Security Basics mailing list archives

RE: WIRELESS THEFT


From: ATD <simon () snosoft com>
Date: 22 Oct 2002 20:24:21 -0400

Jay, 
        If everyone was ethical and did what was right, there would not be a
security industry. Fact of the matter is not all people are ethical, and
many people would do things that are wrong. 



On Tue, 2002-10-22 at 12:54, Stevie A. Jones wrote:
The disclaimer on PPV's, video rentals, and sports broadcasts speaks to
public display for the purpose of financial gain.

-----Original Message-----
From: Jay DeSotel [mailto:jay () interl net]
Sent: Monday, October 21, 2002 3:22 PM
To: security-basics () securityfocus com
Subject: RE: WIRELESS THEFT


On 18 Oct 2002, ONEILL David J wrote:

How is using radio waves that are intruding into you purchased property
different than me paying for moving my giant screen tv out into the
front yard and showing the world pay-for-view movies that I purchased.
None.  I paid for the service, which is using bandwidth on the cable
system, and I am not charging others to watch the movie.  But I am also
not preventing other from watching.

Well, I might be wrong, but when you purchase a PPV movie, there is a
disclaimer saying that public display is not allowed, or something along
those lines. Anyway though, from a legal view, it does not matter if it is
ethernet or RF. Common sense should tell you that you should not be using
it, since you are not paying for it. I have never been one to follow along
with the "feign ignorance", and pretend we didnt know, approach.

If is strange though, the only ones that have a problem with this are
people that have vested interests in getting into the pockets of the
innocent - WISPs and tel com folks.

Who else is there to have a problem with it? ;-). Like I said in my
previous email, they can very easliy prevent this from being an issue.
You will have a hard time convincing anyone that you didnt know you were
using a service that you were not paying for, to gain internet access.

Bottom line, the original person who posted answered his own question
really. You know you are not supposed to be using it. If you get caught,
will you be in trouble? Maybe. Can they put you in jail? Maybe. Is it
worth the risk? No.

Just my $.02 ;-).

--
Jay DeSotel
Systems Administrator
InterLink L.C.
<jay () interl net>
Voice-(319)524-2895
Fax-(319)524-3175
If is strange though, the only ones that have a problem with this are
people
that have vested interests in getting into the pockets of the innocent -
WISPs
and tel com folks.

Things that make you go hummmm.

David J. O'Neill
NEDSS - IS7
Parkway Bldg., 2nd Floor
Phone: (503) 378-2101 ext. 364
FAX:     (503) 378-2102

jay () interl net 10/18/02 02:53PM >>>
I would have to agree with a previous post. Once you use a single bit of
their bandwithto the world, it would be theft of service. If you simply
use the network to play games with the guy next door, no problem.

I work for a WISP, and have run into these issues before. I think what it
comes down to really, is that they can prevent this, either they
dont feel the need, or dont know how.

--
Jay DeSotel
Systems Administrator
InterLink L.C.
<jay () interl net>
Voice-(319)524-2895
Fax-(319)524-3175

On Thu, 17 Oct 2002, Ashcraft, Brian S (Contractor) wrote:

Let me just throw my .02 in here.  I am not a lawyer, so I may be wrong.

I have to believe that some where along the line, the cable companies
End
User License Agreement is being broken.  They may have worked a deal
with
the local cable company to provide cable to the residents as part of
their
rental agreement.  However, I have to believe that this deal is
exclusive to
them.  Your interception and use of the signal (as a non-resident) may
infringe on this contract between the two companies.  My guess is,
technically, you are breaching the EULA of the cable company, which may
(or
may not) open you up to legal troubles.

Then again, I could be wrong :)

Luck,

-b-

-----Original Message-----
From: Johannes Ullrich [mailto:jullrich () euclidian com]
Sent: Wednesday, October 16, 2002 1:49 PM
To: Amit P. Gandre; security-basics () securityfocus com
Subject: Re: WIRELESS THEFT


Hi
 Can someone tell me if there are any laws regarding wireless
theft?

I don't think Congress has caught up with this yet. But from what
I hear (usual disclaimer: INAL), you are free to pick up the
signal as long as you are not breaking any WEP or other login
restriction. Its kind of like CB radio. Everyone can legally listening
to you chatting on CB radio.


--
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-- 

-ATD-

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