The ethics/legality of leeching WiFi Options

[Hartmann]

I was at IAH yesterday and had a meeting at the President's Club, Continental's club for people who pay for it, and noticed a man outside on the floor, using the club's "free" WiFi connection.

The wireless connection inside of the club is fairly good but to access it outside of the club you have to be sitting right by the door.

What are your thoughts on doing this? I think it's somewhat sleazy as I pay a decent amount of money to access the club and use its services, including the WiFi, why should someone be allowed to essentially leech the signal?

I've made my case to Continental to add password protection to the network but they still have not. I know that most people say "well the network is open so it's fair game" but I see that as a cop out, as you wouldn't take something from a neighbor's yard because it was "out in the open".

Thoughts?

[theIncredibleEdi...]

Personally, I think if it's open, it's fair game.

If an individual or a business doesn't want it that way, and aren't willing to take the few minutes to set up an encryption, then that's their own stupidity.

[cmac]

yea. open = fair game.
i keep my network open at home, just so people can use it.
share the love.

[impala454]

I know that most people say "well the network is open so it's fair game" but I see that as a cop out, as you wouldn't take something from a neighbor's yard because it was "out in the open".

Thoughts?

I agree in general, although I don't feel much pain for the airlines "losing" any money with its $9 internet access.

As far as home networks, IMHO it is stealing to get on your neighbor's wifi. Whether you're just surfing the web or constantly pegging the connection w/downloads, you are using up a portion of their bandwidth. And yeah, having something unlocked does not mean it's fair game.

[pebkac]

Agreed.

In a semi-unrelated note, did anyone see this?

Interesting concept.

[Spectatrix]

I don't think it's ethical to be stealing WiFi, but I don't have a lot of sympathy for either individuals or businesses that leave their networks open and end up having their bandwidth hogged.

[Hartmann]

I agree in general, although I don't feel much pain for the airlines "losing" any money with its $9 internet access.

As far as home networks, IMHO it is stealing to get on your neighbor's wifi. Whether you're just surfing the web or constantly pegging the connection w/downloads, you are using up a portion of their bandwidth. And yeah, having something unlocked does not mean it's fair game.

Exactly. I have no problem with airlines losing money but I pay to access the club and use one of its features, WiFi. If people don't want to pay for the club they can use a EVDO card or something of the sort and get internet access.

I do feel that airports should have free WiFi throughout but that's more the airport than the airlines. Charlotte has decent wireless access and Denver has multiple hotspots but I still choose my President's Club signal when I'm in the club.

The airports see the T-Mobile access as a money maker yet I see very few people using it.

[Hartmann]

I don't think it's ethical to be stealing WiFi, but I don't have a lot of sympathy for either individuals or businesses that leave their networks open and end up having their bandwidth hogged.

Continental's response to me as to why they leave their network open is that they want to make it convenient for their members to access the internet (turn on your computer and go).

[cmac]

i wish you could use the iPhone bluetooth to connect to the edge network.

[Mommy]

I see both sides. When I lived in Austin, I didn't have the money to pay for internet and cable because my rent was expensive. I leached internet from one of my neighbors. It was mighty nice because I love my internet, but at the same time, I don't think people should go out looking for it. If they have it in home, then ok....thats one thing. The reason I say this is because if the neighbor gets mad, they can simply knock on a few doors to find out who is using it and ask them to stop.

[theIncredibleEdi...]

I am sorry, but if you leave your network open, whether you're a business or an individual you're just looking to be leeched off of.


If you owned a store, would you just leave it unattended and expect to MAKE MONEY? No, you would be robbed.
It's just responsibility...you can't control other peoples' actions, so you control what factors YOU CAN.


I don't want my neighbors using my connection that I pay for, therefore I lock my shit down.

As for Continental's response...it's not that much more work to just type in a password.


EDIT: on a somewhat similar note, I hear that Starbucks is ditching T-mobile's WiFi services and going with AT&T. I really like this, because I have AT&T DSL Pro, which means I get to use AT&T Wifi (in places like McDonalds and Barnes & Noble) for free, so this will expand where I can use free WiFi at. Cus we know how damn ubiquitous Starbucks is.

[Spectatrix]

If you owned a store, would you just leave it unattended and expect to MAKE MONEY? No, you would be robbed.
It's just responsibility...you can't control other peoples' actions, so you control what factors YOU CAN.
I don't want my neighbors using my connection that I pay for, therefore I lock my shit down.

True, but by the same token the door being unlocked doesn't mean it's right or acceptable to rob the place.

About half of the wireless networks I can see at home leave them unlocked. I think it's retardedly funny. I also don't want my neighbors using my connection, so it's locked down and the SSID isn't broadcast. My boyfriend goes a step further with his network, adding MAC addy filtering.

EDIT: on a somewhat similar note, I hear that Starbucks is ditching T-mobile's WiFi services and going with AT&T. I really like this, because I have AT&T DSL Pro, which means I get to use AT&T Wifi (in places like McDonalds and Barnes & Noble) for free, so this will expand where I can use free WiFi at. Cus we know how damn ubiquitous Starbucks is.

I'd rather go to my usual locally-owned coffee shop with better atmosphere, better drinks, and completely free WiFi.

[Epic]

i'd just ask someone working in the "captain's club" to make the guy move, as he is ruining the view of all the peons

[theIncredibleEdi...]

True, but by the same token the door being unlocked doesn't mean it's right or acceptable to rob the place.

Well, I didn't necessarily say leave the door unlocked...because Texas law says you have to leave doors unlocked during business hours.....I was saying you wouldn't open up the store and just leave and let people come in and take things and have an honor system (pay for what you take, because its the moral thing to do). The same thing with your WiFi....it's not smart to bring it up, and leave it open for anyone to do with as they please. It's just not smart....as you never know who is on the other end doing God knows what.
Does that make a bit more sense?


And yeah, I normally do try to go to the mom & pop coffee shops, but they're not always available in every area, and not all of them offer WiFi. So, this way im almost guaranteed to have a place.

[Hartmann]

i'd just ask someone working in the "captain's club" to make the guy move, as he is ruining the view of all the peons

Well he doesn't ruin my view as there is a window on the third floor that allows me to look down and feel like God.

He has every right to sit there as it's inside of the airport and he could just say he was waiting for a flight.