Man Arrested for Wireless Piggybacking

Sommelier writes "As reported by KATU in Portland, Oregon, a man was arrested for parking outside a coffee shop in nearby Vancouver, Washington, and using their open wireless AP — for three straight months. '"He doesn't buy anything," Manager Emily Pranger says about the man she ended up calling 911 about. "It's not right for him to come and use it."' Turns out the guy was a registered sex-offender as well." A different computer expert might have pointed out some ways to see if anyone is piggybacking on a wireless signal (many APs have a Web-interface client list), or even suggested something like NoCatAuth.

Comments

Re:It's Open

[hcob$]

If it's open, it's okay to use it.

Don't want strangers to use your AP? Secure it.

Entering an unlocked house and walking onto unfenced private property are still a crime called trespassing if I'm not mistaken.

Point of the statement: Just because something is unsecured doesn't mean that you have a right to do what you want.