RE: Wireless Security

["Herman Frederick Ebeling, Jr." <hfebelingjr () lycos com>]

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- -----Original Message-----
From: Tim [mailto:pand0ra.usa () gmail com]
Sent: Thursday, 13 October, 2005 16:40
To: hfebelingjr () lycos com
Subject: Wireless Security


I've got a question (actually a few) along these lines. Let's say that a person
has a Wi-Fi network setup at home. And they find out that some of
their neighbors have accessed it.

A) What if any obligation to the neighbors does the person who initially setup
the Wi-Fi network have?

B) What happens IF one neighbor goes in and reads/deletes msgs/files from
another neighbor's computer is the person who initially setup the
Wi-Fi network for their own use liable?

C) Can the person who initially setup the Wi-Fi network legally go in and look
around his/her neighbors computers?

D) What if one the neighbors get a virus, is the person who initially setup the
Wi-Fi network liable?

E) What if any expectations to privacy do the unauthorized users have?

Responses:
a) None. Unless you setup some sort of contract. FYI, wireless is not secure.

====>   I'm talking about those who are illegally accessing another person's Wi-Fi
network, not those who are/were/have
been invited to use it.  This is true, but it doesn't/isn't stopping people from
deploying them.

b) It is called electronic tresspassing or some such. It is illegal if they do
not have permission.

====>   True, but what if any liability/responsibility does the person who setup
the Wi-Fi network have if it happens?

c) No. Not without permission.

====>   Not even to get the identity of those who are accessing the network
illegally?

d) Doubtful. It would have to be shown that there is intent to harm or damage.

====>   I'd have to agree with ya there, and IF they're dumb enough NOT to be
running some sort of anti-virus PRG that's
hardly the fault of the person who setup the Wi-Fi network in the first place.

e) Ideally, you should expect complete privacy. Realistically, none.  Wireless
802.11x is not secure and encryption
only keeps out the novices.

====>   Again here we are talking about those who have illegally accessed a Wi-Fi
network, not the person who set it up.

Herman

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