What does this mean? Why is it illegal?

[geetrue]

What does this mean subman?

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/component/option,com_myblog/show,slurpr-cool-black-box-or-jail-bait.html/Itemid,199/

Why is it illegal?

[GakunGak]

If only Kevin Mitnick could see this...
Anyhow, I don't see nothing more illegal if it is to use "slurping" other wireless connections, and six combined can make great speed, causing more power and if properly utilised, you can go against ZoneLabs...:hmm:

[SUBMAN1]

I want one! It is a shotgun approach transfered from modems to a wireless router. Where do I sign up? :D :p

It is illegal? I'd call it more grey area, but I guess the idea is you are borrowing your neighbors bandwidth, so it could fall under an illegal clause somewhere. Of course, there is an argument if your neighbor is the clueless type who doesn't even know how to secure their wireless connection - you could argue that your router connected to it accidently somehow, no? Actually, an unsecured wireless connection would probably be thrown out of court since how is one supposed to know that some biz or hobbyest in the area is not offering up free unsecured wireless inet?

Notice they advocate built in WEP cracking. That could be termed illegal too.

Its not like anybody goes to jail for it though - Some people go on vacation simply to go wardriving. This site even makes it into a party - http://www.wardriving.com/

-S

[jumpy]

Slurpr - lol nice idea.
A friend of mine has a wireless enabled laptop that he brought round to my place one evening. He turned it on and it connected to the net using someone else's wireless network bubble in the vicinity; he got a fairly good connection speed too :lol:
Same thing went for his home address- there were a couple of open wireless networks around him that he was able to connect with on different occasions.

I definitely get the impression that places like PC World are selling chumps this wireless technology without them having the first clue how to use it or set it up securely.
I was very supprised at just how easy it was for him to leech off somebody else's bandwith just by opening his laptop and having it autodetect a connection nearby.

Aside from the speed issue with wireless networks when connecting to the net being slower than their wired counterparts, it's so much harder to hack a wired network/router/hub without some sort of physical connection in place or attacking the router itself. For this very reason my recent move to a network hub/router/adsl modem jobbie is a wired one. I don't mind the lengths of cat5e network patch lead snaking up the stairs into the back room, infact thanks to the aptly named 'cable universe' online shop I got 30m and 5m lengths of cat5e shielded network patch leads for about £21.00 inc p&p, delivered to my door in 2 days. I seriously doubt the likes of PC World could even supply me with a length anything over 10m... just like they didn't have any bluetooth usb dongles (to use with my mobile phone for file transfers etc) in the end I went to Argos catalogue store and got one there in about 5 seconds.


lol latest PC World advert:
"Get your (insert latest gen laptop brand here) with dual core cpu so it can handle anything you can throw at it - only 399.99. Comes with wireless networking and windows vista pre-installed. Get them now, but hurry because it's a Bank Holiday so stocks might not last!"

Hmmm, let me think... no.

/pc world rant

[kurtz]

It's illegal because taking other peoples bandwidth is theft. Easy.

I know it's easily done I've got a PDA and it can nearly always find an unsecured network. However if someone left their front door open would you walk in and steal their stuff? Perhaps if your the sort of person who 'hacks' into wireless networks you would.

Mike

[The Avon Lady]

It's illegal because taking other peoples bandwidth is theft. Easy.
In which country is this enscribed in the law books? :o

[stabiz]

In Norway, shortly.

[The Avon Lady]

In Norway, shortly.
Wow! :o

Wouldn't it be better to make a law forbidding hacking into secured encrypted networks and simply "let the buyer beware" when it comes to open networks?

At least that might increase consumer awareness of the need to run wireless with some level of security.

[Ramius]

I'm tempted :hmm: :hmm:

I dont consider this illegal. I suppose it could be put to an illegal use, but then again so can loads of other things.

[The Avon Lady]

A friend of mine has a wireless enabled laptop that he brought round to my place one evening. He turned it on and it connected to the net using someone else's wireless network bubble in the vicinity; he got a fairly good connection speed too :lol:
We did this, too, on a visit overseas last year. Around a dozen unprotected networks to chose from, many with an SSID giving away the family's name, address and even apartment or phone number. :doh:

We run a WPA-TPIK network at home with a hidden SSID and a nice long key. There's a doctor next door (again, the SSID is their family name) who's running unprotected. Next time I see him, I'll strike up a conversation. :lol:

[kurtz]

It's illegal because taking other peoples bandwidth is theft. Easy.
In which country is this enscribed in the law books? :o

There was a guy in england got done for it. He was parked up outside someone's house and was using their wireless connection, luckily he was spotted and the police nabbed him. I think he got 6 months suspended sentence for it. (That means he got let off, not that we hung him:nope: ).

[kurtz]

In Norway, shortly.
Wow! :o

Wouldn't it be better to make a law forbidding hacking into secured encrypted networks and simply "let the buyer beware" when it comes to open networks?

At least that might increase consumer awareness of the need to run wireless with some level of security.

I half agree with you there, however if you saw somebody had left their front door open would you go in and steal their video recorder?

Mike

[The Avon Lady]

In Norway, shortly.
Wow! :o

Wouldn't it be better to make a law forbidding hacking into secured encrypted networks and simply "let the buyer beware" when it comes to open networks?

At least that might increase consumer awareness of the need to run wireless with some level of security.

I half agree with you there, however if you saw somebody had left their front door open would you go in and steal their video recorder?
If someone left their video recorder on the street for weeks on end, would you blame someone for taking it?

