WiFi FAQ

I am confused on the legalities of this. Officers will claim it is theft of services an M3 if my memory serves me. But really we are not stealing services from anyone such as the telephone, or cable companies? We are not tapping into their lines using any sort of special equipment in any way.

You have a naive 44 year old workaholic who has broadband on a wireless router, why? Because his kids demand it or he thinks he needs it. He does not setup any WEP, so if we connect we are charged? He paid for his service already there is no theft there, if anything the subscriber should be held responsible for keeping their service secure correct? Why are those who do not use WEP not being held accountable for their own actions?

I ask you to look at this article...http://www.interesting-people.org/ar.../msg00096.html

What about the public library who's AP my brother can access from his apartment? It is a free wifi hotspot as long as he logs on with his library card number. He now should be charged with theft of services, even though it is a free public service? I can't help myself but wonder, just because that 44 year old guy does not require a login, is to be assumed that he is not intending to share just like the library?

If it is really theft of services, why are the people without the WEP not considered at fault, why not arrest our local librarian's?

Soon enough the router's are going to be quite powerful, probably nearing the half-mile mark, what are they going to do then? My town has 2,000 residents per square .5 miles, half the USA is online now they say. When many of these residents upgrade their routers to a Belkin or NetGear with MINO, one will not be able help but be connected. The world (or at least suburbia) will be online no matter where they go.

This is the goal of big business (ISP's not included) and the goal of big government. So when will the local Barney Fife's start getting this picture?

i found this on http://www.tigerdirect.com/sectors/u...y/wireless.asp

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802.11b - This technology supports bandwidth up to 11MBps, which is comparable to the speeds of traditional Ethernets. 802.11b uses the same 2.4GHz radio signaling as the original 802.11 standard. Because it is an unregulated frequency, 802.11b devices run the risk of incurring interference from appliances that use the same 2.4 GHz range, such as microwaves and cordless phones. However, if you install 802.11b devices out of range of other appliances, you can avoid the interference. Some manufacturers prefer using unregulated frequencies, such as 802.11b to lower their production costs. On the negative side, 802.11b is relatively slow and supports fewer simultaneous users.
802.11a (not recommended for most wireless users) - IEEE created 802.11a at the same time it made 802.11b. 802.11a supports bandwidth up to 54 Mbps and signals in a regulated 5 GHz range. This higher frequency limits the range of 802.11a in comparison to 802.11b, and due to its higher cost it’s used primarily in the business sector rather than in homes. 802.11a’s higher frequency also causes its signals to have difficulty penetrating walls and other obstructions. Because they utilize different frequencies, 802.11a and 802.11b devices are incompatible with each other.
802.11g - This technology supports of up to 125 Mbps, uses the 2.4 GHz frequency and is backwards compatible with 802.11b devices. 802.11g supports more simultaneous users, offers the best signal range and is not easily obstructed. The disadvantages of 802.11g is higher cost and possible interference with appliances on the unregulated signal frequency.

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better for slower peole such as myself!

useless sticky.

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Originally Posted by Stacker

I am confused on the legalities of this. Officers will claim it is theft of services an M3 if my memory serves me. But really we are not stealing services from anyone such as the telephone, or cable companies? We are not tapping into their lines using any sort of special equipment in any way.

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I'm not sure were you are located, however theft of services is theft of services regardless how you try to justify it. You are useing bandwidth that you did't pay for.
Here is some reading materials.
CCIPS
N.C. Man First In Nation Convicted Of Wireless Crime
Wardriver pleads guilty in Lowe's WiFi hacks
Wireless network hijacker found guilty

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Originally Posted by Stacker

You have a naive 44 year old workaholic who has broadband on a wireless router, why? Because his kids demand it or he thinks he needs it. He does not setup any WEP, so if we connect we are charged? He paid for his service already there is no theft there, if anything the subscriber should be held responsible for keeping their service secure correct? Why are those who do not use WEP not being held accountable for their own actions?

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Yes, if you connect it's theft of services. You accessed a network for which you were not allowed to.
To equate the later part of this question, You left your car unlocked so it's ok for me take for a spin around the block? It's your fault you know it was unlocked! or Hey you left your house/Apt. open, it's cool for me to come in and make my self at home? Use your phone to call my mom in new poppa Austria? Take a 45 minute hot shower? Make a couple samwhiches? You know it's ok it was open...

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Originally Posted by Stacker

I ask you to look at this article...http://www.interesting-people.org/ar.../msg00096.html

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Neat tool, I hope he can get the cell phone companies behind him.

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Originally Posted by Stacker

What about the public library who's AP my brother can access from his apartment? It is a free wifi hotspot as long as he logs on with his library card number. He now should be charged with theft of services, even though it is a free public service? I can't help myself but wonder, just because that 44 year old guy does not require a login, is to be assumed that he is not intending to share just like the library?

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These are PUBLIC access points they are setup this way. They are even advertised as so...

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Originally Posted by Stacker

If it is really theft of services, why are the people without the WEP not considered at fault, why not arrest our local librarian's?

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Again, you left you car unlocked I take for a ride around the block that's ok because you left it open. Please tell that the cop you called :)

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Originally Posted by Stacker

Soon enough the router's are going to be quite powerful, probably nearing the half-mile mark, what are they going to do then? My town has 2,000 residents per square .5 miles, half the USA is online now they say. When many of these residents upgrade their routers to a Belkin or NetGear with MINO, one will not be able help but be connected. The world (or at least suburbia) will be online no matter where they go.

