Reputation: 10
Stealing wifi.. Can't get caught
I heard there are being arrest on people stealing wifi. But how do they catch people? My cousin live in an apartment near a coffee shop and hes been using their wifi the whole time. You just need to park a car near a coffee shop and start using it. They can't track you.
How do they arrest people?
Reputation: 1151
I believe they can track where their IP's are being distributed to, maybe watch what IP your stealing, then watch the one it changes to when you get home? I mean, if they catch you IN THE ACT, its a bit hard to make up something reasonable. And, if the WiFi is free, I don't think they can do anything. If your using Denny's WiFi, its different than robbing your neighbors bandwidth.
As my IT teacher once said:
"How can you tell if your WiFi is working? Hit the switch, and watch all the guys in your lawn with laptops hang their heads and leave" :P
Reputation: 10
I doubt police are train to catch hackers or wifi-stealers.Originally Posted by Oisterboy
But I doubt they could track where their ip are distributed. I mean how can they catch you in the act when you are at home are in a car?
Reputation: 6
You can't "steal" wifi if its there and no password on it then its yours to use totaly legal.
Reputation: 10
but I heard people get caught even if its unlock.
I am learning how to hack into WEP encryption.
Reputation: 13
if youre hacking through a wep then its as illegal as stealing credit card numbers . if it has no wep/wpa key on it then its 100% legal
Reputation: 424
What?
If the Wi-fi connection is for public use, which it probably is as it is a coffee shop, then it's perfectly fine to use it.
If he's using a private wi-fi connection, then he can be tracked and caught.
Reputation: 317
true i did the same at my neighbors when internet was dead for almost a weak already >.>last few days i was on internet through their connection:3 such a easy key xD but i doubt they catch you for something like this>_>
Reputation: 10
Exactly they won't know.
Reputation: 424
They could, using software.
Reputation: 41
I live out in the middle of no-where, so if I had WiFi then there is no one to steal it.
Reputation: 30
Yes its actually really simple. On my Linksys wireless router I just log on to the security page and got to the MAC Address filter and even if its not turned on it will display all active IP's on your internet. Can your cousin should be fine. The coffee shop is a hot spot. So its free to anyone. Most coffee shops (especially StarBucks) are hot spots.
Reputation: 10
Yes, however you won't be able to track the person using it
Reputation: 30
There are websites like http://ip-adress.com/ that can track IP's down to at least you city. I know there are hackers and such that can get it down to street and even house. No doubt the police and federal government have access to these types of things.
Using that site it is simple to trace any IP. Such as OnRPG's.
Reputation: 317
I doubt it.... Most people use those internet people to get their internet working >.> i doubt they even know about those softwares....
Reputation: 18
Uh... the thing is, if you're using someone's wi-fi, aren't you using their IP?There are websites like http://ip-adress.com/ that can track IP's down to at least you city. I know there are hackers and such that can get it down to street and even house. No doubt the police and federal government have access to these types of things.
Using that site it is simple to trace any IP. Such as OnRPG's.
I don't think tracking someone down to city is going to help, if they're already using your wi-fi.
It's probably just common sense, though. If you see an unwanted person connected to your network, look out your window. Problem solved.
Reputation: 1151
Dunno why I didn't think of this before...Every packet you send from your computer (and recieve for that matter) has a Mac address. That address is SPECIFIC to YOUR machine. Therefore, if you were using their IP, or your own, they could still find out who you are using your Mac address.
Being away from my IT class for the summer made me forget :P
And yeah, odds are, the average user wouldn't know how to do that. But, its possible.
Reputation: 18
Plus, you cant' just come up to someone on the street and be like "I NEED TO SEE YOUR MAC ADDRESS, SIR." even if you're a cop.
Hell, I borrow wi-fi connections on my PSP.
Reputation: 1151
All of that being true, yes...but, IN THEORY, it IS possible to catch a person who is stealing a wireless internet connection, shall we agree upon this?
INFO:
http://www.computerworld.com/mobilet...tml?source=x68
http://www.oreillynet.com/mac/blog/2...teal_wifi.html
Reputation: 10
I don't agree. Simply, you can't track by mac address.
P.S: On side note, when Games IP bann, why won't they bann the mac address instead?
Reputation: 32
Incase the computer is sold, later on.
Reputation: 10
Yes however, in theory your could find out who is using your Wi-Fi. (stay with me since I don't know anything about computers.) But how are people getting caught, like that guy that caught caught on the news. You can't trace a Mac address unless you sold a computer or if you check the computer personally.
And I doubt they will track by distance. Like how many feets the user is.
Reputation: 43
I have to end this here.
If the router is not being protected with an encryption key, it is considered public domain; thus, it will not hold up in court.
Now, if the router is encrypted, then it is considered an attempt at privately restricting acces to their router; thus, those who "hack" into it would be considered breaking and entering into private property.
Reputation: 10
Thus as explain, the Hacker gets un-notice.
Reputation: 30
No. Your still using your computers IP. And as I said their are programs and people who know how to track down to street and address. Some places have very widespread Wi-Fi. My airport sends a signal that can be reached at nearly 100% from 2 miles away.
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