Security Basics mailing list archives
RE: WIRELESS THEFT
From: Orion Robillard <orion () advanced-workflow com>
Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2002 23:38:42 -0500
Good point cd's and movies cannot be freely copied and distributed under law. Its hard to notice the big FBI warning at the beginning of movies. But its not the same with wireless. They have posted no warning or attempted to keep their signal secure. If their signal transgresses upon your property use it. If the RIAA set up a sting concert in my neighbors back yard they cant charge me admission for listening in my house. If someone started tossing $$$ over my fence im going to pick it up. But we already know the music concert is a bad example as stated below. -----Original Message----- From: James Dennis To: Orion Robillard Cc: security-basics () securityfocus com Sent: 10/17/2002 7:19 PM Subject: Re: WIRELESS THEFT This is not correct. Under current law the potential for money to be made is the loss. It's the same way the RIAA goes after file sharing companies. If someone has the mp3's, they probably won't buy the cd now (under their logic), so now there is a lost potential purchase. -James On Thu, 17 Oct 2002 14:36:55 -0500 Orion Robillard <orion () advanced-workflow com> wrote:
The only problem with the outside movie/concert analogy is that
watching a
move or listening to a concert is a purely passive activity and
results in
no (direct) loss of money to the concert/movie provider. Connecting to
a
wireless network (assuming you want to surf not just sniff) requires
you to
become an active participant. You could claim that you were just broadcasting random packets into space and it just so happened that
the
random packets you sent established a connection with your neighbors network. However you will be using bandwidth and that means money out
of
pocket for your 'host'. I would say as long as you aren't causing more then a reasonable
amount of
traffic and you aren't breaking even the simplest of locks, you don't
have
much to worry about. -----Original Message----- From: Jay D. Dyson [mailto:jdyson () treachery net] Sent: Wednesday, October 16, 2002 3:18 PM To: Security-Basics List Subject: Re: WIRELESS THEFT *** PGP Signature Status: good *** Signer: Jay D. Dyson <jdyson () treachery net> (Invalid) *** Signed: 10/16/2002 3:17:55 PM *** Verified: 10/17/2002 2:24:37 PM *** BEGIN PGP VERIFIED MESSAGE *** On Tue, 15 Oct 2002, Amit P. Gandre wrote:Can someone tell me if there are any laws regarding wireless theft? One of the apartment complexes near mine has free wireless
connections
offered to their residents. Now, my computer happens to catch that signal. Now, is that illegal. If so, how should I go about dealing with this issue.This is one of those large grey areas in which technological evolution has far outpaced the law. As a consequence, anything you
read
on this forum will be the idle musings and personal opinions of the
laity.
With that in mind, I'd recommend you consult with an attorney about
the
actual legalities. That said, here's how I see it: the service is offered for free
to
qualified individuals, but it is disseminated in such a way that its availability exceeds its boundaries. Sort of like an outside movie or music concert. It's not held for the outsider's enjoyment, but the outsider can see and hear it from their living room window. With that sort of perspective, there is no harm nor foul. It's simple
spillover.
There is also the view that if you receive something you didn't order, then it is yours for free and you may do with it as you wish.
This
is the law of the land regarding packages received via the U.S. postal service. Again, under this perspective, there is no harm nor foul and
the
sender must eat the loss. However, there is yet another perspective that would view your
use
of those signals as Unauthorized Access (nevermind that there may well
be
absolutely no authorizing authentication in place). You're not one of
the
intended recipients of the signal and your use constitutes
unauthorized
(and thus illegal) access of a computer network. (This is where the
media
steps in and calls you a "computer whiz kid" and "genius hacker"
simply
because you actually read the freaking manual and know how to use your technology.) Speaking only for myself and not recommending this to anyone
else,
I'd probably ride that signal while it lasts and argue that the open signal was brought to me when I did not request it and thus it is
free.
If the nearby building wants to lock it down so I can't use it, then that's fine. But until then, they can have my wireless NIC when they
pry
it from my cold dead hands. ;) -Jay ( (
_______
)) )) .--"There's always time for a good cup of coffee"--. ====<--. C|~~|C|~~| (>------ Jay D. Dyson -- jdyson () treachery net ------<) |
= |-'
`--' `--' `- Your security is no joke. Well...okay, it is. -'
`------'
*** END PGP VERIFIED MESSAGE ***
Current thread:
- Re: WIRELESS THEFT, (continued)
- Re: WIRELESS THEFT alex hajii (Oct 17)
- RE: WIRELESS THEFT Trevor Cushen (Oct 17)
- RE: WIRELESS THEFT Orion Robillard (Oct 17)
- Re: WIRELESS THEFT James Dennis (Oct 18)
- RE: WIRELESS THEFT Ashcraft, Brian S (Contractor) (Oct 17)
- RE: WIRELESS THEFT Jason Kohles (Oct 18)
- RE: WIRELESS THEFT Jay DeSotel (Oct 18)
- Re: WIRELESS THEFT Ishmann (Oct 17)
- RE: WIRELESS THEFT khayes (Oct 17)
- RE: WIRELESS THEFT Högman, Lars (Oct 18)
- RE: WIRELESS THEFT Orion Robillard (Oct 18)
- RE: WIRELESS THEFT Merrell, Sam (Oct 18)
- RE: WIRELESS THEFT Brett Hiscock (Oct 18)
- RE: WIRELESS THEFT Alaric Darconville (Oct 18)
- RE: WIRELESS THEFT Mike Dresser (Oct 18)
- RE: WIRELESS THEFT Alaric Darconville (Oct 21)
- RE: WIRELESS THEFT Jeff Knox (Oct 21)
- RE: WIRELESS THEFT Alaric Darconville (Oct 22)
- RE: WIRELESS THEFT Raoul Armfield (Oct 22)
- RE: WIRELESS THEFT Alaric Darconville (Oct 23)
- RE: WIRELESS THEFT Mike Dresser (Oct 18)
- Cisco PIX - Anti Spoof - ip verify reverse -path McKenzie Family (Oct 21)