The problem is that by connecting to these networks, you??™re exposing your
computer to the full array of viruses, hackers, and other dangers present on
The Ethics of WiFi
Once you get the technical details out of the way, the one remaining hurdle
when considering using someone else??™s Internet connection is a question of
ethics. There are countless personal wireless networks around the globe and
most of them, you??™ll find, are unsecured. This means that you can literally
walk down the street in a populated area and probably find a working wireless
Internet connection before you reach the end of the block. Some will have
been left open intentionally, but most will be unsecured merely because their
owners don??™t have the benefit of the ???Set Up a Wireless Router??? procedure
found earlier in this chapter.
Now, just because you can connect to these networks, does it mean you
should? Are you taking advantage of someone else??™s ignorance by breaking
into his private network, or are you simply making use of a public resource
that you??™d be equally eager to share?
I??™m not about to try to solve this dilemma in these short pages; I only wish to
raise the question, and to suggest that if you do ever decide to utilize someone
else??™s wireless network, that you not do any harm. Think about your impact,
both on the bandwidth of the foreign network and the privacy of those who
operate it. And then tread lightly.
Build Your Network | 373
Networking and
Internet
any network.
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