One thing i will say is its different then leaving something else unlocked and ask if others would take it. In this case the owner left it unlocked, others are using it, but the owner still is/can use their internet as usual. If they don't like the speed of it, its as simple as pw protecting it.

My parents run a motel, they left it open until the speed decreased and they decided to secure it and issue pw's every 2 weeks to guests. Simple as that.

If a business doesn't want to use pw's to give customers they can then instead keep the hotspot open but use a TOS page that customers have to agree too first.

There are many solutions to keeping it secure and if they don't secure it then that's their problem. It's a simple fix.

One thing i will say is its different then leaving something else unlocked and ask if others would take it. In this case the owner left it unlocked, others are using it, but the owner still is/can use their internet as usual. If they don't like the speed of it, its as simple as pw protecting it.

My parents run a motel, they left it open until the speed decreased and they decided to secure it and issue pw's every 2 weeks to guests. Simple as that.

If a business doesn't want to use pw's to give customers they can then instead keep the hotspot open but use a TOS page that customers have to agree too first.

There are many solutions to keeping it secure and if they don't secure it then that's their problem. It's a simple fix.

this is retarded

if the cafe didnt want people using their wi-fi, they should have locked it

So this guy deserves to get ripped off?

this " guy " posted the TOS ....

If it isn't yours and you take it it's stealing. Simple.

In this case dude KNEW it wasn't free and did it. It's not like he
lived upstairs or next door. He drove to the location.

Now I've had heck with DSL and wireless connections. One confusing piece of nonsense after another.

I get secured DSL not wireless. When I got secured my laptop would access wireless and I didn't know it. I found out later my laptop was defective as were umpteen others from the manufacturer. I was paying for wireless and my own DSL connection as a backup. If one went out I had the other.

In Burbank they have wireless. Sometimes people are unaware that their connection via wireless may not always go to the connection they set up.

It's very confusing as software does one thing, the phone companies do another and us non networking people get confused.

If you have unsecured wireless you're taking a risk if you don't care who uses it because you have a ton of software pirates and porn fiends who'll use your service for all sorts of nefarious ends and next thing you know the cops are knocking on YOUR door.

In the past 6 years I've had 5 different DSL companies. Each one would fuck up and do this or that. Finally got a company that just did things 1-2-3. I had to learn how to easily set up a secured wireless network. I don't use it but learned how. In some cases it's very easy.

When you go to locations it's best to just ask if they have free wi fi. If you live in a city that offers free wi fi and your neighbors or businesses nearby have their own wi fi you have to configure your system to accept the specific one.

In the case of the guy who got arrested, he purposefully went to a location to do what he did. He thought it was harmless but a law almost 20 years old was dug up to work him over.

Wow, I didn't think this thread would get this much action, glad I posted it...lol

No he didn't know it wasn't free. People keep missing that fact.

you are really disappointing me

You got a hotspot and someone wants to use it? Hell.. they are welcome. It's hardly life-threatening or an inconvenience.

Typical prissy-minded people...

why is that?

That you keep trying to justify this.

he has an email account, so obviously he is aware that Internet service costs something.

The fact that he kept returning there pretty much confirmes that he was there to leech off an unsecured network.

He may not have known there was a law against what he was doing, but I think it is safe to presume that he knew he was doing something wrong.

otherwise, why would he just go ahead and take a seat inside?


I have worked on my laptop from inside my car, it is a PITA. If he thought there was no problem, why not get comfy?

But officer, I didn't KNOW I was

-- speeding
-- over the limit
-- 'nt supposed to have open liquor in my car
-- driving without a license, I forgot it at home
etc
etc
etc


The law doesn't give a shit what you knew or didn't know.


I can just see it now...

"OHhhh, you weren't AWARE that you were breaking the law? Well, that's different! Okay, now you know, you're free to go."

:1orglaugh

He knew he didn't own it! He knew he hadn't paid into it at any time.

He felt it was free and didn't double check. The fact he didn't do time or get a permanent record is enough.

This law and it's interpretation and similar laws have been
on the books for decades.

Goes way back to the days when people had cablevision in apartment
buildings and people would splice into it.

Bottom line is this wi fi thing is bigger than all of us and
there are even claims it's harmful to our health. It's been
rushed in and even the millions of miles of unused fiber optic cables
are still waiting to be used.

It's a quagmire and unsecured network use shouldn't be a crime
unless the circumstances call for it.

Oh, another problem. People often name their wireless connection the same or use the default like Linsys.

So there you are at your favorite spot using your 'linksys' and you accidently connect to someone else's linksys.

