Illegal file-sharers who get their accounts terminated by ISPs may resort to piggybacking on other people’s unprotected wi-fi access points and lead to complications in enforcing new plan.
After recent news points to the distinct possibility that British ISPs just may become de facto copyright police for UK authorities after all, network security firm Sophos warns of an impending explosion in the number of people illegally piggybacking on other people’s Wi-Fi internet service.
For Security firm Sophos points out that the UK government’s proposal to make ISPs ban illegal file-sharers from the internet will mean that some people will inevitably be looking for alternatives after being blacklisted for infractions of copyright laws. It predicts that the plan will ultimately cause headaches for ISPs and Wi-Fi users, as users could claim that other people have been illegally piggybacking on their internet services.
Last November, a Sophos poll of 560 computer users revealed that 54 percent have stolen Wi-Fi internet access in the past.
“Pressure is being put on ISPs to take action, but an open Wi-Fi hotspot may mean that it is you who ends up disconnected from the net while your next door neighbor is happily watching the Hollywood blockbuster they stole via your internet connection,” said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos.
“People who illegally download from the net material they haven’t paid for aren’t going to have any qualms about stealing someone else’s internet connection. The widespread scale of the problem not only means that there are likely to be victims, but it also gives those people who have been making illegal downloads a plausible defense.”
Under a ‘three-strikes’ regime, customers making illegal downloads will first receive an email warning, then a suspension of their account, and finally termination of their contract. According to reports, ISPs that fail to enforce the rules could be prosecuted and details of suspected customers passed onto the courts.
“The ISPs are finding themselves between a rock and a hard place – they are being leaned on by the movie and music industry to block pirate downloads, but at the same time they don’t want to alienate their customers by accusing them of something they didn’t do,” explained Cluley. “There is no 100% solution for blocking illegal downloads which doesn’t also inconvenience the .”
The proposed plan, which the Government is due to unveil next week, will require ISPs to take action against the estimated six million users a year in the UK who access pirated material. But, the big question is will this mean that action is also taken against those who fail to properly secure their Wi-Fi routers? Will failure to heed warnings to “lock up” also lead to a termination of Internet services?
Related Posts
- UK – Will Anti-Piracy ISPs Fuel Appetite for Fiber-Optic Connections?
- UK P2P Game Crackdown Catches Non-Gaming Elderly Couple
- Fresh crackdown on illegal music filesharers in Ireland
- Downloads ‘fuel music recovery’
- McCain: ‘No Net-Neutrality, Need Piracy Crackdown’
Loading ...
!!!!EXACTLY!!!!! what i was going to suggest doing
that is a great photo! good job
This is the most ridiculous law ever proposed by anyone. Personally I would love to see every file sharing individual in the UK marching on their parliaments doorsteps to demonstrate just how many people they are looking at penalizing. This whole idea of attacking filesharers in the first place can even be seen as flawed. The government is assuming the people are wrong and that any defense they make its mute. But that just undermines the entire political system which was designed to have every voice heard. So in essence I would say it should be the content holders changing their business and not the people of the country.
So now it’s guilty until proven innocent in the UK ?
’tis a sad state hopefully Harper’s goon squad’s kicked outta parliament before they damage Canada any further with his US suckuppery otherwise we may wind up going the same way as the UK what with What.cd showing up on our soil giving CIRA just another excuse to try and lean on the ISPs…
Thankfully the Canadian people are already getting together in protest of the current bill being formulated. The big limitation with garnering any support against file sharing restrictions is that most people don’t understand how it will affect them. Currently it seems the only people that are really aware of the issue and the effects it will have are the tech savy and the youth of the country.
many wireless networks there are in my neighborhood I can see 10 to 20 wireless networks from any given point In my search so it’s easy to crack it with no problems i can get access .just look here and see for yourself very easy.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep3CRtzAM_E
its hard for the ISP to patrole and police the internet datathe chinese will flood the UK market with music and movie copies so who can stoped them .you can not afford to shut every door you must have and exit otherwise you are cremated.this law won’t work and filesharing is here to stay .wardriving will be popular and the hackers will create more sophisticated softwares to help fileshares to share with no fear of prosecution.SO LET LEACH WARDRIVE AND WI-FI WAR AND SEE WHO THE WINNER.
as all the points have been touched all i can do is agree there will always be a way .