The ethics/legality of leeching WiFi Options

[theIncredibleEdi...]

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.

Although if hes sitting right by the door, it's a potential safety risk. Ya know....I watch cartoons...end up smashed against the wall by the door.

[impala454]

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?

But we're not talking about what's smart for the owner of the wifi router. We're talking about the ethics/legality of the person stealing the wifi. I think we can all agree it's stupid to leave your network open.

[theIncredibleEdi...]

Well, with free Wifi becoming more ubiquitous....the ethics of it begins to blur.

But in this situation, no, it's probably not very ethical of this guy to use the WiFi of the Captains Club or whatever its called.

But I dont think most people think about the ethics of their actions on a regular basis. Especially when it comes to 'free.'

[Spectatrix]

Well, I didn't necessarily say leave the door unlocked...

You know what I meant. Same thing you did... store unattended, no security, blah blah blah...

But I dont think most people think about the ethics of their actions on a regular basis. Especially when it comes to 'free.'

This I would definitely agree with.

This post has been edited by Spectatrix: Feb 12 2008, 11:08 AM

[blaarg]

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.

To use the AT&T wireless you have to have a Starbucks credit/debit card, and you get the first two hours free.

I don't know if it is two hours a day or two hours per sitting (because what would keep you from getting up going across the street and coming back).

Here is an article I read:

http://blogs.computerworld.com/starbucks_announces_free_wifi

[Spectatrix]

To use the AT&T wireless you have to have a Starbucks credit/debit card, and you get the first two hours free.

I don't know if it is two hours a day or two hours per sitting (because what would keep you from getting up going across the street and coming back).

Here is an article I read:

http://blogs.computerworld.com/starbucks_announces_free_wifi

If you read further in that article, you'll see that it's free to AT&T internet customers.

[blaarg]

If you read further in that article, you'll see that it's free to AT&T internet customers.

they added that since I read it last...

[theIncredibleEdi...]

If you read further in that article, you'll see that it's free to AT&T internet customers.

At least the upper tier DSL users....you have to pay extra for AT&T WiFi usage with the DSL Basic

[Spectatrix]

Well I refuse to get DSL from AT&T after the horrible experiences I had with SBC, so it's kind of a moot point for me.

[theIncredibleEdi...]

I havent had a bad experience with them....I just REFUSE to pay Comcast's outrageous prices. 60 bucks a month almost for basic digital cable? FUCK YOU.

[Spectatrix]

My main bad experience with SBC was from when we moved. Cut off our phone at the old apartment a week early, then were 3+ weeks without internet at the new place. They charged us for that time too, until I called and complained. Got a credit back for the time without service, plus additional credit for the whole hassle. They still had the whole one-year contract thing then too. Once our contract was up, we switched immediately to Comcast.

Now in Austin, I use Grande Communications. It's $55/month for 8Mbps internet and basic cable (truly basic, not the extended basic). The same internet plus 300-channel digital cable would be nearly $100.

This post has been edited by Spectatrix: Feb 12 2008, 12:19 PM

[theIncredibleEdi...]

I just like paying 24.99 a month for internet....no contract.

I would like to add some kinda expanded TV services...but I dunno if I am really home enough to justify the price.

But anyway....

leeching WiFi is bad!! bad bad bad! Unethical! Booo! (Dont wanna get bitched at for going off-topic)

[cmac]

how much does leaching really slow bandwidth?

[Hartmann]

how much does leaching really slow bandwidth?

I personally don't care about how much bandwidth it uses as that does not affect the ethics behind it. Then again, even if the bandwidth usage of a single person is small what if 10-20 people are using it? At what point then does it become "wrong"?

The real issue in my mind is not the network but the data being passed through it.

The network is named "Continental President's Club" so the people accessing it know what it's for.

[theIncredibleEdi...]

I personally don't care about how much bandwidth it uses as that does not affect the ethics behind it. Then again, even if the bandwidth usage of a single person is small what if 10-20 people are using it? At what point then does it become "wrong"?

The real issue in my mind is not the network but the data being passed through it.

The network is named "Continental President's Club" so the people accessing it know what it's for.

yeah, but even people who are allowed and supposed to be using it can be using it for suspect purposes.

You dont have to be a leacher to do wrong.