Groups > alt.comp.os.windows-11 > #27847

Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing?

From	Marian <marianjones@helpfulpeople.com>
Newsgroups	alt.comp.os.windows-11, alt.comp.os.windows-10, alt.internet.wireless
Subject	Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing?
Date	2025-12-02 10:04 -0700
Organization	BWH Usenet Archive (https://usenet.blueworldhosting.com)
Message-ID	<10gn676$89q$1@nnrp.usenet.blueworldhosting.com> (permalink)
References	(3 earlier) <10gjmmm$166dr$1@dont-email.me> <10gk9q9.af4.1@ID-201911.user.individual.net> <jrj00mx0tb.ln2@Telcontar.valinor> <10gk9v9$24de$1@nnrp.usenet.blueworldhosting.com> <k2430mxa4b.ln2@Telcontar.valinor>

Cross-posted to 3 groups.

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Carlos E.R. wrote:
>> Many states have their own computer crime statutes that prohibit
>> unauthorized access to networks. For example, Florida and Michigan have
>> prosecuted individuals for unauthorized Wi-Fi use under state computer
>> crime laws.
> 
> But how do you know it is not authorized?

Hi Carlos,

I understand your point of view, where I also would have considered an
"open" Wi-Fi (which we must assume the OP is using as he'd need a
passphrase otherwise) to be considered de-facto authorized for use.

Especially if that open Wi-Fi didn't have a subsequent authorization screen
like those I see in my doctor's office or at the local Starbucks or hotel.

Of course, a neighbor's open Wi-Fi access point wouldn't likely have an
authorization screen, but I was surprised when I looked at case law in they
USA (see prior post) that NONE of the references I cited had subsequent
authorization screens, and all were prosecuted by the police successfully.

Having said that, Windows sure does make it easy to accidentally connect to
open Wi-Fi access points, which is why I had suggested the BLOCK command,
which will instantly solve the problem of accidental connection (once the
OP is aware of the access point being accidentally connected to of course).

> By default, a phone will connect to an open WiFi without asking. At 
> least, it was so several years ago, I don't know currently because the 
> configuration is cloned from one phone to the next.
> And Windows I think does the same, which is, I understand, what happened 
> to the OP.

As far as I'm aware, by default, iOS and Android devices do not
automatically connect to random open Wi-Fi networks unless the user has
previously joined them. However, once the user manually connects to an open
access point, the device may attempt to reconnect automatically in the
future. To stop this, we can adjust Wi-Fi settings on both iOS and Android
to disable auto-join or auto-connect for specific open networks. 

Windows also does not automatically connect to unknown open Wi-Fi networks
by default. It only auto-connects to networks we've previously joined if
the 'Connect automatically' option was enabled. To stop this, we can
disable auto-connect for specific networks or delete their saved profiles.

For Windows, I would suggest the BLOCK command that I previously posted.
 netsh wlan add filter permission=block ssid="SSID" networktype=infrastructure

> I take that "looking" inside the network is not legal. But using a WiFi 
> that is open? I know some people that intentionally left their WiFi open 
> to any one that wanted. That was the view.

I agree with you, but the law (in they USA) doesn't seem to agree (AFAIK).

Personally, I know a neighbor who advocates everyone having an open Wi-Fi
so that anyone anywhere can have Internet access, but I live in a hilltop
rural area where there is no cable or fiber so we all get our Internet over
the air. 

As a side note, I keep advising that neighbor that someone could do
nefarious things on his IP address but he's not worried about that.

> But then, USA people are quite paranoid about private property, and can 
> shoot an intruder without asking.

In my town, that's never happened to my knowledge, but in a country of 350
million people, murders occur daily, but doorstep murder is rather rare.
 <https://www.fbi.gov/file-repository/reports-and-publications/2024-active-shooter-report>

> Here, some people were taken to court for "illegally downloading 
> movies". In their defence, they said that it was not them, but somebody 
> else using their WiFi, and the reverse could not be proven. They kept 
> their WiFi open. They won. :-D

Yes. In the USA, the prosecution must prove YOU did it, as it's not
sufficient that "anyone" could have done it based on our Constitution.

