This isn’t the most pressing ethical issue of the day, but it is something I (and probably you too, if you’re reading this) have bumped into: when you’re out and about with your laptop and need to check email, is it ethical to use an unsecured wireless internet connection without getting specific permission to do so?
An Ars Technica article on “stealing” WiFi argues that there’s nothing morally wrong with using somebody else’s open wireless connection (although do note that it may be illegal in some areas—it’s a bit fuzzy). Thoughts? As for myself, I don’t feel any guilt about accessing an open wireless network in a public place, but I wouldn’t use a neighbor’s open wireless network without asking first.
Like I said, it’s not a life-or-death moral quandary… but what do you think?
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January 4, 2008 at 14:20
Analogy: Is it okay to go into someone’s house and watch their TV if they leave their doors unlocked? If you’re careful there’d be no harm done after all …
Of course the internet use thing is a bit different, so like any analogy it only goes so far. However the idea that any unsecured wifi is fair game is misguided IMHO. Leaving your doors unlocked may be foolish, but that still doesn’t give people the right to do what the like in your home.
January 4, 2008 at 15:24
I would say using someone’s personal unprotected WiFi is stealing. However, an open shared public network is OK. I have an iPhone in which it always picks up an open WiFi network. If I know it’s a personal network, I try to not join it. If it’s public, I would gladly jump in and surf the net. I have to admit, I have joined some private open WiFi in the past, so I’m guilty. Honesty is the first sign of improvement.
January 4, 2008 at 15:28
I leave mine open specifically so others can do just that. I have no problem assuming that if they leave theirs open, it is from a benevolent intent. There is plenty of noise about securing wireless networks that I think anyone who really cares really would secure it. Further, anyone who has a wireless network setup should be aware of basic computer issues like this.
I don’t think the TV analogy makes sense because it’s a one-way communication instead of a two-way. Instead, lets consider the phone, a little better, but not much. If I walk up to someone and ask to use their phone, it’s because I can’t get to it without their permission or I may be inconveniencing someone by using it. When I use the neighbors open wifi, I have access to it without even entering the house and I’m not inconveniencing them by using it. In fact, I’d be surprised if I’d been noticed at all on the dozen or so I’ve connected to through the last few years. Therefore, the reasons for asking to use the telephone are mute and the TV analogy really doesn’t follow either. I suppose the only argument I pay any attention to would be that you should ask out of common courtesy, but I think it’s more hassle FOR the other guy I have to go hunt and ask than to just use it.
My argument boils down to, if they cared, they’d secure it. If they don’t secure it, I’m grateful, and actively share mine in appreciation of their generosity.
January 4, 2008 at 15:36
I don’t think it’s the same as going inside someone’s house to watch their TV. More like watching through the window. If you spend all of your time peering into your neighbor’s window—you’re just creepy. lol
Seriously though, I don’t think you should take advantage of your neighbors like that. To me, that’s like splicing their cable for your house w/o paying. It doesn’t really hurt anyone, but it still isn’t right.
I agree that free WiFi in public places is fair game though.
January 4, 2008 at 16:05
I have learned that when I ask if something is unethical, it likely means that the eternity that was planted on my heart is causing me to wrestle. I can rationalize, theorize, justfy but that doesn’t make it right.
January 4, 2008 at 16:12
I know people who’ve intentionally shared their wifi with neighbors as an act of relational evangelism. My wife and I do use a neighbor’s internet and apparently have no guilt about it (and she’s a very rules oriented, black and white type). If they don’t want other people using their wireless, they can easily enough set up a password, so I’m with Josiah on this one.
January 4, 2008 at 16:18
Are you stealing water from your neighbor when their sprinkler system gets water on your lawn?
January 4, 2008 at 19:24
I agree that iwfi is ok if it is in a public place. But I don’t think it is right to use a neighbour’s just because it’s not secured. Have you considered the fact that your neighbour may not even know how to secure his wifi access? The network is something he/she pays to use and logging on without permission is definitely stealing.
For your good conscience, why not find out if your neighbour even knows other people have access to their wifi and that there is a way of making it secure and helping them secure it. If you want to have access to it, you might consider discussing a plan for sharing the cost with them.
As christians, we are called upon to be representatives of hrist. It’s not a question of whether we feel ok doing it but whether Christ would nod his head in approval when we tell him that’s what we did.
