Some 12% of Consumers 'Borrow' Unsecured Wi-Fi

alphadogg writes "Despite the fact that it's often considered an illegal act, a sizeable percentage of the UK/US internet-using population 'borrows' unsecured Wi-Fi access. This is according to a study conducted by the group Accenture. 'The Accenture study found that computer users are still engaging in some unsafe computing practices. Nearly half of all respondents said that they used the same password for all of their online accounts, and only a quarter of them have ever encrypted files on their computers.'" My guess is the actual figure is higher than that.

Not surprised

[GameboyRMH]

I have a Speedstream 6-series-something (6200?) router, and it has this problem where if you disable the wireless, you have to do a hard reset to enable it again. Long story short I was running an open wireless network for a while, and there was never less than two leechers on the network, in a well-spaced neighborhood full of old people in a third world country. I'd hate to see what would happen to an open wireless network in a crowded metropolis.

Other interesting fact: Me and a friend were wardriving with just a regular laptop, no special antennae, speeding down the highway, and we picked up a LOT of networks, often with a good signal. Some of these were in places with no buildings in sight. When I get a working laptop again I plan to implement a setup that leeches off open networks as I drive (mainly for a Google Earth-based navigation system, anything sensitive will either have to be encrypted or left out), and I have no doubt it will work nicely.

Re:no differentiation- regular or intermittent?

[bcattwoo]

And the comments about identity theft are ridiculous, as most sensible people adjust their browsing/net use when using unknown networks to reflect their uncertainty in its security.

Great, now how many internet users fall under the category of "sensible people"? Given the number of people I see on the internet that are unaware of simple things like when and if they will get that "tax rebate", I suspect the number that realize their vulnerability when borrowing someone else's connection to be rather low.

Re:But you get permission every time

[Anonymous Coward]

Oh please. Saying the router grants you permission to connect is like saying my unlocked door grants you permission to enter my house. Both my door and my router have the same right to give away something I pay for - none at all.

The point is the law doesn't exist to protect routers is exists to protect the people who own the routers. Logging onto an unsecured network is every bit as passive as entering an unlocked house, because their is no human giving you permission in either case.

Maybe in the far future if routers are sentient and recognized under the law as having rights, you may have a point. But not today.

Yeah, sounds like fun

[Burz]

The Upside-Down-Ternet [daniweb.com] (*evil grin*)

Re:For fun

[rrkap]

It's funny, when I moved to my new apartment complex I could see about 40 wireless networks and every one of them was secure. I think that secure networks are becoming more common as the cable and DSL modems with built in wireless access that they provide come secure by default.

Re:news..

[Anonymous Coward]

I really don't like this analogy because we all know the "keys in the car" bit would still be stealing. This is really a lot more like having a butler answering the door to your house and instead of turning people away he invites everyone in for tea. Only problem is you never told him to turn people away. Are all the folks in your sitting room drinking tea really stealing it? Your unsecured router is giving explicit permission (on your behalf) to anyone who asks to join your network.

Re:Bandwith is not a car

[fishbowl]

>If a car is parked on the street. You will not be arrested for sitting on it.

If you're sitting on my car I'm going to ask you very urgently to stop.
If you do NOT stop, in my locality, I can shoot you dead.

Re:news..

[nominanuda]

I'm confused...isn't using the ubiquitous "Belkin 54g" exactly what was being referred to as "stealing"?

For myself, I'm not cheap enough to feel the need to steal wireless in my home (I think my neighbor's have unsecured wireless...), nor would I ever think about doing anything over someone else's unsecured wireless that required any sort of security (I draw the line at checking my gmail account). But, I'm perfectly happy grabbing someone else's wireless when I'm away from my home to use my wifi enabled phone or my laptop.