Using Unsecure W/Less Connection

I noticed when I switched my laptop on tonight that among the list of
Wireless Networks shown one was an unsecured one .
If someone was to use that and the actual user then tried to connect
what would happen. Would he/she get some sort of message or would
he/she be unable to connect while the other connection was still
connected or could they disconnect the conection .?

On Mon, 09 Jul 2007 23:09:25 +0100, Stuart B
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I noticed when I switched my laptop on tonight that among the list of
>Wireless Networks shown one was an unsecured one .
>If someone was to use that and the actual user then tried to connect
>what would happen.

What "actual user"?

If it's open anyone can connect (up to the limit of the router).

It would be potentially illegal to do so, so it's not advisable to
connect to an insecure network without permission, no matter how
stupid your neighbours are ;-)

On Mon, 09 Jul 2007 22:22:20 GMT, Stuart Millington <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>On Mon, 09 Jul 2007 23:09:25 +0100, Stuart B
><(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>I noticed when I switched my laptop on tonight that among the list of
>>Wireless Networks shown one was an unsecured one .
>>If someone was to use that and the actual user then tried to connect
>>what would happen.
>
>What "actual user"?
>
>If it's open anyone can connect (up to the limit of the router).
>
>It would be potentially illegal to do so, so it's not advisable to
>connect to an insecure network without permission, no matter how
>stupid your neighbours are ;-)


When I said "actual user" I meant the user who's connection is
unsecured same as if I altered my connection to unsecured I would
consider myself as the "actual user" . What I was asking and perhaps
you cannot answer ,was what happens when the "actual user" tries to
log on to his connection .

On Mon, 09 Jul 2007 23:37:21 +0100, Stuart B
<(E-Mail Removed)> mused:

>On Mon, 09 Jul 2007 22:22:20 GMT, Stuart Millington <(E-Mail Removed)>
>wrote:
>
>>On Mon, 09 Jul 2007 23:09:25 +0100, Stuart B
>><(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>
>>>I noticed when I switched my laptop on tonight that among the list of
>>>Wireless Networks shown one was an unsecured one .
>>>If someone was to use that and the actual user then tried to connect
>>>what would happen.
>>
>>What "actual user"?
>>
>>If it's open anyone can connect (up to the limit of the router).
>>
>>It would be potentially illegal to do so, so it's not advisable to
>>connect to an insecure network without permission, no matter how
>>stupid your neighbours are ;-)
>
>
>When I said "actual user" I meant the user who's connection is
>unsecured same as if I altered my connection to unsecured I would
>consider myself as the "actual user" . What I was asking and perhaps
>you cannot answer ,was what happens when the "actual user" tries to
>log on to his connection .
>
Stuart 2 answered the question, the router will allow as many people
to connect as it can up to its limit, which will be many many more
than 1, or 100.
--
Regards,
Stuart.

"Stuart B" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news(E-Mail Removed)...
>I noticed when I switched my laptop on tonight that among the list of
> Wireless Networks shown one was an unsecured one .
> If someone was to use that and the actual user then tried to connect
> what would happen. Would he/she get some sort of message or would
> he/she be unable to connect while the other connection was still
> connected or could they disconnect the conection .?
>
The person that owned the router would not even notice (unless you took all
the bandwidth or they checked the main router page)- until the police kicked
in his front door!
People tend to go for unsecured networks to do illegal things and
unfortunately the router "owner" is responsible for what goes through their
connection. They could say it wasn't them, but would be interviewed and
have the PC taken and examined. Who could they blame?
This is why people need to make sure their connection is secure.

On Mon, 09 Jul 2007 23:46:38 +0100, Lurch
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>On Mon, 09 Jul 2007 23:37:21 +0100, Stuart B
><(E-Mail Removed)> mused:
>>On Mon, 09 Jul 2007 22:22:20 GMT, Stuart Millington <(E-Mail Removed)>
>>wrote:

>>>What "actual user"?

>>When I said "actual user" I meant the user who's connection is
>>unsecured same as if I altered my connection to unsecured I would
>>consider myself as the "actual user" . What I was asking and perhaps
>>you cannot answer ,was what happens when the "actual user" tries to
>>log on to his connection .
>>
>Stuart 2 answered the question, the router will allow as many people
>to connect as it can up to its limit, which will be many many more
>than 1, or 100.

Indeed, the "general limit" I've seen for SOHO devices is 253 users.

