chaotic_nipple: (Default)
chaotic_nipple ([personal profile] chaotic_nipple) wrote2007-08-26 10:46 am

Moral Dilemma of the day.

Is it "Theft" to use someone's unsecured wireless network without their permission? Morally, I mean, not legally. Second moral dilemma: Is it "theft" if the owner copies any passwords, credit card numbers, and interesting porn that send over _his_ network? Personally, I'd have to say "No, not really" "Kinda sorta" "Well, you were pretty much asking for it, so quit whining" to both questions, which is why it's the height of stupidity to either run or use an unsecured network, IMO.

[identity profile] dracphelan.livejournal.com 2007-08-26 04:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Is it "Theft" to use someone's unsecured wireless network without their permission? No. It is trespassing. This the same as you sneaking into someone's house through an unlocked door and making free phone calls on their phone.

Is it "theft" if the owner copies any passwords, credit card numbers, and interesting porn that send over _his_ network? Yes it is. It is the same as someone letting another person use their phone and recording any financial information from the phone calls.

Now, I have a heavily secured network at home (encrypted, hardware firewall and software firewalls on all of the computers). I also agree that it is stupid to run an unsecured network and pass private info on an unsecured network.

[identity profile] blue-chicory.livejournal.com 2007-08-26 08:17 pm (UTC)(link)
You're all talking about the moral issues of technology, and I can't even get my camera to talk to my computer. Dumb lists of software, I have no idea of which I need or what I need to have already and I just want to show pictures of garden and I can't until I manage to figure this out. I'm going to go repair my fence and deal with this later. I can actually use wire and zip ties, screw all this other crap. *Stomps out*

[identity profile] corwynofamber.livejournal.com 2007-08-26 08:54 pm (UTC)(link)
That is hard question to answer. First of all, morals tend to be circumstantial, cultural, and ephemeral. So, judging it on a moral level is just hard.

[identity profile] entropy156.livejournal.com 2007-08-26 11:35 pm (UTC)(link)
I'd say it's more akin to a hobo hitching a ride on a freight train. It's really not theft because you haven't deprived the person of anything.