http://www.i-hacked.com/index.php?op...=261&Itemid=42

today I'm waiting for fedex to deliver my antenna, I have everything else.

-ioan

amongst the everything else, I would recommend you stock up at least one of:

a) a friend with enough money to bail you out
b) a lawyer [could be the same person as (a), above]

folks are becoming increasingly more aggressive about prosecuting computer crimes, including Unauthorized use of computer networks. It would be far easier, and cheaper (in both the long- and short-term) to simply walk across the street to that Starbucks, order a cup of coffee, and sit there and use the "free wifi" internet access.

was far as I know if its a Free wifi spot they can't make you order something there. Since they are sending it out through open air.

and lands into my back yard, is that still illegal to use? :-)

It SHOULD be free if you ask me. For example, I should be allowed to unprotect my router and let any of my neighbors use it without having to personally go out and let each one know it is ok. But the law has regarded anyone using an unprotected wireless router as stealing bandwidth.

You could set your SSID to "Freewifigoaheadandtakeit".

what if my neighbor waters his lawn and the water goes over the fence and waters mine too, can he sue me for that? I'm using his water on my property without asking him first... what about if I collect the water and I wash my clothes with it? :-)

I know that using someone's else wifi is illegal... I just don't think is fair if is on MY property and I'm not doing anything to break in.

I think that neither you nor I understand legal reasoning that well. I think the key, however, is that "common-sense" reasoning doesn't apply to media that were unimagined when common sense evolved. Wireless is not like sheep jumping over the fence into your yard.

Ridiculous and irrelevant argument.

I think the problem here is a general lack of public awareness over wi-fi and wi-fi security. It isn't helped by most router manuals (and gadgets like the Nintendo DS) apparently recommending the insecure WEP standard over the much better WPA standard, and there are also some idiots who still think that Wi-Fi means magical free internet access for everyone with no one paying the bill.

It might help if governments and/or ISP groups included a standard leaflet with every router saying in plain english why wi-fi security is a good idea and how best to secure your connection. It could also explain the legal position in that country on using other people's connections.