View Full Version : Is sharing a Wifi connection a crime?
Kastides
08-12-2005, 01:18 PM
sharing with a building of 30 units? Would you guys consider doing it?
Zenithian Legend
08-12-2005, 01:22 PM
I'll tell you what is a crime:
flooding the boards with tons of stupid topics
... or at least it should be a crime
dafoomie
08-12-2005, 01:23 PM
Of course its not a crime... Why do people think everything is a crime? You do still live in a free country.
Strell
08-12-2005, 01:25 PM
Yes, sharing a connection without paying for it is a crime.
You can call your ISP for further details.
mtxbass1
08-12-2005, 01:25 PM
Oh man, you didn't even wait until tomorrow before you posted yet another stupid thread.
Congrats Kastides!!!
Of course its not a crime... Why do people think everything is a crime? You do still live in a free country.
Then why can't I get service with no shirt or shoes?
Kastides
08-12-2005, 01:25 PM
I'll tell you what is a crime:
flooding the boards with tons of stupid topics
... or at least it should be a crime
How about watching Anime past the age of 20? . A guy who watches anime calling my topics stupid? Go wack off to some more anime buddy.
I will take criticism from anyone else but not an Anime lover.
b0bx13
08-12-2005, 01:26 PM
How about watching Anime past the age of 20? . A guy who watches anime calling my topics stupid? Go wack off to some more anime buddy.
I will take criticism from anyone else but not an Anime lover.
ZING!!
Holy crap, the horse didn't get 0wned, he got RENTED
How about watching Anime past the age of 20? . A guy who watches anime calling my topics stupid? Go wack off to some more anime buddy.
I will take criticism from anyone else but not an Anime lover.
No, no, no. No one's calling your topics stupid. They're calling YOU stupid.
Ikohn4ever
08-12-2005, 01:31 PM
How about watching Anime past the age of 20? . A guy who watches anime calling my topics stupid? Go wack off to some more anime buddy.
I will take criticism from anyone else but not an Anime lover.
aww thats cute a nice attempt at a comeback, but watching anime and being stupid are mutually exclusive. For instance I watch anime and am not stupid, while others are stupid and dont watch anime. The real question is who are you really angry at cause I think you need to deal with this anger instead of lashing out at horses.
Zenithian Legend
08-12-2005, 01:37 PM
aww thats cute a nice attempt at a comeback, but watching anime and being stupid are mutually exclusive. For instance I watch anime and am not stupid, while others are stupid and dont watch anime. The real question is who are you really angry at cause I think you need to deal with this anger instead of lashing out at horses.
The weird thing is I don't even watch Anime...
and I spent last night with my girlfriend, who oddly enough did jerk me off a little bit (amongst other things)
So, how's the old thumb & four treating you these nights, Kastides?
Strell
08-12-2005, 01:40 PM
If you have to brag about your girlfriend on an online forum of the interweb, then masturbation probably is preferable.
/just sayin', not taking anyone's side....
shrike4242
08-12-2005, 01:45 PM
Any ISP doesn't allow the sharing of their connection with anyone outside the physical confines of where you're getting service. They could easily ban you from service and probably would.
I'll make sure to let your ISP know what you're planning on doing, then you can go look for another one.
Zenithian Legend
08-12-2005, 01:49 PM
If you have to brag about your girlfriend on an online forum of the interweb, then masturbation probably is preferable.
/just sayin', not taking anyone's side....
just straightening out the facts, dickless ;)
dafoomie
08-12-2005, 01:58 PM
Any ISP doesn't allow the sharing of their connection with anyone outside the physical confines of where you're getting service. They could easily ban you from service and probably would.
They would certainly ban you if people were paying you, but its doubtful that they'd even find out, much less ban you.
Speakyeasy DSL encourages you to share your connection with others, in addition to being an excellent ISP.
I'll make sure to let your ISP know what you're planning on doing, then you can go look for another one.
Why do you need to be a dick? This isn't stealing cable here. I know this is a stupid topic, and this guy kinda seems like a dick himself, but he can do whatever he wants with his connection.
Strell
08-12-2005, 02:19 PM
No worries Zenithian. :) But I could not reezeest!
Dafoomie:
It's quite simple, really. Sharing your connection is a crime because the company providing it did not say that multiple locations could log on with one specific account. If you have apartments ABC next to each other, and B has a wireless connection that he is paying for, then allows A and C to share it, the company is now supporting three customers but only getting paid through one.
That's illegal.
Will you get caught? Doubtful. That's assuming ABC are working together.
(The only other real hypothetical situation is B is unaware of A and C's activities, probably won't find out, but if he did, could certainly have them charged with a crime. Don't beleive me? Google around, it's fast becoming a new crime. It's no excuse that "Well that guy should have secured his wireless." That's pretty much the same as "He didn't lock his door, it's not my fault I stole his TV.")
But is it a crime? Yes.
Note that there is a massive difference between using a router inside B to allow B to have multiple computers on at once (laptops, PDAs, etc) versus allowing A and C to connect.
As I suggested, call up your ISP and see what they say. "Sharing" is a vague term and there are a number of ways to interpret it, but if you present the situation above, your ISP will most certainly tell you that it is a crime to steal bandwidth in that manner.
