Nicking someones wifi??

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/h...cs/6565079.stm

Two people have been cautioned for using people's wi-fi broadband internet
connections without permission.
Neighbours in Redditch, Worcestershire, contacted police on Saturday after
seeing a man inside a car using a laptop while parked outside a house.

He was arrested and cautioned. A woman was arrested in similar circumstances
in the town earlier this month.

BBC Midlands Today correspondent Dr David Gregory said the cases are among
the first of their kind.

He added that if people were using someone else's network to enter illegal
porn sites, for example, it would be very difficult to trace them.

More on link above.

On Tue, 17 Apr 2007 19:43:41 +0100, "Beck" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>He added that if people were using someone else's network to enter illegal
>porn sites, for example, it would be very difficult to trace them.

There /should/ be something to enable prosecution of the person who
set-up the network with inadequate security (or no security as is
likely).

On Tue, 17 Apr 2007 19:43:41 +0100, "Beck" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/h...cs/6565079.stm
>
>Two people have been cautioned for using people's wi-fi broadband internet
>connections without permission.
>Neighbours in Redditch, Worcestershire, contacted police on Saturday after
>seeing a man inside a car using a laptop while parked outside a house.
>
>He was arrested and cautioned. A woman was arrested in similar circumstances
>in the town earlier this month.
>
>BBC Midlands Today correspondent Dr David Gregory said the cases are among
>the first of their kind.
>
>He added that if people were using someone else's network to enter illegal
>porn sites, for example, it would be very difficult to trace them.
>
>More on link above.

There was case in July 2005 where someone was fined £500 for the same
offence.
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/technolo...that_wifi.html

"Stuart Millington" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Tue, 17 Apr 2007 19:43:41 +0100, "Beck" <(E-Mail Removed)>
> wrote:
>
>>He added that if people were using someone else's network to enter illegal
>>porn sites, for example, it would be very difficult to trace them.
>
> There /should/ be something to enable prosecution of the person who
> set-up the network with inadequate security (or no security as is
> likely).

Although I agree that they are idiots, it would be like making it a criminal
offence if you don't lock your house and you get burgled.

(E-Mail Removed) declared for all the world to hear...
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/h...cs/6565079.stm
>
> Two people have been cautioned for using people's wi-fi broadband internet
> connections without permission.
> Neighbours in Redditch, Worcestershire, contacted police on Saturday after
> seeing a man inside a car using a laptop while parked outside a house.
>
> He was arrested and cautioned. A woman was arrested in similar circumstances
> in the town earlier this month.
>
> BBC Midlands Today correspondent Dr David Gregory said the cases are among
> the first of their kind.
>
> He added that if people were using someone else's network to enter illegal
> porn sites, for example, it would be very difficult to trace them.
>
> More on link above.

It beggars belief that people cannot set up a simple password on their
wireless.

The numptys who broadcast unsecured wifi should be prosecuted for
stupidity (in addition to the naughty people nicking someone elses
broadband).
--
Regards
Jon

On Tue, 17 Apr 2007 20:21:13 +0100, Stuart Millington
<(E-Mail Removed)> mused:

>On Tue, 17 Apr 2007 19:43:41 +0100, "Beck" <(E-Mail Removed)>
>wrote:
>
>>He added that if people were using someone else's network to enter illegal
>>porn sites, for example, it would be very difficult to trace them.
>
>There /should/ be something to enable prosecution of the person who
>set-up the network with inadequate security (or no security as is
>likely).

Like you could be prosecuted for not locking your front door when
someone comes in and mugs you?

I think the pressure should be put on router and software
manufacturers to enable the highest level of security available
default on wireless devices and also provide warnings about the risks
of leaving a network unsecured when trying to set up a wireless LAN
with no security.

Although you don't get all these warnings with your front door lock.
--
Regards,
Stuart.

> There /should/ be something to enable prosecution of the person who
> set-up the network with inadequate security (or no security as is
> likely).

I'm not so sure on blaming the one who set up the network - perhaps
you mean the manufacturers or retailers ?

These days, routers are consumer level devices that are almost
completely plug-and-play - perhaps a little *too* easy in fact.

My point is you don't have to be able to recite the white book CD
standards when you buy a stereo, or know how a motor speed controller
works in a washing machine.

In article <55aVh.413289$(E-Mail Removed)>, steeler
<(E-Mail Removed)> writes
>
>"Stuart Millington" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>news:(E-Mail Removed).. .
>> On Tue, 17 Apr 2007 19:43:41 +0100, "Beck" <(E-Mail Removed)>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>He added that if people were using someone else's network to enter illegal
>>>porn sites, for example, it would be very difficult to trace them.
>>
>> There /should/ be something to enable prosecution of the person who
>> set-up the network with inadequate security (or no security as is
>> likely).
>
>Although I agree that they are idiots, it would be like making it a criminal
>offence if you don't lock your house and you get burgled.
>
>

If a WiFi network is not secure and a stranger is seen in the street
Warcharting via their laptop. Then the punishment should be the
householder going out with an exceedingly large and hot cup of tea for
the Warcharter. But the trick will be to fall and spill the contents of
the cup into the Warcharter's lap and laptop.
--
John Clark

"Jon" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) et...

> It beggars belief that people cannot set up a simple password on their
> wireless.
>
> The numptys who broadcast unsecured wifi should be prosecuted for
> stupidity (in addition to the naughty people nicking someone elses
> broadband).

Or perhaps it beggars belief that some isps do not show customers that they
should do it. A newbie to the internet may be totally unaware that wifi
requires security. With isps advertising free wifi routers everywhere, they
should be making sure that customers are aware of the security issues. They
cannot assume everybody is experienced in these things.

"Digby" <a> wrote in message
news(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Tue, 17 Apr 2007 19:43:41 +0100, "Beck" <(E-Mail Removed)>
> wrote:
>
>>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/h...cs/6565079.stm
>>
>>Two people have been cautioned for using people's wi-fi broadband internet
>>connections without permission.
>>Neighbours in Redditch, Worcestershire, contacted police on Saturday after
>>seeing a man inside a car using a laptop while parked outside a house.
>>
>>He was arrested and cautioned. A woman was arrested in similar
>>circumstances
>>in the town earlier this month.
>>
>>BBC Midlands Today correspondent Dr David Gregory said the cases are among
>>the first of their kind.
>>
>>He added that if people were using someone else's network to enter illegal
>>porn sites, for example, it would be very difficult to trace them.
>>
>>More on link above.
>
> There was case in July 2005 where someone was fined £500 for the same
> offence.
> http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/technolo...that_wifi.html

That raises an interesting point.
Its quite possible for someone to accidentally use another persons wifi.
Say if you have two neighbours, both with Belkin routers with the same SSID
and both unsecured, its possible the person may pick the wrong connection to
start with.
Perhaps its about time routers were shipped with blank SSIDs and the users
taken through a proper setup... give SSID a name and security key.
Fortunately some routers nowadays come with preinstalled keys, but not all.