Talk:Wi-Fi Implementation

From Western North Carolina

[edit] Ethics

I was in my car this weekend and heard the NPR show that has the ethics guy from the NYTimes. The question this week was on the ethics of tapping into a hot spot you find, without permission - neighbor's or business's. In this case, the person asking the question also paid for high-speed at a physical location.

The ethics guys was all for it and gave a nice little spiel about how more internet access helps us as a society as a whole. Anyhow, I thought it interesting. I don't know if he would have said the same thing if the questioner didn't already pay for service, but my guess would be that most people who own a laptop do have paid service somewhere.

-Alice

Interesting - My concern would be whether the person tapping into someone else's hot spot was tapping into anything on that network beyond the Internet. I'm not sure if that's technically possible, but it seems like a slippery slope. One unauthorized use of someone else's service or unauthorized entry into another's computer might lead to another. To respond to the statement, "Well I pay for Internet service, why not use it anywhere I can?" That doesn't hold much water for me either if the user is tapping into a private account. I have a car; doesn't mean anyone can use my car. I have a telephone, doesn't mean if I leave my front door open anyone should feel free to walk in and use my phone. That's what free public access and paid public access Internet spots are for.

[edit] Public vs Private

Michael Dell weighs in supporting muni wireless: http://www.bizjournals.com/industries/high_tech/internet/2005/05/02/austin_story2.html

From a community media planning consultant: http://www.uschamber.com/press/releases/2005/april/05-58.htm US Chamber of Commerce Has Gotten It Wrong

From a local multimedia professional http://www.gnn.tv/articles/1307/Philly_Defies_Telecom_Giants an interesting perspective

See also http://news.com.com/Philadelphias+Big+Dig/2010-1071_3-5579848.html

What are your thoughts?

My guess is that most of these businesses or residences do not know that someone not connected to their business or home could be using their wifi connection. There is a lawyer's office near my office whose wifi is available for me to use. I don't use it because I have access at the office. So from the providers point of view, I think that using their system without permission could be viewed as a violation of their privacy. Therefore, if I was in the situation where I could use a wifi connection that is not explicitedly provided to the public, I'd try to contact them to ask for permission. I certainly don't have to do this, but it is more from common courtesy. And if I find that their protection is sleight, let them know of their vulnerablilty. - Ed Brenegar