Using unsecured wireless network; is it bad?

I am picking up this really good signal (3000 kbps download speed) through my laptop and have been using it for a few days now with no problems. I am thinking about not paying for the crappy WiFi service I am subscribed to and riding this free internet as long as it is open. I feel like this is a set up for something bc it is a really good signal and some one paying for such a good internet speed should know how to secure their network. So my question is, can they hack in to my computer or monitor what I am doing online?

Well, if they wanted to, they could login to the settings of the router, and check to see someone else is using it. But from the looks of that, people who have routers that are unsecure don't really care and/or don't know if people are stealing their signals. I do not believe they can hack your computer. The worst that can happen is they'll encrypt they're router, which would mean no more access to do.

And also, I know for a fact that stealing off someone else's wireless is [b46963ddb01]illegal[/b46963ddb01]. I hope I'm right that something like that is illegal. ;)

It's not their loss. It's your gain. D

Yes, it's theft of service if you steal bandwidth from some else's [if0775ab76e]paid[/if0775ab76e] WiFi service.

Aside from that is the security risk you most definitely CAN be hacked, and not only that, but everything you do on the internet that isn't secured by encryption (such as logging in and posting to this site) can be monitored by anybody else on the same WiFi segment. A guy could be sitting in another room running Snort or Ethereal and sniffing your FiPG password and whatnot. Very easily.

Bad idea all the way around.

Shit. Why the hell am I always wrong? Rofl.

[quotecd42ec977a="TFOAF"]Well, if they wanted to, they could login to the settings of the router, and check to see someone else is using it. But from the looks of that, people who have routers that are unsecure don't really care and/or don't know if people are stealing their signals. I do not believe they can hack your computer. The worst that can happen is they'll encrypt they're router, which would mean no more access to do.

And also, I know for a fact that stealing off someone else's wireless is [bcd42ec977a]illegal[/bcd42ec977a]. I hope I'm right that something like that is illegal. ;)

It's not their loss. It's your gain. D[/quotecd42ec977a]

Hmm, didn't know about the illegal part but I also don't give a shit )

It's not that hard to secure it, so why would any one leave it open??? Unless they dont know shit about computers...

Maybe as dmorris said, to try and retrieve your passwords and other personal information.

[quote67704667d8="ulenie"]It's not that hard to secure it, so why would any one leave it open??? Unless they dont know shit about computers...[/quote67704667d8]
Bingo. Most people buy a wireless router/AP, plug it in, connect and go. Don't change the SSID from the default, don't disable SSID broadcast, and don't enable encryption and MAC filtering. I see it all the time, every time I'm out and about with my laptop or PDA and WiFi enabled, I run across it. I live in a subdivision with my nearest neighbor over 100 feet away, and I pick up his unsecured Linksys router. I've been meaning to talk to him about that...

[quote01f65ef31f="dmorris68"]Yes, it's theft of service if you steal bandwidth from some else's [i01f65ef31f]paid[/i01f65ef31f] WiFi service.

Aside from that is the security risk you most definitely CAN be hacked, and not only that, but everything you do on the internet that isn't secured by encryption (such as logging in and posting to this site) can be monitored by anybody else on the same WiFi segment. A guy could be sitting in another room running Snort or Ethereal and sniffing your FiPG password and whatnot. Very easily.

Bad idea all the way around.[/quote01f65ef31f]

Hmm, that's what I am worried about. My computer is pretty secure, though. I have NOD32, spysweeper and Norton internet security running all the time.

[quote8868826282="TFOAF"]Maybe as dmorris said, to try and retrieve your passwords and other personal information.[/quote8868826282]

Can you say Honeypot?

mines is unscure i have verizon

[quote896f12e28b="dmorris68"][quote896f12e28b="ulenie"]It's not that hard to secure it, so why would any one leave it open??? Unless they dont know shit about computers...[/quote896f12e28b]
Bingo. Most people buy a wireless router/AP, plug it in, connect and go. Don't change the SSID from the default, don't disable SSID broadcast, and don't enable encryption and MAC filtering. I see it all the time, every time I'm out and about with my laptop or PDA and WiFi enabled, I run across it. I live in a subdivision with my nearest neighbor over 100 feet away, and I pick up his unsecured Linksys router. I've been meaning to talk to him about that...[/quote896f12e28b]

Ya... Well, the first time I installed a router I didnt know much about them but I followed the installation directions, which in the process secured the network. This person I am connected to hasn't changed the SSID so they might have just plugged it in and started using it.

