Is it illegal using an unsecured WIFI connection without permission?
This question comes up from time to time.
In the UK the answer is YES, obtaining free Internet access is an offence under the Communications Act 2003 and a potential breach of the Computer Misuse Act.
Only yesterday a man was arrested in Chiswick for casually accessing the unsecured wireless network of a near by house.
Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2154284,00.html
If you have a wireless connection in your home or small office and that connection is unsecured There is a good chance that other people will be able to see your connection and be able to connect to your network.
They would do this to access your Internet connection but in connecting to your network they could also have access to all the computers on the inside of your wireless network.
Tech Tip: So find the manual that came with your wireless device and take the time to learn about wireless security. Even the relatively insecure WEP64 system which is the easiest to setup will keep out everyone apart from those who are determined to compromise your security.
Office2007 User Interface
August 23rd, 2007 at 12:21 pm
If you left your front door open and a man walked into your house and sat in your arm chair and you called the police, they wouldn’t necessarily be able to remove him because he hasn’t commited a “breaking and entering” offense. If you want him removed for tresspasisng you may require a court order to get him forceably removed. Likewise if you leave your car unlocked and someone comes along, opens the door, sits in your driving seat and listens to your radio (assuming it works without being hotwired) then they haven’t committed an offense.
I find it crazy that the above disturbing situations could occur whereas if you leave your wifi door open the police have the power to arrest anyone who walks in off the street.
August 23rd, 2007 at 12:39 pm
I agree, insanity.
I doubt the police consider the default behaviour of some wifi enabled devices is to join the nearest connection; if that connection is unsecured there is no barrier to connection.
Boom you have just committed an offense by just turning a device like a laptop on.
Colin
July 20th, 2008 at 12:16 am
if somebody has an open wifi connection that you can pick up in the four walls you call a house they are sharing no matter what the law states. it is not an offence to share a connection under the communications act 2003 in the UK otherwise it would be stated.
am sorry but his is a load of crap! the person who’s wifi connection is being broadcasted pays the bill for there connection and in the UK there are many broadband providers that offer unlimited downloads obviously fair usage policy applies which still couldnt be used up by several computers running continously downloading mass volumes of data until the usage is renewed the next month.
plus i would also like to state that i have an open connection and i dont really care if someone is using my wifi as i pay for what i get and i like to think that i would like to get as much as possibly can out of these rip off internet companys! and also if you are so scared of someone checking out a webpage on your connection or downloading illegal content then either put filters in place or stop sharing your wifi connection to the street where you live !!!!!
July 21st, 2008 at 7:18 am
Hi Mark
In the guardian article there is a paragraph (link in the post).
“Detective Constable Mark Roberts, of the Metropolitan Police computer crime unit, said those illegally using unsecured broadband should fear arrest.”
I’m no lawyer but arrest implies your doing something illegal.
Colin