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Unsecured Wi-Fi to Become Illegal?

echucker writes "News.com is carrying a story for a draft proposal for law in Westchester County in New York state that would outlaw unsecured wi-fi connections. Public internet access would require a network gateway server with a firewall and also require home/business office users to install firewalls to protect personal info, even if their connection is encrypted. Violations would carry fines of $250-$500."

5 of 418 comments (clear)

  1. Wardriving Police Cars by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I can see it now :)

  2. Right. That'll work. by Morky · · Score: 5, Funny

    If being an idiot were illegal, most of my company would be in prison.

  3. So who gets to enforce it? by mrmaster · · Score: 5, Funny

    When I read this article I was thinking that I wouldn't mind having the job of enforcing this. Then I realized I would have to have the mindset of a parking enforcer to do something like this. Hell, let the parking enforcers take care of this as well. They love a good power trip. Parking enforcer: "Ma'am, your wireless access point is not running a firewall." Some old lady: "My what isn't on fire?" Parking enforcer: "your internet. It is against the law to allow others to use your internet for free" Some Old lady: "Oh, my 10 yr old grandson got that internet thing to work? Isn't he wonderful? He is so smart." Parking enforcer: "Ma'am, here is a ticket for running an unsecure access point. Don't let it happen again." Some Old lady: "How dare you come to my house and threaten me with this! I've been living here for 30 years and have never been treated like this! Parking enforcer: "Ma'am, have a nice day" Slow day at work. I apologize

  4. Re:This is absurd by Viper168 · · Score: 4, Funny

    You're way off buddy, it's more like your forcefield fails, a cat sneaks onto your ship while you're making a sandwich, then you forget about the sandwich and still don't feed the cat. When the cat finally gets upset and leaves, you take a shower and then take a nap.

    I don't see how you could have missed this from the start.

  5. Re:This is absurd by bhtooefr · · Score: 4, Funny

    It's like being fined for parking your (locked) car in your driveway, instead of in your garage.

    There, car analogy.