[beautifulxmess]

hi! im not sure where im suppose to post this question so i hope this is the right section.

anyway, my uncle purchased for me a laptop with wireless internet connection. before this, i didnt even know what it was which explains ym cluelessness. Now i'm back in australia, my pc says it detects 'unsecured wireless connection'. I'm just wondering how dangerous is this, using someone else's connection to basically surf for free on the net? And also, is this illegal?

I tried googling this but all the articles were a written in a bunch of jargon so i'm hoping someone can help me explain this. thank you!

[Risse]

It doesnt use a lan cable to connect to a modem but uses wireless signals.
Unsecured usually means that someone living near you is on a wireless network that is not password enabled.
You can be a baddie and tap into it but chances are it will be unstable anyhow.

[daifeilo]

i think its illegal, maybe just in US. been reading on news how people were charged or went to jail for stealing someones wifi internet.

[awdark]

Its not illegal in the US.
It falls under the radiowaves that are floating from your house laws that the FCC can not stop. It becomes "free" when it leaves your house and enters someone elses airspace.

However if you were to do something wrong with it, such as sniff their packets, connect and steal data, or use their connection for illicit activity, then that becomes Digital Tresspasing. And thats illegal.

Im pretty sure its illegal to even scan for them in canada. Much less use someone elses connection.


Safe?
Sure, just remember I can see everything YOU do. Send a message on aim? I can read it.

[SongBird]

This is pretty tough since there aren't that many laws governing this yet.

In downtown Toronto, Canada, there are places where people who don't mind sharing their wifi connection with you. Wifi hot spot cafes and restaurants welcomes you to use your wifi enabled devices. Downloading illegal materials on someone else's connection is wrong, illegal, and just plain bad manners. But checking your email and just plain searches is okay for some hosts.

[boka]

it's not illegal here in australia right now, i was watching a current affairs program and a journalist just cruises around the streets connecting to the internet using other peoples' connections so i assume it's still the router owner's responsibility to secure their own networks