maemo.org - Talk - View Single Post - Man arrested for stealing (wifi) broadband

	iball	2007-08-24 , 00:12
	Posts: 729 \| Thanked: 19 times \| Joined on Mar 2007	#34

Most states in the Untied States have laws similiar to this:

Originally Posted by Illinois State Law

(720 ILCS 5/16F‑3)
Sec. 16F‑3. Theft of wireless service.
(a) A person commits the offense of theft of wireless service if he or she intentionally obtains wireless service by the use of an unlawful wireless device or without the consent of the wireless service provider.
(b) Theft of wireless service is a Class A misdemeanor when the aggregate value of service obtained is less than $300 and a Class 4 felony when the aggregate value of service obtained is $300 or more. For a second or subsequent offense, or if the person convicted of the offense has been previously convicted of any similar crime in this or any other state or federal jurisdiction, theft of wireless service is a Class 2 felony.
(Source: P.A. 89‑497, eff. 6‑27‑96.)

And I'm sure Great Britain and other EU nations aren't far off.

And God help you if you're stealing from a [url=http://www.timewarnercable.com/corporate/customerservice/cablethefttypes.html]Time-Warner[/quote] customer.

Originally Posted by Time Warner "Theft of Cable Services" web page

WiFi Theft - WiFi theft occurs when someone installs a wireless network in a residence or business location and intentionally enables others to receive broadband service for free over their wireless network.

Wireless networking is a great product, but when using a wireless network subscribers should always secure their home networks from unauthorized users. Unsecured wireless networks allow others to access a subscriber's network and potentially see all of the subscriber's personal files, allow potential criminals and terrorists to send untraceable communications or allow an individual to download illegal materials, such as copyrighted or obscene material that would lead back to the subscribers modem.

I'm laughing at the "terrorist" mention, particularly the word "potential".
They're basically saying you're unsecured wi-fi access point is "enabling" terrorists to gain their full "potential". Laughable at best in these United States.
Most "terrorists" would just use any one a million Starbucks wi-fi access points on a pay-as-you-go basis using a disposable credit card bought by a unknowing third-party using cash in small denominations.

Last edited by iball; 2007-08-24 at 00:20.