Connecting to a wireless network

Dolby

Dolby

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So I turn on my wireless and notice an unsecured network being picked - very weak signal but unsecured. It says 'unsecured computer to computer network' and I click 'connect' to see what it will do.

I'm NOT interested in taking bandwidth or anything (I have enough ...) but am curious as to how I can DO anything on the other machine? It aquired address and said connected - but what now?

I can't see a name or anything of the PC?
 
Dolby said:
So I turn on my wireless and notice an unsecured network being picked - very weak signal but unsecured. It says 'unsecured computer to computer network' and I click 'connect' to see what it will do.

I'm NOT interested in taking bandwidth or anything (I have enough ...) but am curious as to how I can DO anything on the other machine? It aquired address and said connected - but what now?

I can't see a name or anything of the PC?
Click to expand...

View the 5 ms wallpapers in his shared pics folder...:)
 
gregmcc said:
Its a honeypot - the police are going to come busting down your door!
Click to expand...

lol Why? He didn't hack in as it's not secure (which is as good as a public invitation) and he's not stealing anything.
 
Browser said:
lol Why? He didn't hack in as it's not secure (which is as good as a public invitation) and he's not stealing anything.
Click to expand...

Even if its not secure and is wide open he's not allowed to connect without permission. This is trespassing and you can be held liable.
 
Since he is the connected to the network, he COULD scan ports to check for vulnerabilities to exploit. IF he were to find such a vulnerability he could, depending on the specific vulnerability in question, gain root access, steal data, cause mayhem etc.

Good thing HE won't ;)
 
Browser said:
lol Why? He didn't hack in as it's not secure (which is as good as a public invitation) and he's not stealing anything.
Click to expand...

Well, its not really illegal in the sense that the police will be on your ass. Just more courteous to not do so.

Its equivalent to leaving your front door open and unlocked. People can walk into your house and it wouldn't necessarily be illegal (maybe trespassing, but you did leave your door open) but it really wouldn't feel like the right thing to do, now would it?
 
Even if you left your front door open it doesn't give people the right to enter your house. That would be trespassing hence illegal.
 
Garyvdh said:
really? are you sure? how do you know that?
Click to expand...

"I'm NOT interested in taking bandwidth or anythin"
I know, I had a hard time spotting that too :rolleyes:

It's nice to see there's so many lawyers around here lol.

/gets some popcorn and watches
 
gregmcc said:
Even if you left your front door open it doesn't give people the right to enter your house. That would be trespassing hence illegal.
Click to expand...

Trespassing requires unlawful entry, which in this instance has not occurred. It would be difficult, if one left themselves open to such a situation, to prove that they denied a person entry. The same can be said of an unsecured wireless network.
 
timgaul said:
Trespassing requires unlawful entry, which in this instance has not occurred. It would be difficult, if one left themselves open to such a situation, to prove that they denied a person entry. The same can be said of an unsecured wireless network.
Click to expand...

I get what your saying but just because someone doesn't secure their wireless connection doesn't give anyone the right to connect and use it.

Proving unlawful entry would be difficult. If the guy maybe had MAC lackdown and the client spoofed the MAC to gain entry then it would be an easier case.

But I reckon just use common sense - its not yours so don't connect to it. If things do go pear shaped and you 'borrow' some of their bandwidth you would still be liable - or you would end up sitting in court for a while :)
 
gregmcc said:
I get what your saying but just because someone doesn't secure their wireless connection doesn't give anyone the right to connect and use it.

Proving unlawful entry would be difficult. If the guy maybe had MAC lackdown and the client spoofed the MAC to gain entry then it would be an easier case.

But I reckon just use common sense - its not yours so don't connect to it. If things do go pear shaped and you 'borrow' some of their bandwidth you would still be liable - or you would end up sitting in court for a while :)
Click to expand...

Of course if the guy hasn't secured his wireless network then in all likelihood he ain't tracking MAC and IP address, where the bandwidth is being used, etc, etc. He'll just wake up one morning and realise he's gone through his 3 gig cap in 24 hours! :D
 
You know what? I'll Google.

The question was a *technical* query and not ethical query at all. Granted - many of you don't know me, but those that do should know I have no reason to do anything on another network.

The query could also be changed - as my brother who is staying with me has a Netgear unsecured AP to stream to his PS3. Thats its sole task. I HAVE permission to log onto his machine, but I don't know how technically.

Thanks for the replies though
 
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