5 ms·

Not really. You'd still be liable for any misuse happening from external users. Or if not liable, you'd at least have an uphill battle to fight in order to prov

• nly 10y ago
  This is true, but if guest networks were the norm then individually you'd be less likely to be exploited by criminals, because of the greater spread, and the issues surrounding them would be better appreciated by the authorities and law makers. ISPs should be getting onboard with providing public access points. Why wouldn't they welcome me using my home as a basepoint for their public service?
  • clishem 10y ago
    A big porportion of Dutch routers is actually creates a secondary independent network that provides free internet access to users of the same provider, across the country.
    • milankragujevic 10y ago
      Same in Serbia with Serbian BroadBand (SBB) UniFi.
      • cmdrfred 10y ago
        Comcast[0] does this in the US. It's opt out as I understand. [0]http://www.extremetech.com/computing/184263-comcast-turns-50000-paying-customer-homes-into-public-hotspots-millions-more-by-the-end-of-the-year http://www.extremetech.com/computing/184263-comcast-turns-50...
    • deleted 10y ago
      [deleted]
  • kwhitefoot 10y ago
    BT in the UK does this. As far as I know pretty much all BT wifi routers are part of a FON network unless you change the configuration.
  • joosteto 10y ago
    Because when your home gives free access, sharing the connection (and cost) with your neighbors becomes easier. Yes, it's possible now already, but now we're all afraid the others may abuse our connection.
    • tamana 10y ago
      Abuse how??
• rangibaby 10y ago
  > Or if not liable, you'd at least have an uphill battle to fight in order to prove that it wasn't you that did the thing that got you into trouble. If everyone had guest networks, I doubt this kind of thing would even make it to court.
  • DrStalker 10y ago
    Doesn't mean you won't get police showing up with a warrant and taking everything electronic to check for child porn because someone on your IP was distributing it.
• jstanley 10y ago
  > you'd at least have an uphill battle to fight in order to prove that it wasn't you that did the thing that got you into trouble. Aren't you innocent until proven guilty? Simply saying "I have a guest network" surely constitutes reasonable doubt, in the absence of any other evidence against you.
  • mariuolo 10y ago
    > Aren't you innocent until proven guilty? Simply saying "I have a guest network" surely constitutes reasonable doubt, in the absence of any other evidence against you. You'd still face an average of 6 years of legal wrangling and attendant expenses.
  • Proof 10y ago
    Sadly, the way Justice System is working nowadays is that majority of cases end with a plea due to overwhelming pressure from the prosecutors. So, theoretically one could ride the reasonable-doubt-train all the way to court but at that point, the prosecutor would stack any charge possible leaving the jury to deliberate on all them. Modern day juries still most likely are not computer savvy so, merely stating "IP Address" would most likely be enough to convict. It is also needs to be added that if the charges are severe enough, even though every defendant is innocent until proven guilty, in reality it is the opposite way around if the said crime is vehemently disliked by all.
    • icebraining 10y ago
      Do they use juries for these matters in Italy?
      • qubex 10y ago
        No.
  • _ph_ 10y ago
    No, you are still liable as the operator of any public network you provide. In Germany they tried to create better legal protection for public wifi providers, but it is still not clear that you are completely off the hook.
• sandworm101 10y ago
  An earthquake puts everything deep into force majeure. Contracts are basically out the window. Only the most heartless of judges would allow a case to move beyond the simple assertion that what happened was due to the quake. If rescuers ask people to open their wifi, they can open their wifi. In such situations those same rescuers are free to bash down doors, raid pharmacies for needed supplies, cut into water pipes to 'steal' water, commender heavy equipment and generally do anything they reasonably feel will keep people alive. Just remember to lock the router back up once the emergency is over.
  • qubex 10y ago
    I'm guffawing at how benignly naive your characterisation of the Italian legal system is.
• toyg 10y ago
  > You'd still be liable for any misuse happening from external users. I think he meant risk to the network itself or to attached resources. I don't think anyone in the area is currently thinking about torrents.
• josho 10y ago
  Isn't this clearly FUD. Of course if someone from your IP address is committing crimes and the authorities start an investigation they'll start looking into you and your family, you might be inconvenienced as the investigation goes on (e.g. have to park farther from your house because of that annoying white van that always seems to be parked in front). But, IP address is not sufficient evidence to take you to civil court nor charge you with a crime (at least in North American courts). Regardless, has there ever been a single case where someone was committing a crime by connecting to an open wifi network?
  • tamana 10y ago
    They can seize your gear for a year while they decide whether to charge you and you petition to get it back.
    • josho 10y ago
      That sounds rather draconian. Is the American justice system really this bad? I'm aware of the Kim dotcom case that was arguably supporting piracy and the operator knew he was skirting laws. So, I understand (but don't agree) with how the justice system is making an example of him by taking away the servers. But, does the justice system really pull the nuclear option (take your property and keep it for years) when upon investigation all evidence points elsewhere?
      • rconti 10y ago
        well... yeah. I'm not sure how often it happens, but it definitely happens. You'll be lucky to EVER get it back.