sign that says restrooms for customers only.

this is obviously an issue of people not understanding the technology and the law poorly covering this area.

regardless... that doesn't give everyone a green light to knowingly just steal because they dreamed up some 3rd grade rationalization for it.

You said "EVERY SINGLE PERSON HERE understands that the owner of a cafe doesn't provide it for idiots in the parking lot or across the street."

I'm arguing that maybe he does.

:2 cents:

I blame warez, torrents, and other P2P dealios for a lot of the sense of entitlement in this thread.

The whole "I want what I want and I don't want to have to pay for it" thing.

I mean, why earn what you partake in, when it's easier to grab it at someone else's expense?

People have been justifying stealing so long in the computing community, this is just another day at the office.

/:2 cents:

nice to meet you too, never would have thought someone like you would be showing so much ignorance, while having an intelectual conversation (i.e. Quick conclusions???) thought you'd be better than that...

Well, to each his own, have a nice day

I agree with you there:thumbsup

Gotta know your rights, I carry my attorney's card with me at all times - it has a nice little note to any LEOs/ anyone who's hassling me

works like a charm.

If you go to a Staples store, they do this. There's wifi in the store and you hav to agree to their contract before you can get on the web.