How can you say that someone is stealing bandwidth that's being provided openly?

I think I might need to make my neighbor pay for the illumination from my garage light. After all, if he's using my light to illuminate his walk, he's stealing my light!

Simple fact - unsecured WiFi signals are being broadcast IN THE CLEAR. If you choose to attach a WiFi access point to your broadband connection, AND you choose to forgo encryption, then you have de facto agreed to provide it to anyone who can see it. Don't want to have someone use your WiFi without your permission? Then ***REQUIRE PERMISSION*** as a condition of use. How? BY ENCRYPTING IT.

In general, to steal cable TV, you would need to physically break their line. They have essentially restricted the service by providing it on only to those who pay to physically access their line.



RFTraveler