Alan wrote:
On Fri, March 14, 2008 1:08 pm, DJA wrote:
I still have to wonder if all those who've argued here for the
Never-use-a-hotspot-without-permission policy have, without exception,
themselves always done so. If so, I expect that few of them get much use
of Wifi outside their own homes or workplaces. And if each and every one
of them has not done their own door-knocking, well...
When I first moved here, I knocked on my neighbor's door and asked if I
could use their AP to check my mail, as my DSL wasn't due for another
week.
"No problem, thanks for asking" was the response I got.
You had the luxury of knowing who that AP belonged to. That's the
exceptional case.
I use the wireless in the coffee shop all the time. There's a big sign
that says "Free Wifi".
A no-brainer indeed.
I don't use the wireless that shows up in the meeting room downtown, since
it's a 2wire SSID, and I don't know who it belongs to. Not every meeting
participant does the same, as many people are checking their email during
the meetings.
It being a 2wire SSID suggests it is probably an AT&T connection, in
which case whether sharing is legal or not depends on the AT&T AUP (of
which I am ignorant). If the AUP prohibits connection sharing then the
owner of the AP is in violation of their agreement with AT&T, and based
on the opinions of some posters to this thread, also a criminal.
To be clear, I think that using a random open AP is well down on the list
of social faux pas, and I'm certainly not advocating criminal penalties
for doing so. Nor do I think it's trespass, theft, or anything other than
"using an access point without permission". However, I do think the right
thing to do is ask before using.
-ajb
Sure, but some here would consider all those checking their email
(usually a dumb thing to over unsecured wifi) at that meeting to be
thieves. As SJS said, "Ludicrous!".
"Don't know, don't use" may be a practice claimed to be demanded by
some, but for instance, I have not personally been informed by anyone of
authority that it's okay for me to use the County's Wifi at the KPLUG
meetings. But because I see lots of others doing it, it's not
unreasonable for me to assume that it is okay. Maybe that assumption is
improper and that I should ask. But I'll bet I'm not the only one who is
ignorant on that point, but has used it anyway.
As far as legality goes, even Neil making an announcement that it was
okay might not be enough if it was not in writing (I'm not saying this
is the case). How many times do we hear of instances of "Oh, well that
person had no authority to allow that (he's no longer with the
organization) and the controlling policy is in this piece of paper which
you should have asked to see"?
My point is, how far does one have to go to determine when any given
open AP is okay to use? And if most people don't follow such rules as
Door Knocking, then the rule is not reasonable. I suppose one solution
is to just outlaw open AP's altogether as suggested by one misguided
politician in another State.
--
Best Regards,
~DJA.
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