Wireless Internet

EastStandBlue · Aug 24, 2006

Unbeknown to me before i bought this Laptop, One of my Neighbours must've had Wireless internet installed. Because i have it Wireless enabled, I keep connecting to an unknown network which is actually quite fast...

What I want to know is, is there any way my neighbour can see that i'm using their connection? I'm not meaning to do it as i have broadband installed anyway and use my own connection all the time...

Mad Cyril · Aug 24, 2006

[b said:
Quote[/b] (EastStandBlue @ Aug. 24 2006,12:49)]Unbeknown to me before i bought this Laptop, One of my Neighbours must've had Wireless internet installed. Because i have it Wireless enabled, I keep connecting to an unknown network which is actually quite fast...

What I want to know is, is there any way my neighbour can see that i'm using their connection? I'm not meaning to do it as i have broadband installed anyway and use my own connection all the time...

Yes, they can tell if you are using their network but if their wireless network is discoverable, not password protected and they haven't restricted the MAC addresses of the ethernet devices that can connect to the network then the chances are they either clueless or actually want to share their connection with the outside world..

EastStandBlue · Aug 24, 2006

Right Ok... Like i said i'll move my Laptop between rooms and it just automatically connects...

Bob Cratchitt · Aug 24, 2006

Just be aware if you knowingly use someone else's connection you could be arrested and charged, as the courts recently did find someone guilty of this, so a precedent has been set.

Although the dude was sitting in his car outside the property he was using the connection from. He got caught as neighbours grew suspicious of someone sitting in a car with a laptop on their lap who would appear at the regular times.

Bielzibubz · Aug 24, 2006

Chances are this person has a 20, 40 or 60 gig monthly download limit. My advice is .... download as many high quality movies as you can in the next 7 days and then don't use it again

Vange Shrimper · Aug 24, 2006

[b said:
Quote[/b] (Bob Cratchitt @ Aug. 24 2006,13:14)]Just be aware if you knowingly use someone else's connection you could be arrested and charged, as the courts recently did find someone guilty of this, so a precedent has been set.

This happened to me a few times last term. I only wanted to connect up to my wireless network, but I can pick up 4 in my bedroom. It still kept on connecting me to another network, even though I didnt want it to.

Aint my fault, blame my computer and their network!

Bob Cratchitt · Aug 25, 2006

No it is your fault as you can restrict which networks your card uses, so I am afraid that is no defence in court.

shrimperman · Aug 25, 2006

[b said:
Quote[/b] (Bob Cratchitt @ Aug. 25 2006,10:40)]No it is your fault as you can restrict which networks your card uses, so I am afraid that is no defence in court.

In which case how do you go about restricting which networks your card uses? In my house we pick up three connections