Re: Open WiFi connections: Are you really stealing?

On Wed, 05 Apr 2006 12:49:13 -0400, Frank Tabor
<ftabor@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Wed, 05 Apr 2006 11:26:43 -0500 Bob Giddings <bobg@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote in article <anq7325bdmbplpps7otpgoa37irkcjhenc@xxxxxxx>:

With 2/3 of all wifi connections configured for open access,
there's no reason why anybody should worry about anyone using
their node. Just put up a restriction. They will happily go on
to the next. There are a dozen available in almost every
neighborhood.

Here is where you are wrong. They are not CONFIGURED open. They are
only open because that is the default and requires further action that
99% of the folks installing don't understand.

Strange. Windows reports they are "configured for open access."
But most of the time I don't even see that. I just turn on the
laptop and I'm connected automatically. Poof.

That's the way it works.


The haven't left it open willingly. That's a concept you just don't
seem to grasp.

Not choosing is also a choice.

And you don't seem to grasp that if they want to restrict it,
they can. Why do you have such a poor opinion of the average
wifi user? Are they really too dumb to live?

Bah. I believe in free choice. And the choice is right on the
screen in front of them. Open access is the default because
routers are made to share access.

That is what they are for.

You just ASSUME for no reason that people are doing something
they don't want to do. Well, there is one obvious reason.
Because YOU don't want to. You have some far-fetched notion
there is some danger in doing so. Most people don't believe that
there is anything going on within 500 feet or so that will
inconvenience them as much as fooling with a password. And most
of them are right.

And if they turn out to be wrong, they can always enable
restrictions.

You don't want to? Fine, don't. Your choice.

Believe it or not, there are people who like the idea of a nation
of free wifi nodes. And being one of them. But they leave other
people the freedom to do as they please.

If you don't want to share, then restrict it. Click. Type a
password. What could be simpler? This is not rocket science.
It's right in front of you.

The reason most people don't do this is because they don't care.
THEY DON'T CARE.

If they don't care, why do you? What business is it of yours?
It's their router, not yours. Drive on.


Suppose you bought a car with a toggle switch starting system. It comes
with an ignition switch kit, but yo have to install it yourself and the
owners manual doesn't tell you that you have to. Suppose you are too
lazy or stupid to install the switch.

Since all anyone has to do is look in the car to see the toggle switch
is it ok for me to take your car and use it for my own anytime I want?

Another madcap analogy. If you are using my car, I can't. If
you are using my wifi signal, so can I. At the same time. And
usually with no noticeable degradation at all. If nothing is
missing, what has been taken?

And why, assuming this is my system, should I care? More to the
point, why should you?

"Open access" means just that. Open. As in "open road", "open
for business", "open arms". Got it?

What part of "open" don't you understand?


Bob, who doesn't care how you set your system. And wishes you
would return the favor.



www.arcatapet.net/bobgiddings
.

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