Patrick
Member
Registered: 25th Apr 02
Location: SE London
User status: Offline
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I haven't got the internet at home, but last night I was playing around with my laptop and managed to connect to someone elses WIFI connection and continued to surf the net for a couple of hours. Is there anyway of them knowing that I was using their internet connection, and is it classed as theft?
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Ian
Site Administrator
Registered: 28th Aug 99
Location: Liverpool
User status: Offline
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Yes they can find out if they know what they are doing.
Its illegal under Computer Misuse Act but thats difficult to prove. The two most recent instances of it have resulted in arrest and Police caution for dishonestly obtaining electronic communications services with intent to avoid payment.
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Doug
Member
Registered: 8th Oct 03
User status: Offline
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Aslong as you dont download stuff or use any applications that are heavy on the bandwidth then I doubt they would notice TBH.
But if they half a clue about computers it is very easy to tell that someone is on their WIFI!!
I couldnt see it working but maybe go round and say here is £10, can I have use your net to browse a few webpages this month?
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Patrick
Member
Registered: 25th Apr 02
Location: SE London
User status: Offline
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So they can tell that someone is using their connection, but how would they go about finding out who?
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Tim
Site Administrator
Registered: 21st Apr 00
User status: Offline
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All they'd need is a Pringles tin and an external antenna to track you down (but the police would help out I'm sure with proper equipment).
They would have your MAC address which uniquely identifies your wireless card (unless you change it in software)...
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Brett
Premium Member
Registered: 16th Dec 02
Location: Manchester
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Doug
Aslong as you dont download stuff or use any applications that are heavy on the bandwidth then I doubt they would notice TBH.
All you'd have to do would go on your router setup and it'd be quite apparant....to me anyway. I always check to see if anyone's had a go at using it.
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ssj_kakarot
Member
Registered: 29th Apr 03
Location: hartlepool
User status: Offline
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tbh if they havnt even set up a simple wep on the router i very much doubt they would have a clue if your using there net.
just dont go heavy on it and you will be fine.
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Ian
Site Administrator
Registered: 28th Aug 99
Location: Liverpool
User status: Offline
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I'm quite sure you would go unnoticed in the vast majority of cases but you can't be sure.
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Brett
Premium Member
Registered: 16th Dec 02
Location: Manchester
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by ssj_kakarot
tbh if they havnt even set up a simple wep on the router i very much doubt they would have a clue if your using there net.
true
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Ian
Site Administrator
Registered: 28th Aug 99
Location: Liverpool
User status: Offline
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Not necessarily - I turned WPA off as I had some hardware that didn't support it. Within half an hour I had a DHCP lease and therefore MAC address for a start, a bit investigation and I had machine name which in this case was sounded like it related to a human. I'm sure I could have had a poke about and got a bit more.
They might appear stupid, and they might actually be stupid, but if they're not then I wouldn't do anything too private.
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mooney
Member
Registered: 20th Oct 05
Location: north west uk
User status: Offline
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try mess about with their router,
google the make of there router find the internet address and change the passwords lol
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Doug
Member
Registered: 8th Oct 03
User status: Offline
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If someone did that to mine I would get the police involved if possible 
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John
Member
Registered: 30th Jun 03
User status: Offline
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My wireless network isn't secured, i'm not stupid, I just don't care enough to set it up.
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Russ
Member
Registered: 14th Mar 04
Location: Armchair
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by John
My wireless network isn't secured, i'm not stupid, I just don't care enough to set it up.
lol
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