For years, whenever the press has written one of their fear-mongering stories about open WiFi, they almost always include some tidbit about how if someone uses your network to do something illegal, you can be arrested for it. It’s one of the popular open WiFi horror stories — but is it true?
Well, of course, you can be arrested, but it’s unlikely that there would be any legal grounds for the arrest. The latest debate on this issue comes from a tech writer at the Houston Chronicle who is taking Tim Lee to task for an op-ed piece Tim wrote in the New York Times about open WiFi. The Chronicle writer says Tim is missing the real security issue, about how the RIAA can go after you if someone downloads music on your open WiFi. While it is true that they can go after you, there are valid legal defenses for this — as has been discussed for years.
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I’m just waiting for a storm of coppers to rush next door to my neighbour’s house. They ought to have been busted by now. ;p
If people insist on leaving their networks unsecured then thats up to them to face the consequences. I even forwarded my ports and changed their router password so they’ll never know (if they reset the router to get in then all evidence of my port forwarding adventures are lost). n00bs.
I will state that I do pay for my own 2meg connection with my housemate as well but when he’s rinsing ours I’ll switch to next doors it’s just easier.