Absolutely ...

Should I call the cops ... get the guy arrested ...
If he can come in, tough I protected the access, I need to review my security.

In the case here, the coffee shop owner didn't even attempt to protect the access (ie = limit it to his customer ) ...

Amazing how every fucking discussion involving americans boils down to left and right, dems and gop ....
Scary ....

Quite the opposite, this is a case of the law not understanding the technology. The technology allows you to secure networks that you don't want just anyone to access.

winner of the idiot prize .

Don't you have a GOP meeting to attend ?

Exactly the way it should be if someone has issues users on their network.

Lets say the cafe only wants people to use the network if they spend at least $10 an hour. If they don't have a way to let people know this then I don't think the users who only bought $5 worth of coffee should be arrested. Call me crazy.

I can go into my apartment, scan for network connections, and find a half-dozen connects at any given time - at least half of which are not secured.

Does that mean I have the right to log onto one of those connects, and start running every bandwidth-heavy application I can think of?

I don't think it does. I don't think any sensible adult would think so, either.

And I also think that my personal rights and liberties in my own residence would be greater than in a public location.

So, if I shouldn't do it at home - what justifies doing it in public?

Nor did he think it was illegal to access from outside according to the article lets not forget.

Again this is just a cop with nothing to do.

If you have a store with a sign that says OPEN and an UNLOCKED door during hours when you are CLOSED will you have someone arrested for walking in?

Why have someone arrested when you have an OPEN wireless network that DOESN'T require a password or an agreement to a TOS?

Ah, whatever. My morals, your lack of morals, it's all good.

My morals state that I don't access the internet from the street or a parking lot. I actually go into the establishment and order something, and then use their connection that they offer to paying customers. Period.

If YOUR moral compass is telling you north is south and it's perfectly okay to break the law then knock yourself out, why should I care?

I predict more and more idiots are going to be getting caught and fined or otherwise punished for this though, whether *you* think it's right or not.

Everyone, really... have a nice day. :D

Exactly :)

Some cities offer free wireless to all residents. How do you know when it's free or not?

Actually, the cop felt something was wrong, he just wasn't sure.

Just like the guy in the car probably knew something was wrong.

No... but I might decide to do something about it if they decided to grab a 6-pack of beer on their way out the door.

I don't think that I would... in fact, I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't. But I'm not everyone, and I certainly feel people should have the right to choose to do so or not for networks that they own.

And how do you know it doesn't?

Maybe your neighbours are leaving their wifi unsecured so that people who can't afford net access can piggy back onto their public and unsecured network because goddarn it, they're just that generous and you gotta pay it forward like Oprah says y'now?

Because god knows that anybody who has a fucking CLUE and would not want people to use their bandwidth would secure their shit up, right?

I am pretty sure you realize that networks are named. You don't think that a network named San Jose WiFi vs Sally's Coffee Shop wifi might help clue you in to whether or not it is a free, city provided wifi?

What if Bill's Coffee shop has free wireless because he knows people sticking around will soon be thirsty? The network owners need to disclose the terms or secure the network. Simple as that.

i can't beleive the guy got a $400 fine and 40 work hours.. after completely admitting to it? This is the cafes fault, not the person. It's like finding a shovel, picking it up to use it, and getting fined for "use of services"? give me a break

how do you know when every single thing you see on the street isn't free or not?

because the law and most rational people assume its not.

not according to the article

It's all about express permission, imho.

In the case of the city opening up a connect to all residents of a city I live in, I would have express permission from the city to utilize that connect.

In the case of my neighbors, unless I've discussed the matter with them, or their network is named "FREEFORALL_ENJOY" or something, I do not have that express permission - and therefore, I feel it'd be wrong of me to use it.

If I'm not paying for something that requires a cost to someone, and I do not have express permission from the someone footing the bill to use that something... it's stealing.

How well they lock it up or not has absolutely no bearing on that, I think.

