Wi-Fi "Stealing" [Discussion]

[Mr.Sam]

Web site Ars Technical discusses the ethics of "stealing" a Wi-Fi connection, discussing whether or not piggybacking Wi-Fi is actually something that should be considered stealing based on several practical illustrations, arguing, for example, that:

If the WiFi waves come to you and can be accessed without hacking, there should be no question that such access is legal and morally OK. If your neighbor runs his sprinkler and accidentally waters your yard, do you owe him money?

The above example is just the tip of the author's argument, and you should really read the article for a fuller examination, but I'm curious about a couple of things:

Do You Piggyback Wireless Internet?

Fact is, as the article discusses, some people intentionally run an open wireless access point because that's just the kind of friendly folk they are (in fact, some people advertise their open Wi-Fi hotspots). So I'd also like to know:

Do You Run an Open WAP?

if not why have you not protected your network?

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post...onnection.html

[Decapitated!]

nah, i'd never do it.

[Brody]

well i use my own wifi but if my wifi doesnt work then ill use sum1 elses if its available its there fault for not protecting it in my opinion

[Wootzeh]

No, because I don't need to.

[Aflux]

Mine is open, my next door neighbours' isn't.

[GommeInc]

Nope and I doubt I ever will, considering the nearest house to mine is about 200 yards away :rolleyes: People who use the excuse 'it's their fault' are just impolite and lack common courtesy, yes, part of it is their fault, but just because it is there doesn't mean you have to use it...

[WarezKid]

I use 2. one next doors when i use my own for downloading so it faster

[dannyisnotamazing]

My home one at my mums is unprotected, this is only because I have trouble connecting with my ipod touch to it.. but at my dads it is protected but there is a few nearby routers which are protected but 1/2 unprotected.

[mike475]

I would only use my next door neighbours (for a good conection).

[PaulMacC]

protected but I steal signals in hotels and busy places where I am for a while with my laptop x)

on my PC there's two available connections, mine or someone down the street thats locked