Is it Illegal?

[GommeInc]

How does that work?

Thats like saying if you illegally download something and don't get caught then its legal :|

Meh, could be like rape - it's not rape if you enjoy it Though the idea of violently assulating someone and it being legal when no-one knows is enjoyable Sarcasm or not!

[Diablo10]

Morally, it's incorrect since it's just like stealing other people's bandwidth. But not sure if the law actually say it's illegal

[tm]

It is definitely illegal. It is defined as illegal in UK law under 2 acts:

The computer misuse act 1990/06 (as someone thought it would above).
The argument here is that you are accessing someone else's computer hardware. ie. their router without permission.

The Communications Act 2003.
This has very specific wording for this exact matter.

"a person who (a) dishonestly obtains an electronic communications service, and (b) does so with intent to avoid payment of a charge applicable to the provision of that service, is guilty of an offence".

People have been arrested, charged and fined (approx £500) for stealing unsecured wireless internet in the UK.
http://itn.co.uk/news/1112943368020a...568ddbde1.html

[awelsh]

If its not protected I doubt they even know, I use some other persons wireless to torrent becuase their connection is better than ours their own fault for not securing anything.

Plus ive renamed my laptop to DEFAULT too, so they have no clue lol

[Oleh]

, if i was older, i could get my next door neighbour fined, cheeky bugger was on my network for a while, till i shut him out with a good old WPA and mac filter