When I walk into a bank and I see candies out on the table I assume it's free. I also assume that open WiFi is free.

You can try to justify it all you want, but if you were in front of a judge, is that what your defense would be? "I thought they wanted me to hang around until I was thirsty?"

I thought you were talking about the cop being bored.

LOL wow they dont have anything better to do than book people using interenet connections. My gawd.

I'm not interpreting law here. I'm saying it's a dumb ass law. The technology makes it pretty easy to protect your network. I prefer not having dumb laws on the books that try to protect people from their own stupidity.

Do you go walking into banks that you do not do business at to score free candy?

Want me to talk to Lars and see if I can help you get a raise? :winkwink:

I was and you said both the cop and the guy had a feeling the something was wrong.

This quote from the cop makes me hate cops even more:

"I had a feeling a law was being broken, but I didn't know exactly what,"

And then instead of a warning for this huge gray area he arrests him and it gets on the news?

:1orglaugh no i'm good :winkwink:

But according to the law it's not.

What now?

i can't believe that people are arguing that business owners are providing free internet as a some sort of philanthropic public service... and that no one sincerely, genuinely has any idea that it might be not only morally and ethically questionable, but illegal to drive around looking for free wi-fi connections to surf from.

what I noticed is the only way to prove the person is actually using the internet connection is to admit it, you could easily just say I'm using my own connection or switch screens if he comes to your car, I doubt a police officer would even know the difference.

My point all along has been this is a dumb ass law.

standing on the street... you see a motorcyle running and no one around... how do you know not to steal it? how do you know its not just free to use? how do you know its not just a community motorcycle?

THE POINT IS THAT, JUST LIKE WITH THE WI-FI CONNECTION... YOU KNOW WITH 100% CERTAINTY THAT ITS NOT YOURS.

eh... it's almost like a don't ask don't tell type of thing. Sure, we all know stealing wireless is not really on the level, but in the event of an emergency/urgent situation I use anything I have available

People with completely unsecure networks are opening themselves up to potential problems, including illegal activity being conducted on th network. Without a TOS/popup page (which is probably relatively easy to do), businesses are really just asking for it

That doesn't justify leeching off of the wireless, but if I'm just trying to access my bank account or email for legit purposes - I won't feel bad for even one second doing it

With the resources available to local cops, it's pretty damn near impossible for them to catch someone unless they volunteer the information. Unsecured wirless = sitting duck

if you're not secure you must assume that people will at some point use your wireless connection - that's a solid assumption. And hey, if you realize that and still want an unsecured network, then great.

Then get it changed. Until then at least some of us are going to obey it, and would appreciate the direct fiesta's of the world with their insufferable flawed logic not cock off at us for it.

Cheers. :D

So you assume that a guy not even able to protect his wi-fi , will be able to rename his router to his business name .... :1orglaugh :1orglaugh :1orglaugh

Its a FREE accessible public area just like a public bathroom, If you don't want people to use it lock it up... or specify that its for paying customers only... as most business do....

Once again FREE ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC AREA

If U build a park in the middle of the city, and dont fence it in, aswell as post signs saying its "Private Property" people are gonna walk thru it

you sound like a child defending MP3's. just because its there.. just because no one takes significant steps to stop you from stealing... doesn't put you in the right.

you can build a park in the middle of the city without a sign saying "private property" they are still trespassing on private property when they walk through it. no one has any obligation to take extra steps to prevent others from breaking the law.

pretty soon this shouldn't be a problem - New routers let users type in the desired name and password when setting the router up with the software.

Plus, if you don't know the basics of wireless internet (or can't follow directions), you either shouldn't be using it or someone else should set it up for you :2 cents:

Your absolutely right but if they dont take those extra steps how will anyone know if its private property or not...

and lets say you decided to walk thru said park on your way to somewhere else should you get arrested for it even though no one told you or specified it was private property to begin with???

Wouldn't you think you were just taking a stroll thru the park and doing nothing wrong???