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In theroy yes, but the wifi router makers are actually doing a better job educateing users about wireless security. Linksys has a pretty easy "Push button" setup. D-Link has a simular setup. I've not used/worked on a Netgear AP in almost 2 years however I bet they do to. We can add RF-LoS, Fresnal Zne and normal RF interferance that will limit the distance.
Currently I see about a 47% WEP/WPA useage in my county.

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Originally Posted by Stacker

This is the goal of big business (ISP's not included) and the goal of big government. So when will the local Barney Fife's start getting this picture?

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Hello everyone, I've read threw this sticky and it seems there is some confusion as to what is and is NOT allowed in regards to WiFi.
I hope to help educate everyone that is willing to be educated.

Now that i've said that let say this. I'm NOT a lawyer, I only know what I can reference from state statutes, and federal statutes.

Please ask away!

Hmmmm,

I'm walking down the street, it's dark, I am carrying a book. As I am walking I walk past some houses, one in particular has a bright light shining outside, which happens to also light up the pathway I am walking on. I decide to take a rest and because there is light I decide to use this available light to read a few pages of my book. - Am I breaking the law?


It's now daytime, I am walking down a different street, it's summer and people have their windows open, up ahead I spot a public bench, I decide that I will sit down and take a rest. It just so happens that one of the nearby houses has music playing, not sure if it's the radio and a CD player, but I like the music and decide to stay a bit longer and listen to it. - Am I breaking the law?


I'm driving down another road in this town, I have my car PC running, which happens to have a wireless network card in it, the purpose of this card is to connect to my home AP when I drive so that the PC can automatically update the PC with any changes that I may have made to my playlists , or other files, now it so happens that I pass a house where someone has their own wireless AP where they haven't set up any WEP or passwords or anykind of protection, my computer then connects to the internet through this AP. Am I breaking the law?

Light waves, sound waves and radio waves. - It makes you think.

Now if the AP was encrypted, had basic password protection or even had MAC filtering enabled and I used some method to by pass it then that is something different, that is certainly illegal.

Take the house with the light, if there was shutters or filters on the light that prevented the light from coming across into the street and I went over and moved them out of the way so I could use the light, then that would be illegal.

Take the house with the music, if the windows and doors were shut so the music didn't reach my ears and I went to the house and opened a window so I could hear the music, then that would be illegal.



Just a few things to think about.

very well said enforcer, but could we move this discussion to another thread to keep this wifi faq clean?

yes, i mean, seriously, i could go into how Napster was legally correct and should have won if they didn't run out of money or the RIAA didnt' play dirty, or the fact that poeple sell their old CDs all the time and don't keep their recipets or borrow a firend's, but this isn't the thread to do it. But a good point was brought up on the thin line of legal and illegal access to a private connection. persoanlly, as long as you don't touch my files, download porn, or do any illegal stuff on my IP, i'll let anyone use my broadband. I paid for always on access and if i can't use it, someone else can. I'm obvioulsy not the only one who feels this way. However, there are some territorial people who feel differentely, and well, they paid for it. But they also have a right to fence it off and make it private. It takes 2 seconds to do. Ofcourse, in a country wher a 3 year old can get sued for accidently running over a woman's heel on a big wheel, i dunno....

But so i'm not a hypocrite, i set up an wifi server in my high school senior year. I've found some interesting things out that weren't mentioned in this thread:

First, AD hoc wireless was not mentioned. This is GREAT for that CPC/ PPC GTi wanted to know about. I've done it the hard way. A benifit is that you don't have to buy the router AND if you use network bridging, and your computer has internet access somewhere, you can use your computer as a node. Ad Hoc networks are dasiy chain networks, meaning that theoretically, i can get wifi from california if i had a chain of people with connected devices back to the host. GTi, there's a program for the Pocket PC called Rudeo control which controls WMP from the Pocket PC. IM/PM me if you want it. Also, if you're a good coder, you make a remote control for your car with your PPC. I know with Palm, its a littel easier since they have a simpler language. Check to see if its been done. Someone on this forum has done it, i've watched a vid of it in action.

Also, many laptops have the antenna wrapped around the screen. I'm wondering if we can do the same thing with some 3m clear bra around your roof or door.

One thing i would love to see in this thread are links to developers programs. It woudl be great because we could test, play with, and enhance upon your codes. That was one thing i was hoping to see.

stfu all of you!!! This thread is not for the discussion of legalities of wardriving, its for getting the basics of WiFi down. i wish i was a mod so i could cull this thread of all the off topic nonsense. Could a mod please do this for me?

is this thread ever going to get back on the original topic?

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Originally Posted by NightFireTuning

I didn't even know what WiFi was until just now when I searched "Satelite Internet" on google. Could I get a newbie description of this?

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There is alot of information on this at www.wimaxforum.org/home and www.wimax.net. Intel is backing several companies, and you can even buy shares in them if you understand the outlook for wireless data based on the same standard globally, offering access from base stations up to 20-30km away. Not only good for business, geeks, but homes off-grid, off-telco. Think about the fact that alot of telcos rely on landline access fees to be very profitable, and you will understand why Intel & Mitsui & Co have bought shares in Unwired Aust (UNW.ASX). But there are similar companies globally. Yozan Inc (JASDAQ, code:4830?) is a leader in Japan, though behind schedule.
If you are into technical analysis, both companies are making double bottoms. Personally, I like the idea of being able to access the internet anywhere I go....but adequate convenience will not be reached for 2-3 years yet I'd say. But I note...UNW sales revenues are up 90% this year. Still loosing money though.