If someone is willingly allowing others to leech their account, it's illegal. Period. There are no gray areas here. I remember when I first got a cable connection and I asked the ISP if multiple computers using multiple cable outlets could connect. They promptly told me no and that I'd need separate connections. Same basic idea applies here. Obviously routers have simplified the process and companies no longer look for this sort of thing. But it's like taking the process of multiple computer on one account a step further to other people using a single account. People are supposed to pay for their accounts.
In a few years, when this sort of stealing is very rampant, I can gaurantee ISPs will fight back and start pulling out charges for people on lots of different fronts. They may not be aware now, but when dozens of people start cancelling their service but bandwidth usage climbs, you can bet they'll start sniffing out the lamers.
b0bx13
08-12-2005, 02:25 PM
Why do you need to be a dick? This isn't stealing cable here. I know this is a stupid topic, and this guy kinda seems like a dick himself, but he can do whatever he wants with his connection.
How is stealing an internet connection a lesser offense than stealing cable?
Kastides
08-12-2005, 02:37 PM
Any ISP doesn't allow the sharing of their connection with anyone outside the physical confines of where you're getting service. They could easily ban you from service and probably would.
I'll make sure to let your ISP know what you're planning on doing, then you can go look for another one.
Who are you talking to? Im just asking a general question. I dont even have Wifi connection.
shrike4242
08-12-2005, 02:41 PM
Who are you talking to? Im just asking a general question. I dont even have Wifi connection.
It was you, though it doesn't matter anymore. Do whatever you want, like make more topics. :roll:
Any ISP doesn't allow the sharing of their connection with anyone outside the physical confines of where you're getting service. They could easily ban you from service and probably would.
I'll make sure to let your ISP know what you're planning on doing, then you can go look for another one.
I don't know if that's true. Unless it's specifically stated in the TOS, you're under no restriction on how you network.
shrike4242
08-12-2005, 02:56 PM
I don't know if that's true. Unless it's specifically stated in the TOS, you're under no restriction on how you network.
It is normally in the TOS, though the dozen or so ISP TOS's that I've read through specifically state that sharing connections off-site from the location that where the service is being provided isn't allowed. That normally covers anyone in the same physical location you're in, such as in multiple PC's in an office or at home, though beyond the confines of that area, like another apartment in the same building, that's outside the scope of what they're providing.
My point was more general than it needed to be, though yours is the more correct answer, it depends on the TOS.
Kastides
08-12-2005, 03:01 PM
I don't know if that's true. Unless it's specifically stated in the TOS, you're under no restriction on how you network.
It's a legal loophole. You can leave your connection open and allow the leeches to get free internet.
shrike4242
08-12-2005, 03:06 PM
It's a legal loophole. You can leave your connection open and allow the leeches to get free internet.
Then they can happily go after you for breaking the TOS if it's stated that sharing isn't allowed. Your failure to secure your network isn't their problem. Plus, ISP's tend to happily offer up the person who has the service with them as the scapegoat if something funny happens on their connection, like illegal activities. All they know is that the person paying for the service is the only one they know about.
Legal loophole indeed. :roll:
jlarlee
08-12-2005, 03:09 PM
I can't speak for his other posts but I found this one decently educational. Maybe you should all chill out and avoid his topics in the future
Sleepkyng
08-12-2005, 03:13 PM
damn, I think we all agree on one thing:
my dick is the biggest...
WhipSmartBanky
08-12-2005, 04:03 PM
http://news.com.com/FAQ+Wi-Fi+mooching+and+the+law/2100-7351_3-5778822.html
Zenithian Legend
08-12-2005, 04:03 PM
No worries Zenithian. :) But I could not reezeest!
:-P It's true though officer, this man really has no dick!
shrike4242
08-12-2005, 04:20 PM
http://news.com.com/FAQ+Wi-Fi+mooching+and+the+law/2100-7351_3-5778822.html
Thank you. WSB. Always with the good linkage. :applause:
supadupacheap
08-12-2005, 05:18 PM
I will take criticism from anyone else but not an Anime lover.
I dont like anime at all and I find most of your posts and topics to be extremely retarded.
Feel free to make up an excuse as to why my dislike of you "doesnt count" either.
"OMG He likes racing games!!! He cant judge me!!!"
dafoomie
08-12-2005, 11:13 PM
Dafoomie:
It's quite simple, really. Sharing your connection is a crime because the company providing it did not say that multiple locations could log on with one specific account. If you have apartments ABC next to each other, and B has a wireless connection that he is paying for, then allows A and C to share it, the company is now supporting three customers but only getting paid through one.
That's illegal.
You seem to be confused as to what is a CRIME, and what simply isn't allowed by your service provider. Even if your service provider explicitly forbids it, it is not a CRIME. It is not against the law. If you break your agreement, they have the right to terminate your service. Thats all. You will not go to jail. You will indeed continue to pass go, and receive your $200. You will not even be sued. They very rarely even care if you do it, unless someone complains, or your connection is using a ton of bandwidth.
Now, if possible you should choose an ISP that does not explicitly deny you the right to do this, such as Speakeasy. Remember, for many years it was explicitly forbidden to even use more tan one computer or device on your connection.