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[AirBrian]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Police have arrested a man for using someone else's wireless Internet network in one of the first criminal cases involving this fairly common practice.

Benjamin Smith III, 41, faces a pretrial hearing this month following his April arrest on charges of unauthorized access to a computer network, a third-degree felony.

Police say Smith admitted using the Wi-Fi signal from the home of Richard Dinon, who had noticed Smith sitting in an SUV outside Dinon's house using a laptop computer.

The practice is so new that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement doesn't even keep statistics, according to the St. Petersburg Times, which reported Smith's arrest this week.

Innocuous use of other people's unsecured Wi-Fi networks is common, though experts say that plenty of illegal use also goes undetected: such as people sneaking on others' networks to traffic in child pornography, steal credit card information and send death threats.

Security experts say people can prevent such access by turning on encryption or requiring passwords, but few bother or are unsure how to do so.

Wi-Fi, short for Wireless Fidelity, has enjoyed prolific growth since 2000. Millions of households have set up wireless home networks that give people like Dinon the ability to use the Web from their backyards but also reach the house next door or down the street.

It's not clear why Smith was using Dinon's network. Prosecutors declined to comment, and a working phone number could not be located for Smith.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050707/ap_on_hi_te/techbits_wi_fi_theft

:lol :lol

He deserved to get caught.

 

[number386]

A felony charge is nuts, Unless he was doing illegal crap like child pornography.

 

[The Faceless Master]

illegal crap like pirating bandwidth?

 

[ManaByte]

A felony charge is nuts, Unless he was doing illegal crap like child pornography.

illegal crap like pirating bandwidth?

That's what the story says:

Benjamin Smith III, 41, faces a pretrial hearing this month following his April arrest on charges of unauthorized access to a computer network, a third-degree felony.

 

[The Faceless Master]

That's what the story says:

yeah, the computer network being the other guy's wireless access point or router

 

[Phoenix]

I'm all for this myself.

 

[gblues]

The problem is that there's a pretty strict definition of what construes "unauthorized." I would argue that he became authorized the moment the access point negotiated the connection and allowed him on the network.

The solution is very very very VERY easy: STOP BROADCASTING THE SSID! (and change it from the default of "linkys" or "default") Even if no other security measure is used, this at least stops the casual wardrivers.

Nathan

 

[SickBoy]

Anyone who runs a wide-open network is, IMO, telling anyone with a wireless device "feel free to use my network."

I have a wireless router for the eventual upgrade at home. Wireless is currently off and will be secured when/if I ever get the wireless network running. I'd expect the same from anyone. Heck, even at Best Buy they offer to help you set up and secure your network.

 

[Mupepe]

If that guy would have bothered to read the manual and enable WEP, disable "Broadcast SSID" there wouldn't be a problem. That's like leaving your door open to your house so people can see your Plasma TV while you're at work. But my god, you have to be pretty pathetic to be sitting in your car with your laptop just to jack some guys WiFi, GO TO A CAFE!

 

[CabbageRed]

I'm amazed the same person who set up a Wi-Fi left it open and more amazed that the same person knew how to check to see who was logged in.

 

[Bent Hamm]

Um, I don't think he did know how to check and see who was logged in. He just noticed some dude parked in front of his house using a laptop.

 

[CabbageRed]

Um, I don't think he did know how to check and see who was logged in. He just noticed some dude parked in front of his house using a laptop.

...and then called the police? I'm not sure how well that works out either unless he called the police who then came because someone in their SUV was using a laptop and checked the owners setup for themselves all while the SUV guy browsed away.

 

[Drensch]

I'm surprised their wifi bubbles are so big. I'd be shocked if some one could hop on mine, if unsecured outside my hose.