Is wifi piggybacking legal?

[camo]

So on friday my personal laptop hooked itself upto someones wifi connection point the other day in my apartment. At first I thought it was the mcdonalds down the road but I doubt they would have such a strong signal.

Anyways, I've used it a few times - not done anything illegal, just checked emails, looked on here etc etc.

I've had a look online but the details are at best sketchy. Some claim that they should have protected their network or risk piggybacking. Others say it's just another form of theft.

Is it legal or illegal and can they track who's been piggybacking on them?

[YoungRemy]

there are stories of people getting busted by coffee shops that report them for not buying anything. but from home, I wouldn't worry about it. an open network is an open network. i go to a grocery store paring lot and the network is opened and available for any of the customers.

same thing at the Continental Airlines President's Club in almost every airport- they leave them open and if you are close enough to pick up the connection, it's all yours. I have had employees of both places walk right past me without batting an eye...


this link has three of four precedents where someone was arrested or charged with theft...

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060622-7111.html

[camo]

yeah I've heard the stories about people parked outside someones residence and piggybacking and getting arrested...is it just scare tactics?

[YoungRemy]

probably, that and a bunch of urban myths about teenagers in Singapore getting their hands hacked off for stealing Internets

[camo]

lol. How about pinkies being lopped off for stealing mafia wifi? :D

[YoungRemy]

this happens frequently in Northern New Jersey...

[camo]

good job I live in the UK then!

[Waus]

lol. How about pinkies being lopped off for stealing mafia wifi? :D

They offer you a torrent you can't refuse.