Using your neighbours internet connection

Lab_Mouse · 31-05-2010 12:38PM #1

Is it legal or would it be seen as theft of their bandwidth.Not nessarily you using it to download illegal files but say just browsing the web?

Have my own connection but somebody near by has an unencrypted connection for nearly the last 3 years!

EDIT:Sorry meant to put this in it's own thread and not drag this one off topic.Feel free to move mods

Tom Young · 31-05-2010 05:54PM

No legislation specifically for that here, other than Section 4 of the 1991 Criminal Damage Act and the 2001 Theft and Fraud Offences Act Sections 2 or 9.

That section provides:
“A person (in this section referred to as the possessor) who has any thing in his custody or under his control intending without lawful excuse to use it or cause or permit another to use it— (a) to damage any property belonging to some other person … shall be guilty of an offence.”

So theoretically you can be prosecuted for it, we know it is theft, deception etc.

Secure your own network and resist the urge to use others.

dermot_sheehan · 31-05-2010 07:25PM

s. 99 Postal and Telecommunications Services Act 1983 (as amended) can apply in certain circumstances (if the wifi network is provided by a licensed telecommunications provider, the references to telecom eireann in the 1983 act can now with the amendments be read to include any licenced operator.

Tom Young · 31-05-2010 07:53PM

gabhain7 wrote: »

s. 99 Postal and Telecommunications Services Act 1983 (as amended) can apply in certain circumstances (if the wifi network is provided by a licensed telecommunications provider, the references to telecom eireann in the 1983 act can now with the amendments be read to include any licenced operator.

I forgot completely about this Section. Thanks!

99.—

(1) A person who wilfully causes the company to suffer loss in respect of any rental, fee or charge properly payable for the use of the telecommunications system or any part of the system or who by any false statement or misrepresentation or otherwise with intent to defraud avoids or attempts to avoid payment of any such rental, fee or charge shall be guilty of an offence.

(2) A person who connects or causes to be connected any apparatus or device to, or places or causes to be placed any apparatus or device in association or conjunction with, the telecommunications system operated by the company or any part of the system the effect of which might result in the provision by the company of a service to any person without payment of the appropriate rental, fee or charge shall be guilty of an offence.

Using your neighbours internet connection

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