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He's connecting to his neighbor's router seemingly without permission. "When you rent a cable modem/router combo from Comcast (as one of my nearby neighbors ap

by jebblue 12y ago

He's connecting to his neighbor's router seemingly without permission. "When you rent a cable modem/router combo from Comcast (as one of my nearby neighbors apparently does)" It may be illegal: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legality_of_piggybacking http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legality_of_piggybacking Comcast is not on the EFF's list of Wireless Friendly ISP's (referenced in the Wiki article): https://www.eff.org/pages/wireless-friendly-isps https://www.eff.org/pages/wireless-friendly-isps Even if it were: http://compnetworking.about.com/od/wirelessfaqs/f/legal_free_wifi.htm http://compnetworking.about.com/od/wirelessfaqs/f/legal_free... "Using a neighbor's wireless access point may not be legal even with their permission. "

icehawk 12y ago
xfinitywifi is provided by Comcast, you need a valid comcast login to connect. He is a Comcast subscriber himself, and thus he has a valid Comcast login.
- jebblue 12y ago
  It has not been proven that Comcast has the authority to do this: https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20141208/13222529362/comcast-sued-over-router-update-that-makes-your-wi-fi-hotspot-public-ignores-your-opt-out-preferences.shtml https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20141208/13222529362/comca... It has been proven that in many places at least in the US, it is illegal and in some cases is a felony. Edit: Further, it is not a good idea to connect to any known SSID unless you know for a fact that it can be trusted: http://arstechnica.com/security/2014/06/free-wi-fi-from-xfinity-and-att-also-frees-you-to-be-hacked/ http://arstechnica.com/security/2014/06/free-wi-fi-from-xfin... Your neighbor might be hacking you while you think you are legally using their hardware.
  - tedunangst 12y ago
    What is a felony? Using Comcast?
    - jebblue 12y ago
      Using Comcast with your own equipment and none owned by any one else outside your home? I'm not a lawyer. Anything else including what the author describes, using his neighbor's equipment without their permission even if he thinks Comcast has the legal authority to authorize it (and documentation in the links I provided challenges that notion) then it's not for me to say; I'm not a lawyer.

by jebblue 12y ago

icehawk 12y ago

xfinitywifi is provided by Comcast, you need a valid comcast login to connect. He is a Comcast subscriber himself, and thus he has a valid Comcast login.

jebblue 12y ago
It has not been proven that Comcast has the authority to do this: https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20141208/13222529362/comcast-sued-over-router-update-that-makes-your-wi-fi-hotspot-public-ignores-your-opt-out-preferences.shtml https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20141208/13222529362/comca... It has been proven that in many places at least in the US, it is illegal and in some cases is a felony. Edit: Further, it is not a good idea to connect to any known SSID unless you know for a fact that it can be trusted: http://arstechnica.com/security/2014/06/free-wi-fi-from-xfinity-and-att-also-frees-you-to-be-hacked/ http://arstechnica.com/security/2014/06/free-wi-fi-from-xfin... Your neighbor might be hacking you while you think you are legally using their hardware.
- tedunangst 12y ago
  What is a felony? Using Comcast?
  - jebblue 12y ago
    Using Comcast with your own equipment and none owned by any one else outside your home? I'm not a lawyer. Anything else including what the author describes, using his neighbor's equipment without their permission even if he thinks Comcast has the legal authority to authorize it (and documentation in the links I provided challenges that notion) then it's not for me to say; I'm not a lawyer.