Wireless Hotspot?

[Fear]

I went to my friend's house the other day and just so happened to be scanning for wireless connection on my psp. Lets say, hypothetically, I found a connection that wasn't secured. Would it have been illegal if I had used that connection to get on the web browser, or would it be considered a wireless hotspot?

[m4tt]

Leeching off personal access points without permission is illegal (specific details vary between countries). There was a case in the US of a man using his laptop in his car while connected to an unsecured personal access point. He was charged and convicted.

WiFi hotspots are fine to use since that's what they're there for. But if you're going to connect through someone's personal access point, you should get permission.

[schwa.]

Wow, I didn't even know they had laws like that.

0_0

[Tim!]

In addition to the comments made on this thread I would like to add this. I think every ISP should automatically secure your wireless network for you or give you a easy guide on how to. I know it is illegal to do and all but it would be so much easier and less of a pain if people knew just how to lock there wi-fi. Public wi-fi should be the only kind of wi-fi that is unlocked.

[Kid_A]

It's not hard to set up a WEP password at all. Most wireless routers will ask you if you'd like to do it in the set up process and then create the security for you. Look up your router online and I bet you'll find easy to follow directions.
It is indeed illegal to leech off a private wireless signal, and you shouldn't do it (just go to a coffee house or somethint) but if your wireless connection slows because people are leeching and you're not smart enough to at least password protect it, that's your own darn fault.

[Crazy Jamie]

It's not hard to set up a WEP password at all. Most wireless routers will ask you if you'd like to do it in the set up process and then create the security for you. Look up your router online and I bet you'll find easy to follow directions.
It is indeed illegal to leech off a private wireless signal, and you shouldn't do it (just go to a coffee house or somethint) but if your wireless connection slows because people are leeching and you're not smart enough to at least password protect it, that's your own darn fault.
It is indeed very easy to set up a WEP password (and pointless setting up a WPA password, seen as WEP is just as easy and significantly more secure). In terms of the law, it's the same principle as if you used someone's electricity supply without their permission, which common sense should hopefully dictate would be illegal.

[Nathan]

Most wireless routers will ask you if you'd like to do it in the set up process and then create the security for you.

Actually on that point, when I got my wireless, it was already set up with the username and password when we got it, we never got to choose whether or not there was a password on it.