Overall, I’m seldom surprised these days when I see regulations developing to address symptoms but no efforts put forth to cure the disease.
In the UK, they’ve decided that wireless “poaching” or “piggy backing”, being the act of using someone else’s unprotected wireless connection without their permission, is in fact illegal. Moreover, they’ve also announced that their first two “criminals” have been caught, fined 500 pounds apiece and let go with a 12-month conditional discharge. Wow!
Just a few months ago, I was racing the clock to file something before a midnight deadline and little did I know that my DSL connection was going to be my major hurdle.
With a downed connection, I knew I at least had the option of using a dial-up connection, which my ISP is generous enough to offer in addition to the DSL connection. The more unfortunate side of the story is that I had completely forgotten how slow a dial-up connection can be and how it doesn’t address the capacity needs of today’s Internet. After 90 minutes attempting to complete a 5 minute task, it was obvious that the answering was sitting right there in front of me…the wireless connection on my laptop.
So I jumped in the car, drove around the neighbourhood, block-to-block, seeking out a connection. Wow, there is a ton of people on wireless these days, but too many smart ones with secured networks. Nevertheless, I eventually found that golden unsecured connection for which I was seeking. I logged on, sent my documents and the day was saved. Little did my neighbour know he was my midnight hero! But hold on, we followed the same foolish lawmaking as the UK did, I would have committed a criminal act, been fined roughly $1,200 and carried with me a regular meeting with a parole officer.
With all the potential for “real” criminal activity and identify theft, it’s easy to understand why the UK watchdogs are tackling this issue, but it puzzles me to think why they went to the end of the line instead of starting closer to the source. I’d probably be equally upset if the UK required wireless users to protect their connections, but at least it would make more sense.
And of course, I have to wonder if the 500-pound fines will go toward educating the public or if it will just fund a special unit to catch those big criminals driving around the UK just looking to take advantage of an unprotected wireless network?
I say tackle the cold, not the cough.
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1 comment:
As usual, the few ruin it for the many. Do I agree that it's okay to piggyback off of someone? No, but there are exceptions to every rule. If we lived in a world where trust, and honour were more important than greed and competition than we wouldn't be having this debate. However, we don't, therefore we are.
There have been times, while travelling that I have used someone else's wireless connection. Had I been dishonourable, competitive and greedy, (and more computer savvy) than I may have taken advantage of the situation. But, fortunately for that provider I am not, and their whole life remained secure.
If my connection wasn't secure, and someone took advantage of that, than yes it would suck, but it would also be my stupidity for not taking the appropriate steps.
So, yes the few ruin it for the many, and once again the world reacts (or over-reacts) to something that will continue to grow and remain a problem, until a "cure" is in place.
JDH
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