It goes on and on. Every year I do a network of computers to keep my skills up.

I couldn't believe how backward some people are with their computer networks. I actually found staff members using Windows 95 and hadn't updated critical systems and software in years.

Then they wondered why they had problems.

If it's YOUR hotspot and the leecher is downloading CP, YOU will be the one going to prison.

It's not abou securing a network. Obviously the cafe offer free wi-fi. I'm assuming it was meant for CUSTOMERS. All this dude had to do is buy a cup of coffee and and guess what, he's a customer. Show me how a busines can offer free wi-fi to customers ONLY withot having said customers go through hoops? You can't.

Thread over.

unethical yes...but illegal? hell no i didn't know there were laws on the books...

Reading not on your "to do" list today? Your point has already been addressed.

Fucking Michigan! Anyhow it won't stick, if he went into the cafe once then it is all about semantics and a good attorney, but what a dumb fuck he was telling them what he was going there.

Dumb, Dumb and Dumber.

Another hypothesis? :pimp
Yeah.. that's presumably what normal people do in Michigan. They go to net cafes or hang around outside and leech CP :1orglaugh

Can think of plenty other abuses in addition to that - how many you want to count?? Forget it - it's GFY *lol*

Ya, why bust a drug dealer and risk getting stabbed at or shot when you can bust this guy.

Sparta rocks!!!!:thumbsup

yea mon. :rasta

I think the judge was excessive. He/she admits the guy didn't mean any harm or know he was doing anything illegal, so why not just fine him? Community service seems to be a bit strong of a punishment for the so-called "crime."

How can you even compare that to using public unsecured WiFi? Using a public WiFi connection to check your mail is just as bad as raping someone?

I think the fact that people don't know that much about internet and bandwidth yet matters a lot here. I doubt the guy knew he was affecting the internet connection inside, if he even was. And I also doubt there was a sign like that outside the cafe.

I think they should've warned him, but not arrest and give a $150 ticket for that bullshit. No wonder people hate the cops.

I don't think it's logical to compare that to a new technology most people don't know shit about.

That's not what I was comparing. I was illustrating how ridiculous the "I didn't know it was illegal" argument is.

Comprehension = important.

I didn't say that what THIS guy was doing or what people ONLY in Michigan do. Lots of place where people leech wi-fi other than cafes. How about HOMES or APRTMENTS? And if you think there's no way your neighbors can be sicko pervs you are delusional.

Quit being a moron you fucking douchebag and THINK before posting.

And another thing... I don't care now "new" the technology is, people know full fucking well they are stealing internet access when they park outside of a business and connect. Sorry, you lose.


This thread can go another 18 pages for all I care, it's still going to be against the law as much as it was when we were on page 1.


Keep rationalizing. :D

"he will pay a $400 fine and do 40 hours of community service, and the arrest will not go on his record."

Thats insane!

A) it's not on his record and no jail time. So big deal.

B) for $400 he could have paid for his own internet access at his house.

I never made *any* claims that this was this guy was doing - you suggested a CP angle. Not me.

I also never made *any* comment about homes, apartments or the activities of neighbors - you did. Not me.

People can do anything with wi-fi whether they are legitmately using it or not - what exactly is your point???

If you think I'm a moron - look closer to home :1orglaugh

I had this big ticket once, and decided instead of paying it I would opt for cummunity service (fine print on the ticket said I had that option). I'm glad I did, I got assigned to raking leaves over at a nearby cathedral. Nice outdoor work, fresh air, and at the end of my time the grounds boss said he'd never seen anyone sent to him for community service bag more leaves than me.

Not something I'm inclined to do again, it's easier to pay them, but it was a good experience that one time.

I'm sure this guy will survive.

right genius... he knew enough to drive around and find unsecured wireless networks, he sees the name like "Bills Coffee Shop" in his connections... he knows how to log on with his notebook and surf the web through that connection... but was totally ignorant of what an internet connection is and the fact that someone has to pay for it.

some of you people are impossibly thick.

you really want to say "i don't trust authority figures", "the penalty is a little harsh" etc.... and all that comes out is "if no one posts a sign telling me not to steal, its totally ok to steal"
:1orglaugh :1orglaugh

I made a point, you are too fucking retarded to get it and just post crap. welcome to my ignore list asswipe.

:1orglaugh :1orglaugh :1orglaugh

There sure is a total retard problem - good move :thumbsup

I like cops. I just got a Cops screener for the emmys. I never get tired of that show. You can takr the boy out of WhiteTrash, but you can never take the WhiteTrash out of the boy.