So I live in the vicinity of this Church....

[Saracen]

what happens if someone does something illegal using your connection? couldn't you be liable for it? what if you neighbor was downloading/uploading torrents, or someone was looking at something potentially worse? you know what some of those so called holy people are alleged to do at times with younger members of the flock

it's one thing to do it for neighbors and people you know, which you could use with a simple password like "password" but another to openly let anyone use it and you don't know them or what they do

Whether you're actually liable for it or not, you could end up with a lot of explaining to do.

For example, if I were a terrorist seeking to download bomb-making instructions or the latest Al-Qaeda training material (and I say "hi" to the Echelon observers picking up keywords at this point ) I certainly wouldn't do it over my own traceable net connection. I'd look for some poor sap with an open web connection and use his to do it. Same goes for all sorts of other nasty stuff, like child pron.

Personally, a strong desire to avoid the need to try to convince a bunch of unsmiling coppers (let alone gun-toting ones), at 6AM, that "it wasn't me, guv, honest" is entirely a sufficient reason for not having an open net connection.

[SeriousSam]

Goat@Mendes was one that sprung to mind

[Behemoth]

Why not just leave them do their thing in peace ? I realise it's your wifi but why antagonise someone for the hell of it and there is really no need ?

[GoNz0]

Why not just leave them do their thing in peace ? I realise it's your wifi but why antagonise someone for the hell of it and there is really no need ?

and why not do it for the fun of it...

[abaxas]

Whether you're actually liable for it or not, you could end up with a lot of explaining to do.

For example, if I were a terrorist seeking to download bomb-making instructions or the latest Al-Qaeda training material (and I say "hi" to the Echelon observers licking up keywords at this point ) I certainly wouldn't do it over my own traceable net connection. I'd look for some poor sap with an open web connection and use his to do it. Same goes for all sorts of other nasty stuff, like child pron.

Personally, a strong desire to avoid the need to try to convince a bunch of unsmiling coppers (let alone gun-toting ones), at 6AM, that "it wasn't me, guv, honest" is entirely a sufficient reason for not having an open net connection.

It's all relative. If they dont know they dont come looking. However if they come looking and you wireless is secure (even though we know it isnt 100%) you are even more fooked.

Back on topic. I did the same when I moved into a new block of flats. First to move and as it filled up I provided 256/64 on unencrypted wireless. I used to tell people as they moved in and at one point there were 15 connections to it! But over time it dwindled as others got their own connections.

I am always happy to share as it's good for the soul. But equally I understand I am taking a small risk with it. I'd prefer to be a 'nicer' person than a paranoid one.

[jim]

As most smartphones and similar devices are set up to automatically connect to any available wi-fi, whether it's needed or not, I suspect the vast majority don't even know that they've connected.

[Lee H]

GCHQ listening post #1 - name it to that and see the attempts drop off

[Saracen]

It's all relative. If they dont know they dont come looking. However if they come looking and you wireless is secure (even though we know it isnt 100%) you are even more fooked.

....

Do you believe things like searches for terrorist materials aren't subject to surveillance by the security services, though? I don't. And if your wifi is secured, the terrorist looking for an easy, open connection will look elsewhere, meaning it's someone else's problem, not mine. Or, you can always do what I do and use wired ethernet. There may still be ways in, but wifi isn't one of them.

[shaithis]

HoneyPot-666

You can actually make a little cash on the side offering it....I know dd-wrt has some options for various wifi providers.

[BobF64]

As most smartphones and similar devices are set up to automatically connect to any available wi-fi, whether it's needed or not, I suspect the vast majority don't even know that they've connected.

I would suspect this is probably most of them, just connecting from their pockets because they dont think, or know how, to secure themselves.

[abaxas]

Do you believe things like searches for terrorist materials aren't subject to surveillance by the security services, though? I don't. And if your wifi is secured, the terrorist looking for an easy, open connection will look elsewhere, meaning it's someone else's problem, not mine. Or, you can always do what I do and use wired ethernet. There may still be ways in, but wifi isn't one of them.

That is the point. A 'secure' wireless connection is always best for covering your tracks.

[Behemoth]

I've turned off the BT Fon and Open Zone on my connection, don't like people using my bandwidth, my router my rules, but not a donkey about it.

[peterb]

But was the intention that it should be available to all and sundry?

As I read it (this bit, and I've added the bold) ....


Providing a facility for your guests or neighbours is very different, in my humble opinion, from a free-for-all for anyone wandering by.

Just because a connection isn't locked down comprehensively doesn't mean it's free for anyone to use, any more than not locking your front door means anyone passing has a right to pop in and take whatever they feel like.

Having said that, perhaps the obvious solution is to lock it down and, pain that it is, give guests and neighbours a guest log-in.

Or, ask the "tolerant" vicar if he could kindly ask the thieving gits in his congregation to show a little Christian morals and stop nicking your bandwidth. Assuming Animus is right about who's using it, then what utter hypocrisy - thieving bandwidth on your way to Church. Presumably, the tolerance-loving vicar won't be so happy to tolerate that hypocrisy.

Depends on how you define your neighbour.

Redirect them to page about the ten commandments esp the one about thou shalt not steal.

Or indeed, "Love thy neighbour as you love yourself"

Do you believe things like searches for terrorist materials aren't subject to surveillance by the security services, though? I don't. And if your wifi is secured, the terrorist looking for an easy, open connection will look elsewhere, meaning it's someone else's problem, not mine. Or, you can always do what I do and use wired ethernet. There may still be ways in, but wifi isn't one of them.

And that is a good reason for locking down wi-fi - or if someone uses your unprotected wi-fi connection to look at child pornography, and the first you know about it is when the boys from Operation Ore (or its equivalent) start bashing down your door in the small hours of the morning.

However, if there is as portal page stating that the facility is only for a small group of people (which TheAnimus forgot to mention in his initial post post) then I would expect that to be adhered to just as much as if he left his unlocked bicycle outside his front door with a notice saying "Please do not use, this bicycle is for the exclusive use of <theanimus> and his guests". and about the same prospect of enforcing it.