January 4, 2008 at 19:28
And forget about the water watering your lawn argument. Unless you plan to carry your lawn and only return it when he is through with watering his lawn.
January 5, 2008 at 09:36
I don’t use the neighbors wireless, I use friends neighbors wireless for a day while traveling or something like that. The whole concept of tracking down the source of a wireless signal that simply says “Linksys”.
Also, I don’t think someone who has installed a wireless access point should argue that you shouldn’t use their wireless because they don’t know how to secure it. It isn’t that hard. Having done it myself plenty, I maintain that if someone doesn’t care to take the effort to secure it they don’t really care about people getting on it for a short period of time. My interactions with individuals seems to support that. The people I talk to about wireless networks who aren’t themselves computer techs would seem to support this. They are aware of the issue and concerned with securing their network.
I think Brian’s water analogy makes the most sense yet. The water is the same as the wifi signal. I’m having trouble understanding Yu’ni’s objections about carrying around the lawn.
Who’s the victim? Who’s losing out when you connect to some random connection for a day?
January 5, 2008 at 10:19
Hey, I wrote about this very article as well today, and was informed about your site (thanks Josiah!). I also posted a poll, so if you’re interested in voicing your opinion there (using words I put in your mouth), pop on over!
But to add to this conversation, I don’t see any problem with the occasional connection. To be honest, my network is closed but after reading that article and these comments I’m reconsidering…
January 5, 2008 at 12:05
I agree with Yu’ni. I would not use it unless I specifically knew that they intended to share it in an open mode. The rationales offered above are fascinating.
This issue can be complex, because of the various means one can employ to secure a wireless network and the capabilities of various devices to connect to WiFi. Then one should consider the OS security issues (shares, malware, services,...). I don’t think that more than 5-10% of people using it really understand the technology well enough to know what they’re doing. Things have gotten better in the Microsoft universe since XP Service Pack 2, so some will argue that ignorance is acceptable.
But it’s always a bad idea to trust one’s security and privacy to corporations. Their first desire is to violate the public trust if they can get away with it and make money in the process. A case in point is the recent Sears proxy malware that was in the IT news this week. The Sony DRM malware comes to mind as well.
I once tried to let my brother’s neighbor know that their WiFi router was open and vulnerable. I spoke to him on the phone. I told him about how I was able to browse his network and see his machines and shares. He said he was not aware that people could do that. I offered to help him secure it. He said he’d have his wife’s brother secure it. I got the feeling that he was offended by my call. That was months ago and it’s still not secure, but I don’t take that as an excuse to use his network.
Informed consent is necessary, in my opinion. Ignorance, informed or uninformed, is not sufficient.
January 5, 2008 at 22:27
From a moral standpoint, I do not see anything wrong with using an unsecured wifi network.
From a practical standpoint, I do not think it is smart as unsecured means just that…it is easy for hackers to get your personal info when it is sent over an unsecured network.
January 5, 2008 at 23:35
Wouldn’t a parallel question be: why are you using your neighbor’s open WiFi?
While the issues of it being open, they’re too ignorant or apathetic to secure it, owner beware, etc, etc. may make for good discussion, I don’t think they’re the core reason anyone would use their neighbor’s network with or without permission.
Is the real reason because you don’t have the service and want it (covetousness?) or that you’re connecting by mistake (so therefore, you’re as “guilty”/incompetent as the neighbor who doesn’t secure it)?
If your neighbor’s spouse regularly undresses in front of an open window, do you look?
January 6, 2008 at 09:40
I really think if you know that you are “stealing”then it’s wrong.The Bible doesn’t stipulate the conditions and things that are not suppose to be stole,it putsan umbrella on the whole part of stealing.THOU SHALL NOT STEAL!
January 6, 2008 at 21:46
One angle I haven’t seen yet is this: Who is being hurt by using someone’s else’s wireless connection? Is it not the internet provider? If I’m using someone else’s connection from home then I am stealing from the provider not from the neighbour. I should be paying the provider just as my neighbour is. I do see a bit of difference if I am visiting elsewhere and just using it for a short period of time when I couldn’t possibly “buy” it anyway.
