Is it illegal to leave Wireless unsecured?

[hellmet]

I'm planning to leave my network unsecured since I like to let people use my network, since I'm the only one using it, and it does go a waste when I'm not using it. I live in a dense apartment complex, so there might be lots of users.

I don't care about my computer security, since I don't have anything important on my system. So, don't start advising me on that.

Just want to know if its illegal to leave the network unsecured in the US(Texas)..

[Polygon]

illegal? no. Stupid? yes.

aka, if someone downloaded child porn on your network, guess whos gonna get busted? you.

[LaRoza]

No, but it will slow down the network if a lot of people are using it.

(To your ISP, I think the only visible user will be the router, and the router will handle the other computers.)

You are better off sharing the password with people you trust, then leaving it unsecured.

[bufsabre666]

its not illegal in buffalo as far as i know, mines unsecured, and i let my neighbors use it ((although i have banned war drivers))

this shouldnt be something that can be illegal, otherwise routers wouldnt come with the options of being unsecured, and its also very hard to catch cause tons of people use wifi now

[barbedsaber]

if you were going to do it, you should probobly change your ssid to "feel free to use this network, no really" because i would feel bad about using it, unless it said that. Althoug, i dont think i will be picking it up here in australia.

[graabein]

Have you read this "I keep my wireless open" (http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2008/01/my_open_wireles_1.html)?


I'm told that uninvited strangers may sit in their cars in front of my house, and use my network to send spam, eavesdrop on my passwords, and upload and download everything from pirated movies to child pornography. As a result, I risk all sorts of bad things happening to me, from seeing my IP address blacklisted to having the police crash through my door.

While this is technically true, I don't think it's much of a risk. I can count five open wireless networks in coffee shops within a mile of my house, and any potential spammer is far more likely to sit in a warm room with a cup of coffee and a scone than in a cold car outside my house. And yes, if someone did commit a crime using my network the police might visit, but what better defense is there than the fact that I have an open wireless network? If I enabled wireless security on my network and someone hacked it, I would have a far harder time proving my innocence.

I don't necessarily agree with this but it's food for thought.

[sonofusion82]

it may not be illegal but i think there are probably some clause in your subscription when you sign-up that disallow you to share your connection with other people.

[hhhhhx]

technically its not illigal. BUT, say someone were do download illigal material, it could be pinned on you due to our corrupt justice system. (plz no flaming)

it's kind of like that one case were that robber broke into somebodys house, got hurt, and then sued the owners.

what i would do is password it '1234' , anybody with half a brain tries that, and a lot of times it's worked for me. :)

[hellion0]

Unsecured wireless isn't illegal, however, whatever people using YOUR Internet access do falls back to you. That means you'd get busted if someone used your wireless to download child porn, and you'd get sued if they downloaded (or in some jurisdictions, uploaded) copyrighted material.

Either way, "People used my wireless to do x illegal activity" is not an excuse in a court of law. Keep that in mind.

[sailor2001]

isp's may blacklist you because of heavy broadband usage. Notably wireless phone companies (check out the fine print on the contract re: broadband max usage)

[steveneddy]

Just want to know if its illegal to leave the network unsecured in the US(Texas)..

Where, exactly, in TX are you?

[Hallvor]

Unsecured wireless isn't illegal, however, whatever people using YOUR Internet access do falls back to you. That means you'd get busted if someone used your wireless to download child porn, and you'd get sued if they downloaded (or in some jurisdictions, uploaded) copyrighted material.

Either way, "People used my wireless to do x illegal activity" is not an excuse in a court of law. Keep that in mind.

If the above is correct in the US, that is surely crazy. It is true that if someone use your network to download child pornography, the police will probably come knocking on your door. But once thay have investigated a little more, it is not a problem to find out if it was downloaded from your computer or not.

Actually, I think "people used my wireless to do x illegal activity" is a good excuse. After all, it is like leaving your car unlocked. It is a silly thing to do, but if someone really wants to steal it and know what they are doing, they can steal it even if you lock the door. In any case, you cannot be held responsible if the criminal use the car in a drive-by or hits a pedestrian.

[stoodleysnow]

You could just live somewhere really remote. Anyone crazy enough to drive miles from the beaten track is worthy of free wireless in my book.:lolflag:

[hyper_ch]

whether it's legal or not depends on where you live and what your contract says.


That means you'd get busted if someone used your wireless to download child porn, and you'd get sued if they downloaded (or in some jurisdictions, uploaded) copyrighted material.
Either way, "People used my wireless to do x illegal activity" is not an excuse in a court of law. Keep that in mind.
This doesn't apply to Switzerland.

In the penal code you will have to prove someone did it. By having a router and an open-wifi you can raise doubts very easily that you did something wrong. So if no proof can be found on your harddisk, you don't have to worry.

In the civial case in order to be punishable there must be an obligation to secure the network. Such an obligation would mean you'd require a licence to maintain a wifi network. This is not the case hence running a wifi network is per se not a "dangerous vehicule" such as a car and you can't be held liable just because you rent the line. Hence you can't be punished by civil proceedings either...

Well, that applies for Switzerland... in other countries it may be different.