Should I do this or not

[smithy69]

The laptop has been bought (after a bit of saving) and is apparently being delivered this afternoon. The problem I have is that my internet line will not be up until Monday. I am going wireless so have heard about people going on to someone else's network and using their connection.

Is this right, or should I just wait.

Impatient, but sensible Smithy!!!

[CelticGeezeer]

If one of your close neighbours has a wireless router your laptop will be able to see it. If you can see it you could ask them to let you use it. If they haven't put security on their router you could just use it with out asking.

[Poppet7]

I bought my laptop a few weeks ago and the first thing we did was set it up in Comet car park then drove to a row of houses and went on the internet!

Lots of people do it so if you can pick up an unsecured connection then give it a go

[Pilf]

Just get on if you find a network mate.
You'll not use up a lot of bandwidth if you're just playing poker (and having the odd browse on the web)
It's likely that no-one will even notice.
The other possibility if you still don't feel ok about it is see how many networks there are and if there are a few, go door knocking and ask if they mind you borrowing a bit of their bandwidth for a short while. Most people will be happy to allow this as they have no way of stopping you from stealing it anyway. (Of course they do, but they probably don't know how)

[Sark79]

My mate uses one of his neighbours internet connections.  He isn't sure which neighbour it is as he lives next to an old persons housing complex and they are all non computer type people.  When he lost his connection for a few days last week, he thought that was the end of it, but it is back on now  with a stronger signal than it ever has been.

[boldie]

Just get on if you find a network mate.
You'll not use up a lot of bandwidth if you're just playing poker (and having the odd browse on the web)
It's likely that no-one will even notice.
The other possibility if you still don't feel ok about it is see how many networks there are and if there are a few, go door knocking and ask if they mind you borrowing a bit of their bandwidth for a short while. Most people will be happy to allow this as they have no way of stopping you from stealing it anyway. (Of course they do, but they probably don't know how)

yeah, just ask. If someone were to move into my building and ask me if I have  a wireless connection they could share for a while I'd have no problem with that. I would like to know though..then again..mine is protected to the hilt

[smithy69]

could u legally get in trouble for this - could it be technically be classed as stealing, or I am being over sensitive and thoughtful

Also with it being a new lappie with wireless enabled, can I simply put the battery in, plug it in,find a connection and away we go. Or is their more to it than that

[Poppet7]

could u legally get in trouble for this - could it be technically be classed as stealing, or I am being over sensitive and thoughtful

Also with it being a new lappie with wireless enabled, can I simply put the battery in, plug it in,find a connection and away we go. Or is their more to it than that

That's all I did, it's easy peasy!

[Gryff]

Nobody in the UK has ever been arrested for this, most people who leave their wireless connection open will have no idea about people hopping on it unless they get turned over by it - and even then they will likely suspect other sources ( mail/indian call centres ).

Your chances of getting in trouble are about 0.0000001%

[boldie]

could u legally get in trouble for this - could it be technically be classed as stealing, or I am being over sensitive and thoughtful

Also with it being a new lappie with wireless enabled, can I simply put the battery in, plug it in,find a connection and away we go. Or is their more to it than that

part 1? Legally..yeah it's stealing. you are taking a service without permission and not paying for it. That's why I would ask...also it's the pollite thing to do. But you wouldn't get into trouble for it as anyone who has their network unprotected probably won't know you're on it.

2 yeah...find a connection and (as my French friends would say) Cest tout.

[Jon MW]

I haven't got a wireless connection, and I'm not thinking about getting one - but this thread does make me wonder:- How do you secure the network? Why are people leaving their's unsecured? Is it complicated?

[boldie]

I haven't got a wireless connection, and I'm not thinking about getting one - but this thread does make me wonder:- How do you secure the network? Why are people leaving their's unsecured? Is it complicated?

I have a wireless router...upon installation (and you can do this later aswell ofcourse) it asks you if you want to set up a wireless connection...click yes and it'll ask you if you want to set up a password (12 digits or more i think it is) and you're done.

Why people don't secure it? I honestly don't know...it is part of the set-up process to put in a password (though it's optional)

[Jon MW]

I haven't got a wireless connection, and I'm not thinking about getting one - but this thread does make me wonder:- How do you secure the network? Why are people leaving their's unsecured? Is it complicated?

I have a wireless router...upon installation (and you can do this later aswell ofcourse) it asks you if you want to set up a wireless connection...click yes and it'll ask you if you want to set up a password (12 digits or more i think it is) and you're done.

Why people don't secure it? I honestly don't know...it is part of the set-up process to put in a password (though it's optional)

That does explain it, I generally find the vast majority of the general public are fairly dense, so it doesn't surprise me that if it's optional they just don't bother.

[boldie]

I haven't got a wireless connection, and I'm not thinking about getting one - but this thread does make me wonder:- How do you secure the network? Why are people leaving their's unsecured? Is it complicated?

I have a wireless router...upon installation (and you can do this later aswell ofcourse) it asks you if you want to set up a wireless connection...click yes and it'll ask you if you want to set up a password (12 digits or more i think it is) and you're done.

Why people don't secure it? I honestly don't know...it is part of the set-up process to put in a password (though it's optional)

That does explain it, I generally find the vast majority of the general public are fairly dense, so it doesn't surprise me that if it's optional they just don't bother.

lol yeah that's true

[Acidmouse]

I would connect just for browseing although I wouldnt dowload and leech there connection.

It's kinda cool at Leeds Uni most places you can just sit and open your lappy and connect wireless.