Unadvertised free WiFi at campsites. Forums

smokingdragon

Hi

Don't know whether this is appropriate but it might be a good idea if anyone discovers free WiFi at or near a site to mention it so that everyone can take advantage of a free email etc.

My contribution - Tudor Arms Slimbridge has an open 802.11g access point, pity I wasn't allowed to use it as my wife thought it was ant social when we were there with friends Confused

Would this be a good idea to publicise these access points?

Cheers

Simon

adbe

not sure of the ethics, I always feel shifty if I locate a freeby. Not sure of the security risk either, my AGV gives out dire security warnings when source is not known. I tend to go for the cowards route

oldun · Last edited by oldun on Tue Sep 11, 2007 5:01 pm; edited 1 time in total

I'm not so worried about the antisocial aspect - I'm more interested in the legal aspect.

Someone has been charged and found guilty on the charge of using another persons internet connection.

cabby

have you got the details on that case. I would assume that they used the connecton to commit a fraudulent action and not just surf or do email.
You cannot always tell if anyone is using your wi-fi, unless it is slowed down by very large downloads by them. but one can always hide the wi-fi.or at least make it secure.

takeaflight

Is using someone elses unsecured connection any different to using a pubs toilet without making a purchase ?

vaila2

I found a WiFi network at Cairnsmill site, near St Andrews. The girls in the office said it was really for their office computers, but it was O.K. for me to use it. No charge.

smokingdragon

Hi

That's the sort of access I mean, commercial rather than the private family's internet connection.

I wouldn't condone P2P or Usenet downloads but light surfing and mail ??

Simon

cabby

I am quite happy to use pub toilets if or when the need arose.I work on the south coast in Brighton,a person who goes in and uses a pubs toilet is classed as a potential future customer,quite often you will look at their menu and decide if it is a nice place or not. If the manager of that pub stops them then it soon spreads that the pub is unfriendly, loss of profit.
If you have ever gone abroad, especially europe, then it is normal to use toilets in restaurants or bars, so it is becoming common down here.
So if I find a usable wi-fi that will not interfere with its owner for a quick email download then yes i would use it, but not for a long period of time or for anything secure.

astra

how would you know if it interfered with the owner?

Snelly · Eastern Rally Co-ordinator

People leaving their wifi routers open are asking to be taken advantage of! Yes, I think its wrong, but its also the owners fault for not protecting it in the first place... its not as if its hard to do or get someone in to do it for them.

There is a few ways it can harm the wifi owner is if a user or users "borrows" the wifi connection and starts using massive amounts of bandwidth, as this can slow the internet connection down. Also if the wifi owner is on a tariff with a download limit per month, they may get charged extra or be put onto a slower speed internet as punishment! Also there is the security issues... hacking etc... and don't forget inappropriate use, spamming, inappropriate site/content viewed, although this will trace to the wifi owners ip address, it will also show the borrowers mac address, hopefully showing it wasn't done from the wifi owners pc.