 calvoiper
join:2003-03-31
Belvedere Tiburon, CA | reply to envoid
Re: Classy... Yeah, yeah....
This is like an apartment building complaining about people standing under their port-cochere when it rains. Without "No Trespassing" signs posted, even if there is enforcement action by authorities there won't be convictions.
Saying that people should be able to leave WiFi hotspots open without anyone using them is like saying I should be able to walk any street in America alone and unarmed at 2:00 am. Nice concept, perhaps, but far from reality.
People need to learn that government can't protect you from everything.
calvoiper
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VoIP--the death knell of remaining voice monopolies! |
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PDXPLT
join:2003-12-04
Banks, OR | The article ignored one thing ... There have been people arrested for this type of thing for "unauthorized access to a computer system". The article didn't mention this aspect at all; 'kinda treated using your neighbors' wireless access as something cutesy, like taking the morning newspaper sometimes from their driveway.
I don't know how those arrests ended up, but at least in some locales, the officials don't take them lightly. |
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calvoiper
join:2003-03-31
Belvedere Tiburon, CA | Yeah, yeah, twice over.
I've seen the story about two guys being arrested for using an unsecured WiFi hotspot at a "big box" retailer in Minneapolis or someplace about 35 times.
What everybody forgets to mention is that the reason they were pursued, apprehended, and charged was that they used the access they got to hack the financial transaction systems of the retailer and stole using that method. The "unauthorized access" charges were just gravy added to the mix--but sensationalistic media hypers ignore or obscure that aspect.
To further the analogy--somebody probably has been charged for trespass for borrowing the porte-cochere of a building as shelter--but only in the context of some greater crime they committed there, like vandalism, robbery, burglary, or theft.
calvoiper
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VoIP--the death knell of remaining voice monopolies! |
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