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Using unsecured networks? Moral?

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I am pretty new to being mobile with my computer and was just wondering what your stand is on using unsecured home networks when you are on the road.

I have a wireless lan at home but it is secured, many wifi-routers come unsecured out of the box (ease of installation I guess). Many people who are not so tech-minded seem to think "hey it works" and forget the rest of the setup.

Do you take advantage of this?

Can it sometimes be hard to tell the difference between a genuine free network (like in hotels, cafes etc) and someone who just did not set it up correctly?

What´s your take?

/Stefan
 
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I saw that before.. but I was thinking it might be a little different. That guy is/was using it 100% of the time.

Another post mentioned one person, while sitting waiting for his doctor, picked up an unsecured network and started video chatting with his wife.

What do you do when several free/unsecured networks are availabe? Like when you are sitting in a cafe? Perhaps you cant make out wich network belongs to who? Do you just pick one or do you go and ask the cafe owner wich one is his?
 
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I'd say that in a cafe of hotel it is still pretty easy to go to the counter or phone downstairs to identify which is their network. Probably safer that way too.
 
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Another take straight from the osx help file:

If you choose "Ask before joining an open network," you will be prompted when an open network becomes available. If you choose "Automatically join an open network," you will not be promoted, and will automatically join an open network when it becomes available. If you choose "Keep looking for recent networks," AirPort will continue looking for networks you have already joined, and automatically join the network when one is found.
*******

If it is indeed illigal, why would the "Automatically join an open network" be available as an option?

Just curious
 
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If it is indeed illigal, why would the "Automatically join an open network" be available as an option?

Just curious

Because not all open networks are illegal. Colleges or business districts will have a series of open WiFi connections for the public to use.

However, there have been more than enough posts about people using networks where the owner of the network has no intention of sharing their signal. That is not only immoral and sleazy, but it's quite possibly illegal depending on where you are.

I'm going to go ahead and lock this thread. There are already enough threads that discuss this, for example the one that you were linked to in the second post of this thread:
http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56490
 
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