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Unsecured Wi-Fi to Become Illegal?

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the only-criminals-use-unsecured-wireless dept.

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."

2 of 418 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Luckily it is just a proposal. by l3prador · · Score: 4, Informative

    Actually, from the article it seems to only apply to businesses, or home offices, not just any homeowner. Their intention seems to be to prevent theft of credit card information from customers of the business.

  2. Re:Is this because of the telco's? by rkcallaghan · · Score: 3, Informative

    If you were up to no good is an open AP the way to do it?

    The short answer, YES.

    The long answer, if its not a honeypot and you can evade physical detection, YES. The former may be harder to detect on the fly, but the latter is as simple as hiding in plain sight in the parking lot of an apartment complex or frat house.

    ~Rebecca