Question RE "Piggybacking" neighbor's WiFi

[al-Canine]

Just got a new Mac laptop, WiFi enabled. While at my vacation house rental, I have used AOL dial-up, but just found an "unprotected" wireless network that I am able to access. Would the neighbor be aware of this use of their network? Could they see what sites I visited? ..... lol, like IH, MSNBC, CNN, weather.com, hawt places like that. ;) Just wondering.

[clavin42]

Just got a new Mac laptop, WiFi enabled. While at my vacation house rental, I have used AOL dial-up, but just found an "unprotected" wireless network that I am able to access. Would the neighbor be aware of this use of their network? Could they see what sites I visited? ..... lol, like IH, MSNBC, CNN, weather.com, hawt places like that. ;) Just wondering.

Yes, they could. They could possibly be reading everything you are typing. Remember broadcasting on a wireless network is no different then broadcasting over an FM radio, anyone can pick up your transmissions. This is the reason for using secure wireless networks where the data is encrypted.

If it were me I wouldnt worry about it, but at the same time I wouldnt be doing any banking either. Chances are people with an unsecured network are not going to be the types using packet sniffers to see what a piggybacker is up to. Then again it could be a honeypot if your neighbor is a real dork. As long as your computer is not named anything that resembles your real name he wont know its you.

Hope that helped.

[Casey]

I was recently in NYC visiting my mother.

When I booted my laptop I must have had a choice of 20 unsecured networks. I was near the Lincoln tunnel.

I always bring my cell phone and connect to the internet through it if need be.

I thought about all the open networks.

I'm wondering if people actually do this on purpose and share the cost of the ISP?

Anyway, that was my best guess.

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As an aside. I was surprised during my last 2 trips using different rental car companies, that I could NOT connect to the internet using my laptop & cell phone while INSIDE the rental vehicle.

My cell phone media package however could connect to the web while inside the rental vehicles.