Wifi Question...Is it illegal??

[Phil Smith]

That right there is the bizarre example. He was perfectly reasonable.

Perfectly reasonable bizarre you mean?

 

[Fine Cut]

It is NOT illegal in the U.S. to utilize someone's unsecured WiFi.

This. It is legal in the U.S. To receive any open signal that lands on your personal property. If it is not password secured or filtered, it is considered an open signal in the same fashion as television, radio or satellite signals. She won't be held responsible if her wifi is used by someone else, but it will cause her much unneeded hastle if it happens. Encryption is your friend here.

 

[aborgman]

They just busted a guy here that lived behind the public library. He was pirating their wifi, and doing creepy stuff. I have no idea how they found him. He must have left a clue someplace.

In Michigan it's illegal even if you aren't doing creepy stuff.

See: Michigan Man Fined for Using Coffee Shop's Wi-Fi Network - Science News | Science & Technology | Technology News - FOXNews.com



and -

FRAUDULENT ACCESS TO COMPUTERS, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER NETWORKS (EXCERPT)
Act 53 of 1979


752.795 Prohibited conduct.

Sec. 5.

A person shall not intentionally and without authorization or by exceeding valid authorization do any of the following:

(a) Access or cause access to be made to a computer program, computer, computer system, or computer network to acquire, alter, damage, delete, or destroy property or otherwise use the service of a computer program, computer, computer system, or computer network.

(b) Insert or attach or knowingly create the opportunity for an unknowing and unwanted insertion or attachment of a set of instructions or a computer program into a computer program, computer, computer system, or computer network, that is intended to acquire, alter, damage, delete, disrupt, or destroy property or otherwise use the services of a computer program, computer, computer system, or computer network. This subdivision does not prohibit conduct protected under section 5 of article I of the state constitution of 1963 or under the first amendment of the constitution of the United States.

 

[aborgman]

This. It is legal in the U.S. To receive any open signal that lands on your personal property.

Actually it varies by state. It's definitely illegal here in Michigan.

 

[Raven2k360]

Here's my philosophy -- if it's unsecured, it's fair game; if it's secured and you hack it...well, THEN you're breaking the law. But like I said, that's just my personal philosophy. *shrug*