# Legality of using neighbor's unprotected WiFi internet access?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legality-of-using-neighbors-unprotected-wifi-internet-access/282115>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [December 29, 2004, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legality-of-using-neighbors-unprotected-wifi-internet-access/282115 "2004-12-29T17:07:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 7

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**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\
**Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legality-of-using-neighbors-unprotected-wifi-internet-access/282115/121 "2005-01-13T00:15:25Z")

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It might not be dead, let’s beat it some more.

> [@beerbaron](#):
>
> The problem with anologies is that unless they are apt, they are worthless. Let’s see how quickly I can stretch this stupid movie theatre anology that everyone seems stuck on to the point where it shatters in a million pieces.

Speaking of worthless analogies, comparing movie theatres to WiFi is pretty close to worthless, for the reasons repeated many, many, many times before.

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**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legality-of-using-neighbors-unprotected-wifi-internet-access/282115/122 "2005-01-14T02:56:53Z")

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> [@meowpossum](#):
>
> You’ve got me. I can’t cite any law or stature.
> 
> But…
> 
> I work on a large university campus and I am in and out of wireless network range all day, so my PC is set up to take advantage of the fastest available connection, WiFi if I’m near a hotspot or the modem if not.
> 
> Often, I also work from home. I live in campus housing, so from some parts of my house, I can access the campus wireless network, which I am absolutely entitled to use. However, when I sit on my living room sofa, I connect with my neighbor’s network instead.
> 
> Because I am located in my own property and because I have a legitimate reason for being set up to use the fastest available network connection, I really don’t feel like there’s a positive obligation on me to reconfigure my network settings every time I enter the south end of my living room simply because my next-door-neighbor’s wireless network is unprotected.
> 
> Also, I’m an amoral cheapskate who likes free, speedy internet access from my sof-- er, never mind that part…

So try being a decent human being and tell your neighbor his wi-fi is unprotected.  
Sheesh! :smack:

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