Using someone else's WIFI

If someone took a newspaper out of my mailbox, read it and put it back without causing harm, if I took a daily lie-sheet, I would not feel offended by that action, though I might have concerns regarding the security of my private mail and I can well appreciate that not all would take that attitude. However, again the fact that it is necessary to open the mail box makes it non-analogous to the WiFi situation, thinks I. That the mail is in a box is like putting a fence around your curtilage. Similarly, emplying encryption on your WiFi is like the fence or the mailbox. There is an old saying, that good fences make good neighbours. all the best, urban

Hmmm....interesting way to think about it. Surprisingly, I've never heard that argument. When you explain it like that, it kind of seems obvious. So you're saying in your mind, it's the physical barriers that you see that make a difference? Or, as you added the encryption would be similar to a fence, is it that something has been done to try to keep you out? How would you generalize what you see as the needed ingredient to make the difference? In The US, trespassing is trespassing. If it belongs to someone else, we can't use it. Period. In fact, recently, the courts have used trespassing when convicting someone of using someone else's server or router. So I don't really fully understand the distinction. Maybe this is why no one in the US has used that argument. Because we do automaticaly see it the same. This is why it's so much fun for me to talk about these things with people from other countries. A completely different viewpoint that I never expected.

Is it OK to take the newspapers out of someone's mailbox? Or to open someone's mailbox and go through their mail without taking anything? Not talking what is the law. SHOULD you? Is it OK in your morality? How should the law be?

I must say I didn't know that one about some states having unauthorised wifi use as a felony...maybe some would think twice...I was recently in the US,and was relying on wifi in places I was eating out in to keep in touch,as roaming data use on my phone BURNED through my allowance within hours of arriving,and I shut down cell data after that!..I got the password from one Diner on one occasion,so was able to hook up on a return visit before entering the place..

I don't know which states exactly have it listed as a felony. But here are some arrests that have taken place in the US. These are all listed on Wikipedia (not my preferred source for info, but can probably get this right). You can get details on these, as well as information about the laws in different countries by following this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legality_of_piggybacking: 2005 in St. Petersburg, Florida - 3rd degree felony 2006 in Winnebago County in Illinois - fined $250 and one year court supervision 2007 in Sparta, Michigan - felony, charges weren't pressed. Was facing up to five years in jail and $10,000 fine. Instead, eventually was sentenced to $400 fine and 40 hours of community service. 2007 in Palmer, Alaska - Laptop confiscated. Had been asked previously to leave by police. Not ultimately charged with theft, but could still face charges of trespassing or not obeying a police order. All in all, it sounds like there are some fairly strict laws out there, but the enforcement just isn't there.

You can get a list of every IP address that has accessed your computer. Of course for this to be of any use to you, you will have to know who all has been authorized to access your WiFi and the IP address of each. But, if nothing else, you should be able to count up the number of devices that have access and see if the number matches. Hopefully, it's close. Here's how you can get that list: Go to your start menu. (If you don't have the button, the combination of CTRL and ESC will open it) Type cmd into the search box (You should have among the choices a program named cmd. Its icon is a black monitor screen that says C:\_) Go to the program called cmd. Now you should have a black screen that starts with the words Microsoft Windows and then gives the version. The last typed line should be something like C:\Users\ and then your username. Type in ipconfig and hit enter. Now you should get a whole bunch of information. Look where it says something like Wireless Network Connection (it might also be the Local Area Connection). Find where it lists the Default Gateway. It almost always starts with 192.168 and then has two more periods afterwards with numbers. Type this number directly into your browser and hit enter. You are now inside your router's administrative console. Now it's gonna require a little lookking because every system is set up a little differently. You're looking for a section that has to do with connected devices or wireless status. You should find a table that lists every device connected to your router. To determine your IP address, use the computer you want to know and go to http://whatismyaddress.com