/dev/null
[H]F Junkie
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2001
- Messages
- 15,182
Yes, abusing an open connection is wrong, but is simply hopping on to check your e-mail wrong? How about light web browsing? Then again, where do you draw the line, or is there a line? I say its fine up until the point where you interfere with the service of and/or cause charges to the owner.
I propose this question to you. How do you know if the router is intentionally vs. accidentally left open? Others here have said that they have an open connection that is highly restricted, locked down, and bandwidth limited - sounds like an awesome service to me where someone could just hop on and check in real fast, without the ability to abuse it. Do you take issue with that?
I propose that the way to tell if it is OK to use is if it is an open connection. Its pretty simple. Open == free to use, WEP/WPA(2) == fuck off.
You should be able to throttle, but not the other things, because AFAIK, some of that is illegal... Besides, if you let people use your open router, why would you be a dick about it? I realize such a thing is likely to happen (hence I personally stick to using my cell phone's internet when I'm not home), but it isn't OK (unless they start fucking with your traffic/network, then get them back)
What if I have it open because I have legacy devices (say VOIP phones, old pda's, etc) don't support encryption? That doesn't mean you can use it just because I have it open....And why is monitoring my own traffic illegal? What if I have all traffic monitored on the open wap interface because I am worried about tresspassers? What if I am troubleshooting a VOIP issue & capture your traffic?
What I do'nt get is the people say "If you don't want to share, don't leave it open...." but theN i come and say "if you don't want your traffic sniffed, use your own networK".
Why does it go one way and not the other?
Traffic monitoring on my own network isn't illegal.