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

[NimbleSquirrel]

Just because it is open, doesn't mean that it is legal to use it. If you left your front door open, would it be legal for some stranger to wander in and use your stuff? No.

Sure, they should secure it if they don't want people to use it, but leaving it open doesn't give people the legal right to use it without authorisation.

Mod parent up.

[WillyMF1]

Best idea ever.