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Okay, i am have been using the neightbor's bandwidth for a while BUT all of a sudden today, things are strange
Their ebay searches are showing up in the drop down boxes. At Paypal.com their email address is in the default.

Can they see mine, how do i stop this?

I am using firefox

"stop using their bandwidth" is not the solution i'm looking for

Stop using their bandwidth.

Before the police knock knock on your door.

Ok maybe not, but your neighbor might, with a bat in his hand.

Use proxies when browsing, perhaps. Or turn off cookies for sites.

Hey, I use unsecured wireless internet, is there anyway to find out if someone is using my internet?

do you REALLY think the police would do anything about that... I mean come on.. a laptop with a wireless card inside it will usually automatically connect to the first connection it finds. You can always play dumb.

I was joking about the police thing, notice "Ok maybe not," and I doubt his neighbor would bash him with a bat. But if he did access his neighbors paypal account....then you got troubles my friend.

Why would i access his paypal account??!?!

You can argue ethics with me because i am using their bandwidth, but i would never, NEVER do that shit.

ALso, even if i did not have morals, that could be traced from whatever was being sent to me etc.

[quote3fbb001181="Daggoth"]Hey, I use unsecured wireless internet, is there anyway to find out if someone is using my internet?[/quote3fbb001181]

[quote385542430f="Daggoth"][quote385542430f="Daggoth"]Hey, I use unsecured wireless internet, is there anyway to find out if someone is using my internet?[/quote385542430f][/quote385542430f]

I presume you mean you leave your wireless unprotected? If yes, just login to your wireless router and check to see what MAC addresses and PC Names have accessed your network.

[quote490b3c5197="doylnea"][quote490b3c5197="Daggoth"][quote490b3c5197="Daggoth"]Hey, I use unsecured wireless internet, is there anyway to find out if someone is using my internet?[/quote490b3c5197][/quote490b3c5197]

I presume you mean you leave your wireless unprotected? If yes, just login to your wireless router and check to see what MAC addresses and PC Names have accessed your network.[/quote490b3c5197]

I know how to log on to my wireless adapter, but where do I go from there?

[quote5d9f1109b0="Daggoth"][quote5d9f1109b0="doylnea"][quote5d9f1109b0="Daggoth"][quote5d9f1109b0="Daggoth"]Hey, I use unsecured wireless internet, is there anyway to find out if someone is using my internet?[/quote5d9f1109b0][/quote5d9f1109b0]

I presume you mean you leave your wireless unprotected? If yes, just login to your wireless router and check to see what MAC addresses and PC Names have accessed your network.[/quote5d9f1109b0]

I know how to log on to my wireless adapter, but where do I go from there?[/quote5d9f1109b0]

yeah, i was wondering the same thing. I have a linksys router, but cant find any list, only Mac Adress restrictions and stuff.

[quote0d779fb636="unlabeledbooze"][quote0d779fb636="Daggoth"][quote0d779fb636="doylnea"][quote0d779fb636="Daggoth"][quote0d779fb636="Daggoth"]Hey, I use unsecured wireless internet, is there anyway to find out if someone is using my internet?[/quote0d779fb636][/quote0d779fb636]

I presume you mean you leave your wireless unprotected? If yes, just login to your wireless router and check to see what MAC addresses and PC Names have accessed your network.[/quote0d779fb636]

I know how to log on to my wireless adapter, but where do I go from there?[/quote0d779fb636]

yeah, i was wondering the same thing. I have a linksys router, but cant find any list, only Mac Adress restrictions and stuff.[/quote0d779fb636]

Same, I have a linksys router Firmware Version v2.02.

also, to answer the main poster's question, i dont think you should use it as a primary source of internet. Just use it for downloading on bittorrent and such, and keep your own crappy wifi. It is illegal to do, and they could possibly see your passwords if you log into anything sensitive.

It's hard to believe how many people run un-secure wireless in their household, and BUSINESSES! .. I've witnessed so much of it.

Some sites use the IP address for their "fill-in" boxes, if paypal is showing their email address, more then likley thats what the site is doing, since you are indeed using "THEIR" IP address.

I plan on setting up a wireless network in my house, although I'm gonna do it in a way where I'll have a Wireless-N Router as secure as I can make it, then have a wireless-G router completely open segmented from my network, just so I can see anyone who would "indeed" try to use my internet ) and give me someone to pick on, in my spare time.