You're not taking anyone's wireless away from them when you do this. Yes, you are taking part of someone's bandwidth but I would call this incitement to surf. :p

Seriously, that's exactly why there should be a distinction between closed and open networks. I'm advocating that this is exactly the condition that determines whether it's open to everyone or not.

[jumpy]

Next time I see him, I'll strike up a conversation. :lol:
hehe, start like youv'e know him for years and know all about his stuff etc and really freak him out.
It's the same with my bluetooth dongle, it picks up a couple of peeps next door who have left their mobiles 'open' to outside communication devises... 'Hello, I'm from the internet. You don't know me; but I know all about you...' -heavy breathing sounds.
:rotfl::rotfl:



There was a guy in england got done for it. He was parked up outside someone's house and was using their wireless connection, luckily he was spotted and the police nabbed him.
wasn't this the guy who was looking at porn on other peoples internet? or am I thinking of the media scare that all of a sudden you could get stuffed by mr plod because you had been flagged downloading kiddie porn, when in actual fact it was those damn roving bandwith stealer paedophiles leeching off your unsecured network.?

BEWARE! roving internet paedophile bandwith leechers !!!!11111 haxorz!11 :rotfl:
Send them all back...! /daily mail.


if you saw somebody had left their front door open would you go in and steal their video recorder?
I'd betempted to teach them a lesson in common sense, so after a fashion, yes, I would. Maybe a better idea would be to re-arrange all of their stuff and leave a message saying I could have pinched everything instead of just moving a few things about. Shut your ******* door next time!

[The Avon Lady]

if you saw somebody had left their front door open would you go in and steal their video recorder?
I'd betempted to teach them a lesson in common sense, so after a fashion, yes, I would. Maybe a better idea would be to re-arrange all of their stuff and leave a message saying I could have pinched everything instead of just moving a few things about. Shut your ******* door next time!
I'd rather go back to the days where everyone could leave their door open and nothing bad would happen.

[kurtz]

Yes, but a lot of people have download limits (In England anyway). So if someone downloads a movie from your connection you could find yourself without internet for the rest of the month or even a charge. Also picture someone using your connection to dowload paedophile (hate that word) pornography if your ip gets sniffed you'd be looking at a dawn raid.

[jumpy]

I'd rather go back to the days where everyone could leave their door open and nothing bad would happen.
well sure, so long as you are ok with TB and smallpox, pickled eels, horses and carts and jellied eggs and voluminous petticoats (though come to think of it that last one is not such a bad idea afterall hehe).
Joking aside, we can all wish for what will never happen anymore. More's the pity.

[geetrue]

If you had one of these Slurpr's in your hand bag with your notebook computer while visiting Iran for example ... You would be considered a spy, maybe?

[Jimbuna]

Yes, but a lot of people have download limits (In England anyway). So if someone downloads a movie from your connection you could find yourself without internet for the rest of the month or even a charge. Also picture someone using your connection to dowload paedophile (hate that word) pornography if your ip gets sniffed you'd be looking at a dawn raid.

Absolutely bang on the money :rock: :up:

[HunterICX]

Yes, but a lot of people have download limits (In England anyway). So if someone downloads a movie from your connection you could find yourself without internet for the rest of the month or even a charge. Also picture someone using your connection to dowload paedophile (hate that word) pornography if your ip gets sniffed you'd be looking at a dawn raid.

:yep: Agreed,

its not the issue that they suck away your internet, its the ''what they are doing with it'' that has illegal results

[Tronics]

The only places that I know of that have anti wi-leehing laws, or anti wardriving laws are Singapore, and the more close to home California, although like most California laws it is never enforced.

A kid named Brian Salcedo got put away about four years ago for 9 years, as a result ot 'hacking' a totally unsecured Lowes Home Improvement wireless network and trying to steal credit card numbers from their card reader bank relay software.

The reason that he got caught was beceuse he and others apparently loitered far too often in the parking lot with laptops.

The reason that he was given 9 years (or about 9 years, I think he successfully fought it down since the initial sentencing) was because this was counted as his second offense, which under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and the PATRIOT act extensions the second offence prize ranges from 5-20 years.


I think his is currently the longest conviction for anything computer related I believe.

[Ramius]

Yes, but a lot of people have download limits (In England anyway). So if someone downloads a movie from your connection you could find yourself without internet for the rest of the month or even a charge. Also picture someone using your connection to dowload paedophile (hate that word) pornography if your ip gets sniffed you'd be looking at a dawn raid.

Fair point, but its upto the individual to ensure that they are adequately protected and know how to use the equipment they buy/rent.

So if you do want a "wireless" connection it is your responibility to ensure that it is as secure as you can possibly make it.

Is it your banks fault if you make your access details easy enough to people to just guess ? I know what the banks response would be :know: .

[Heibges]

How does this relate to "stealing" Cable Television? I know the cable companies are serious as a heart attack about tracking these folks down.

My friends parents were both investigators for the Cable Company in Machusettes, and they lived out of state due to fear of possible retaliation.

[SUBMAN1]

WHo is saying stealing WiFi isn't illegal? There are laws in the US about it, so don't think for a second you are safe. If you want examples, you do not have to look very far. Here is a recent one:

http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=6546307&nav=menu44_1

Here is another one:

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=30520

My favorite one is the priest busted when he didn't even know!

Anyway, even the UK has been busting people.

-S