You could have 253 users connecting, either anonymously or otherwise,
without the router throwing any form of error message unless /some
form of security/ was enabled.

The main "risk" is if the "real user" looks at the router logs and
sees lots of people connecting to their network. At that point, they
either confess their stupidity to the police and report a crime,
enable WPA(2) or pay for everyone else's Internet connection ;-)


>Regards,
>Stuart.

Sorry, but 3 of us are not allowed in the same thread ;-)

On Tue, 10 Jul 2007 00:09:03 +0100, "Paul" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>
>"Stuart B" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>news(E-Mail Removed).. .
>>I noticed when I switched my laptop on tonight that among the list of
>> Wireless Networks shown one was an unsecured one .
>> If someone was to use that and the actual user then tried to connect
>> what would happen. Would he/she get some sort of message or would
>> he/she be unable to connect while the other connection was still
>> connected or could they disconnect the conection .?
>>
>The person that owned the router would not even notice (unless you took all
>the bandwidth or they checked the main router page)- until the police kicked
>in his front door!
>People tend to go for unsecured networks to do illegal things and
>unfortunately the router "owner" is responsible for what goes through their
>connection. They could say it wasn't them, but would be interviewed and
>have the PC taken and examined. Who could they blame?
>This is why people need to make sure their connection is secure.
>

Thx for all the answers .I hadn't realised that as many people could
use the one connection .

"Stuart B" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news(E-Mail Removed)...
>I noticed when I switched my laptop on tonight that among the list of
> Wireless Networks shown one was an unsecured one .
> If someone was to use that and the actual user then tried to connect
> what would happen. Would he/she get some sort of message or would
> he/she be unable to connect while the other connection was still
> connected or could they disconnect the conection .?

Even though your laptop reports there is no encryption security
there could be some very basic MAC filtering so only authorised
computers in the access list are allowed in.

Also, if its a public hotspot like in a hotel, they also show up as
un-secured, but whatever address you put into your web-browser
you are redirected to the page that you put your credit-card details
to pay for access.
--

Graham.
%Profound_observation%

On Tue, 10 Jul 2007 00:09:03 +0100, "Paul" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>
>"Stuart B" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>news(E-Mail Removed).. .
>>I noticed when I switched my laptop on tonight that among the list of
>> Wireless Networks shown one was an unsecured one .
>> If someone was to use that and the actual user then tried to connect
>> what would happen. Would he/she get some sort of message or would
>> he/she be unable to connect while the other connection was still
>> connected or could they disconnect the conection .?
>>
>The person that owned the router would not even notice (unless you took all
>the bandwidth or they checked the main router page)- until the police kicked
>in his front door!
>People tend to go for unsecured networks to do illegal things and
>unfortunately the router "owner" is responsible for what goes through their
>connection. They could say it wasn't them, but would be interviewed and
>have the PC taken and examined. Who could they blame?
>This is why people need to make sure their connection is secure.
>
Abollucks, I run an unsecured network and do nothing illegal.

nemo2

(E-Mail Removed) wrote:
> On Tue, 10 Jul 2007 00:09:03 +0100, "Paul" <(E-Mail Removed)>
> wrote:
>
>>
>> "Stuart B" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> I noticed when I switched my laptop on tonight that among the
>>> list of Wireless Networks shown one was an unsecured one .
>>> If someone was to use that and the actual user then tried to
>>> connect what would happen. Would he/she get some sort of message
>>> or would he/she be unable to connect while the other connection
>>> was still connected or could they disconnect the conection .?
>>>
>> The person that owned the router would not even notice (unless you
>> took all the bandwidth or they checked the main router page)-
>> until the police kicked in his front door!
>> People tend to go for unsecured networks to do illegal things and
>> unfortunately the router "owner" is responsible for what goes
>> through their connection. They could say it wasn't them, but
>> would be interviewed and have the PC taken and examined. Who
>> could they blame?
>> This is why people need to make sure their connection is secure.
>>
> Abollucks, I run an unsecured network and do nothing illegal.
>
> nemo2

You are being ontuse, it's not you who may be doing anything illegal,
it's the people who you are letting share your bandwidth. Now if one
(or more) were rag head bombers or old dirty rain coat, shirt lifters
their usage could be traced to your account & seeing it is your
account you would be the person they (Police MI5 etc) would like to
speak to, not all the parasitic live forms you are allowing on the net
for free.