January 7, 2008 at 02:29
I honestly can’t say that I see an issue with it. We can view it as unsafe (for you and your neighbor) but I can’t see a strong justification for it being unethical (or at least no one has explained it as such).
It’s not as though you are invading their privacy, sitting in your own home, or as if the need of protection falls upon you as the outsider. If they are concerned for the safety of their network, they need to at least set up a password. And I don’t think they need to explicitly say, I think if someone chooses to leave it open that is their own statement.
And just because everyone likes to come up with other analogies to put this into perspective… if my neighbor listens to XM radio on his/her home stereo with the windows open is it unethical for me to listen?
January 7, 2008 at 08:59
Kel, that last comparison is an issue of lust, not theft.
The question isn’t limited to use of open networks in your own home. My use of open networks is done while traveling. I spend a day at a friends house who doesn’t have Internet access, and I’d like to check some things.
The question is stated “is it ethical to use an unsecured wireless internet connection without getting specific permission to do so?” It doesn’t say anything about location. I object to the consistent use of a neighbor’s Internet connection in order to avoid becoming a customer yourself, but that’s a much finer point on the whole question. As a whole, I have no moral objection. If we are to pick out certain scenarios, I think there are some where you are just plain rude and some where you are stealing.
If you’re already paying for access to the Internet through some company, but don’t have access to that particlar connection then getting on at another connection point seems like no big deal. You used to be able to take your Internet connection with you, but as we drop dial-up and move away from landline phones that becomes a problem. All the connection points lead to the same information. You’re only stealing if you neglect to pay for any connection at all or be a customer of someone who does.
I’d additionally object to someone who, with permission, avoids paying their local ISP by using their neighbors WiFi constantly.
January 7, 2008 at 12:59
In addition to the valid ethical considerations, it is also unwise from a technology standpoint. There are unethical people who intentionally leave their network unsecured, so they can hack into the computers of those who choose to log on.
How could one then say, “Hey, it’s not ethical for you to break into my computer that you accessed because I logged onto your network!”
January 7, 2008 at 13:04
An open wifi advertised “free wifi” is way different then connecting to the guy’s wifi next door without asking him about it. If you have an issue about the “free wifi” go in the place and purchase something and go sit in your car and get on the net.
Problem solved.
If your connecting to the guy next door, go talk to him and make sure he does not mind. He may in fact not know what an open connection means and then you could help him understand.
Problem solved (New friend bonus free).
The other day I was at a doctors office and they have open wifi. I went inside and informed them of it. They don’t care, the doctors want to get on the net with their personal computers. I care because an open wifi network is one less road block for a hacker to get my personal info.
Problem not solved.
January 7, 2008 at 18:23
My city and county offers free wireless Internet so I’m pretty blessed!
January 8, 2008 at 15:51
Amazing, all these posts by Christians justifying stealing. Truly, this sounds more like the Wiccan philosophy of “An it harm none, do as ye will.” This rule says that you can do as you please, as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone. That’s really what you are following.
January 9, 2008 at 00:22
Oh, poo. Are you a GOOD user, or a BAD user?
I like Josiah’s points best (#18). This whole Wifi issue is a new phenomenon. It seems to me that we are still trying to figure out if accessing an unsecured network IS stealing. IS using an unsecured network while traveling, or while your own is on the fritz actually “theft?”
My first thought was similar to the ‘leaving the door unlocked’ analogy (making it a no-no). But, looking at my own reasons for securing my wireless versus those whom I know that don’t secure theirs, I think the closer analogy would be similar to leaving your extra books or clothes out on the front lawn with a sign saying, “Free to good home.” If a person cared about passing users piggy-backing on their network, they would secure it.
If it weren’t for all the nut-cases out there, hacking and creating havoc for everyone, I wouldn’t HAVE to secure my home network—and I wouldn’t care if someone used my network to log on occasionally. The world being as it is, however, if I were asked, I would ALWAYS recommend securing a private network.
In this case, whether God sees it as stealing or not, matters less than whether or not YOU think it’s stealing. If you do, then it doesn’t matter what any of us think. If it violates your conscience: Don’t do it! Check out the passages about “meat offered to idols.” [I Corinthians 8]
January 25, 2008 at 01:22
Is it wrong to take crops from somebody else’s field?
Even if it is the Sabbath?
No.
So why is it wrong to use a Wi-Fi connection?