A CNet article today said that a man in Florida was arrested today for “mooching” open Wi-Fi. Event after a week of relying on authorized open Wi-Fi at Flash Forward, I am still not conflicted.

First, the guy that was arrested wasn’t just sitting someplace and got on the wrong network. He wasn’t even just casually using an open Wi-Fi point because he just needed to get on the net real fast. (edit:)He was sitting in his car outside someone else’s house, acting suspiciously when the homeowner approached. He was apparently scanning through the neighborhood looking for open networks to use. That is pretty wrong.

However, if I see an open Wi-Fi point (in the course of my normal life) I feel free to use it. It isn’t hard to at least put a WEP key on the connection if you are at all worried about it. There are plenty of people that actually intentionally leave their connections open to try and give public Internet access. Those that do place firewalls between the wireless connections and their internal networks.

At home, we have a Wi-Fi network, but we keep it secured. We are well within range of a T-mobile hot-spot, so we have to keep things closed to make sure those customers don’t try us as a free alternative. In our complex though people take different approaches. The business next to us leaves their network wide open. It makes me shudder, but I did my part and went over to make sure they knew. Most of the others in range of home are all well locked down.

At conferences, I’ve seen two approaches. FlashForward is very generous with their Wi-Fi. It is free, and open without a password. Macromedia Max is free but they distribute documentation with the configuration information as well as the WEP key.

At work we actually have two wireless networks. We have our main network that is extremely well secured. You have to use an RSA secureID token plus account information to get on. We also have a guest wireless network that exists outside the firewall and is protected by a WEP key (just ask at the reception desk if you come for a visit).

I guess my point is that there are a lot of security options available for wireless connections. Before you set up your own network I think you have an obligation to know a bit about it and make an informed decision. However if you do anything to prevent someone from accessing your network (possibly including giving he network a name like “private”) then I do think you are obligated to stay out, and if you try and continue, the law should and probably does apply

Open Wi-Fi points get what they deserve , Open Wi-Fi points get what they deserve target, Open Wi-Fi points get what they deserve seyret, Open Wi-Fi points get what they deserve download, Open Wi-Fi points get what they deserve games, Open Wi-Fi points get what they deserve sears, Open Wi-Fi points get what they deserve test,

  Open Wi-Fi points get what they deservedictionary Open Wi-Fi points get what they deserve download , Open Wi-Fi points get what they deserve free,download, Open Wi-Fi points get what they deserve cars, Open Wi-Fi points get what they deserve download, nudist, air, free galleries, spankwire, lingerie, jobs