Wireless Networking → Re: theft!

Allowing a person access to your wireless network for use of internet is theft of service. It is just like stealing cable. I don't know if it's illegal though, the law might have not catched up to this detail, but I'm sure that if it becomes a problem then cable companies will push congress to enstate a law.

A person accessing my wireless network for use of internet might be reasonably considered theft of service if I didn't allow it. If I do allow it, it's at most breach of contract with my ISP -- and in my ISPs case, it's not even that.

Yes, the cable companies have gotten laws passed which (in their opinion) make just about everything theft -- for instance if you call to disconnect cable, and they don't do so, they call that "passive theft". But those laws don't apply to Internet service, so things aren't quite as silly there.

If you don't adequately protect your wireless LAN, you'll be damn lucky if all that you experience is theft of service. And if the leach doesn't cause you to exceed your cap, which is the only way you could be inconvenienced, you're not losing anything, so again, I don't think that's theft either.

Theft involves loss of property. The cable companies, who are supposed to be operating as a public entity (under a francise or as a monopoly), have made up this whole "Theft Of Service" bit.

The subscriber for service has paid for service. He is not inconvenienced, and in many cases, isn't even aware that his service is being leeched. The cable company doesn't service the leech.

If the cable companies would support their product more reliably, I'd be a bit more sympathetic. Who here hasn't called (as a subscriber):
Subscriber: "My cable is out".
Cable Operator: "That's awful. We can have a truck in your neighborhood ... let's see ... Can you be at home next Thursday afternoon?".
Subscriber: "That's 5 days from now. What do I do til then? Will you compensate me for renting movies to keep the kids happy?".
Cable Operator: "No we don't do that".

Incorrect!! There are states that have Theft of Service Laws, theft does not have to be of property to be a crime in these states.

»www.uslegalforms.com/law ··· ices.htm

Wow every time I use a computer (to access the net via someones broadband connection)other than my own ,by your definition I would be stealing .So when I access my dad network from my own to give remote assist I would be stealing his bandwidth. Your premise sir is not well thought out I suggest you rethink
John

Its not theft?
someone is paying for that cable bandwidth.
who cares cable companies are trying to find more ways to make money on such nonsense.
so If I let my friend use my phone to call someone he is stealing?
hey Im paying for my cable service and If i got 8 computers hooked up to a router and it is using a shared cable ignal then so friggin what.
its not like each computer is using 1.5 meg of bandwidth?
they are sharing the 1.5 meg bandwidth.

I agree wholeheartedly!

If you're not paying for it, and you have access to is because of someone else who is paying for it, ethically, its stealing.