Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: BoberFett
Why is this so difficult? Maybe I've been so deep into network communications that I can't comprehend how laymen don't understand this.
Spin, dodge, deflect!
The access point was connected to the internet. According to you that makes it fair game.
I should also add that somebody who thinks they're so knowledgeable about the legal aspect of networks would realize that the internet isn't public. It's a collection of private networks, so every time you access anything on the internet you're crossing over several private networks and accessing numerous private pieces of hardware. If Sprint suddenly decided that one of their backbone switches was private but didn't tell anybody and didn't protect it in any way, could they accuse half the internet of trespassing?
Sprint sure can. But in the case of transport there are legally binding agreements in place to prevent this from happening. In other words, they can but it would be stupid to do so - financially.
That's where you you need to understand how The Internet works.
But we're not dealing with how The Internet works. We're dealing strictly with accessing a computer you do not have authorization/permission to use.[/quote]
Nice try Skippy, but contract law doesn't override criminal law. Even if contracts are in place to guarantee access to a particular switch, Sprint could choose to claim it was private. While that may place them in breach of contract, that doesn't absolve all of their customers of their crimes.
I should put up an access point named "FREE WIFI FOR ALL" but put a sticky note on the router saying it's private, for my use only. Then I just kick back and wait for victims. I wonder what they'd pay to avoid my reporting them to the police?