Public WiFi - Legalities?

Hello...

We'll be setting up public access wifi internet in our
retail outlets. Can any lead me to info about possible
legal consequences? I've heard vague rumors of customers
going after businesses after using their public wifi
internet.

Any suggestions?

Thx,
D.

Why would customers go after a business that let them use their wi-fi
access? That's like a customer suing you for letting them use your phone.

I suspect that the biggest potential problem is someone using your access to
generate spam.

What kind of retail business do you have?

Mike Schumann

"dsmcd" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:QOo7b.185$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hello...
>
> We'll be setting up public access wifi internet in our
> retail outlets. Can any lead me to info about possible
> legal consequences? I've heard vague rumors of customers
> going after businesses after using their public wifi
> internet.
>
> Any suggestions?
>
> Thx,
> D.
>

We're a bookstore. The rumors had to do with customers
sniffing wifi traffic and grabbing email or passwords or
personal information and using it maliciously.

I haven't come across any record of such a lawsuit, and I'm
assuming they're either very rare or haven't never
happened, but still I'd like to know about any possible
legalities before going live with our wifi

Thanks for your response,
D.


"Mike Schumann" <mike-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>Why would customers go after a business that let them use
>their wi-fi
>access? That's like a customer suing you for letting them
>use your phone.
>
>I suspect that the biggest potential problem is someone
>using your access to
>generate spam.
>
>What kind of retail business do you have?
>
>Mike Schumann
>
>"dsmcd" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>news:QOo7b.185$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Hello...
>>
>> We'll be setting up public access wifi internet in our
>> retail outlets. Can any lead me to info about possible
>> legal consequences? I've heard vague rumors of customers
>> going after businesses after using their public wifi
>> internet.
>>
>> Any suggestions?
>>
>> Thx,
>> D.
>>
>
>

I can't imagine that anyone has any expectation of being protected in a
public wi-fi environment. Unless the sniffing is being done by or with the
knowledge or consent of the owner of the wi-fi system, I can't imagine that
you could ever be held liable for the illegal activities of a 3rd party.

Great idea putting in public wi-fi (as long as you make it free).
Mike Schumann

"dsmcd" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:1Rq7b.198$(E-Mail Removed)...
> We're a bookstore. The rumors had to do with customers
> sniffing wifi traffic and grabbing email or passwords or
> personal information and using it maliciously.
>
> I haven't come across any record of such a lawsuit, and I'm
> assuming they're either very rare or haven't never
> happened, but still I'd like to know about any possible
> legalities before going live with our wifi
>
> Thanks for your response,
> D.
>
>
> "Mike Schumann" <mike-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> >Why would customers go after a business that let them use
> >their wi-fi
> >access? That's like a customer suing you for letting them
> >use your phone.
> >
> >I suspect that the biggest potential problem is someone
> >using your access to
> >generate spam.
> >
> >What kind of retail business do you have?
> >
> >Mike Schumann
> >
> >"dsmcd" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> >news:QOo7b.185$(E-Mail Removed)...
> >> Hello...
> >>
> >> We'll be setting up public access wifi internet in our
> >> retail outlets. Can any lead me to info about possible
> >> legal consequences? I've heard vague rumors of customers
> >> going after businesses after using their public wifi
> >> internet.
> >>
> >> Any suggestions?
> >>
> >> Thx,
> >> D.
> >>
> >
> >
>

> >"dsmcd" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> >news:QOo7b.185$(E-Mail Removed)...
> >> Hello...
> >>
> >> We'll be setting up public access wifi internet in our
> >> retail outlets. Can any lead me to info about possible
> >> legal consequences? I've heard vague rumors of customers
> >> going after businesses after using their public wifi
> >> internet.
> >>
> >> Any suggestions?
> >>
> >> Thx,
> >> D.
> >>
> >

> "Mike Schumann" <mike-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> >Why would customers go after a business that let them use
> >their wi-fi
> >access? That's like a customer suing you for letting them
> >use your phone.
> >
> >I suspect that the biggest potential problem is someone
> >using your access to
> >generate spam.
> >
> >What kind of retail business do you have?
> >
> >Mike Schumann
> >
> >

"dsmcd" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:1Rq7b.198$(E-Mail Removed)...
> We're a bookstore. The rumors had to do with customers
> sniffing wifi traffic and grabbing email or passwords or
> personal information and using it maliciously.
>
> I haven't come across any record of such a lawsuit, and I'm
> assuming they're either very rare or haven't never
> happened, but still I'd like to know about any possible
> legalities before going live with our wifi
>
> Thanks for your response,
> D.
>
>

I can think of a couple of possible issues:

a) Does your ISP allow you to provide public access through your connection?
b) As you say, sniffing of details by other customers - remember, all
clients on an 802.11b network share a common encryption code. Not sure what
happens on 802.11g.
c) Net abuse from a client on your network; e.g. virus dissemination,
spamming, denial of service attacks
d) illegal network use - downloading illegal mp3s, kiddie porn, etc.

IANAL but I am sure that you will need fairly comprehensive disclaimer
notices and so on around the place. I would check what other public access
points display.

L

"Mike Schumann" <mike-(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:
>I can't imagine that anyone has any expectation of
>being protected in a
>public wi-fi environment. Unless the sniffing is
>being done by or with the
>knowledge or consent of the owner of the wi-fi
>system, I can't imagine that
>you could ever be held liable for the illegal
>activities of a 3rd party.
>
>Great idea putting in public wi-fi (as long as you
>make it free).
>Mike Schumann

Thanks. definately free. Interesting how many ISPs are
surprised at this.

>
>I can think of a couple of possible issues:
>
>a) Does your ISP allow you to provide public access
>through your connection?
>b) As you say, sniffing of details by other customers
>- remember, all
>clients on an 802.11b network share a common
>encryption code. Not sure what
>happens on 802.11g.
>c) Net abuse from a client on your network; e.g.
>virus dissemination,
>spamming, denial of service attacks
>d) illegal network use - downloading illegal mp3s,
>kiddie porn, etc.
>
>IANAL but I am sure that you will need fairly
>comprehensive disclaimer
>notices and so on around the place. I would check
>what other public access
>points display.

Yup, and add to that a 'helpful' employee who 'helps'
someone with their network settings, thus preventing
them from accessing their home network. Ohhh, I'm just
can't wait for that call. ;o))

D.

Thanks, all, for your responses. Looks like there
aren't any current precidents (sp?) , but there's a
few niggly things to keep me on my toes.

Appreciate you help.

Thx,
D.

"Mike Schumann" <mike-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:3f5e766d$0$3746$(E-Mail Removed):

> Great idea putting in public wi-fi (as long as you make it free).

It's never free, so called free hotspots glue people to your busines, they will come
again and again and eventually buy more because of this "free" internet posibility


--
Oh hell yes! Think of a computer as a tiny, super complex street
hooker. The more you put in.. Wait. No. That's not a good
analogy... Um... A computer is like a piece of paper. Er. No.
Um. I really have no idea how they work.

"dsmcd" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:2TH7b.125$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>
> Thanks, all, for your responses. Looks like there
> aren't any current precidents (sp?) , but there's a
> few niggly things to keep me on my toes.
>
> Appreciate you help.
>
> Thx,
> D.
>

I am very interested to hear how you get on. Do post back with progress.

I am in the very early stages of setting up a community network for the
village where my mother lives. Hence my interest.

L