As for movies, they're generally torrented, which is a special legal
situation since US copyright law requires tenets that torrenting avoids.

In fact, we've had this legal-torrenting discussion on the Apple newsgroups
for years (since iOS is so brain dead that it can't torrent even as macOS
can torrent), where there's never been a single successful USA case (see
caveat) where ANYONE in the USA has been found guilty of torrenting
mainstream movies if they decided to fight the case in court.

Plenty of people paid the fees asked of them by the copyright owners'
lawyers, but NOBODY in the USA has ever been convicted of torrenting
mainstream movies in the history of the USA who fought the charges.

Caveat: The Maple Media Porn Cases were an egregious example where the
lawyers themselves were serving the torrents & they were disbarred.

Thread

OT?  Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing?  micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2025-11-26 08:55 -0500
  Re: OT?  Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing?  micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2025-11-26 09:09 -0500
    Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2025-11-26 13:43 -0500
      Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Marian <marian@dumbshits.com> - 2025-11-27 16:01 +0000
    Re: OT?  Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2025-11-27 12:49 +0000
      Re: OT?  Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Marian <marian@dumbshits.com> - 2025-11-27 16:29 +0000
  Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? knuttle <keith_nuttle@yahoo.com> - 2025-11-26 12:16 -0500
    Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2025-11-26 12:44 -0500
      Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2025-11-27 12:45 +0100
        Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Mark Lloyd <not.email@all.invalid> - 2025-11-27 16:29 +0000
          Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Marian <marian@dumbshits.com> - 2025-11-27 16:34 +0000
          Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2025-11-27 20:06 +0100
            Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2025-11-27 20:16 +0000
              Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Chris <ithinkiam@gmail.com> - 2025-11-28 08:16 +0000
              Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Mark Lloyd <not.email@all.invalid> - 2025-11-28 17:17 +0000
        Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2025-11-27 19:31 -0500
          Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2025-11-28 14:57 +0000
          Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2025-11-28 15:12 +0000
            Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Marian <marian@dumbshits.com> - 2025-11-28 17:51 +0000
            Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2025-12-01 11:27 -0500
  Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2025-11-26 18:18 +0100
  Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? User Support <User.Support@invalid.invalid> - 2025-11-26 22:10 +0000
  Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Chris <ithinkiam@gmail.com> - 2025-11-27 17:13 +0000
    Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2025-11-27 20:08 +0100
      Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Chris <ithinkiam@gmail.com> - 2025-11-28 08:16 +0000
        Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2025-11-28 21:13 +0100
          Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Chris <ithinkiam@gmail.com> - 2025-11-29 00:07 +0000
            Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2025-11-29 14:24 +0100
  Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? wasbit <wasbit@REMOVEhotmail.com> - 2025-11-28 08:47 +0000
    Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2025-11-28 10:49 +0000
      Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Chris <ithinkiam@gmail.com> - 2025-11-28 18:00 +0000
        Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2025-11-28 19:05 +0000
          Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2025-11-29 02:00 +0000
            Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2025-11-29 11:22 +0000
              Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2025-11-29 14:29 +0100
              Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2025-11-29 14:11 +0000
                Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2025-11-29 15:34 +0000
          Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Daniel70 <daniel47@nomail.afraid.org> - 2025-11-29 20:36 +1100
            Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2025-11-29 11:32 +0000
    Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> - 2025-11-28 10:54 +0000
      Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Marian <marian@dumbshits.com> - 2025-11-28 18:03 +0000
    Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Marcus90@guess.com - 2025-11-28 12:41 -0600
      Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Marian <marian@dumbshits.com> - 2025-11-28 19:18 +0000
        Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Hank Rogers <Hank@nospam.invalid> - 2025-11-28 16:47 -0600
          Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2025-11-29 02:04 +0000
          Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2025-11-28 21:36 -0500
      Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Daniel70 <daniel47@nomail.afraid.org> - 2025-11-29 20:48 +1100
    Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2025-11-28 14:03 -0500
      Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? wasbit <wasbit@REMOVEhotmail.com> - 2025-12-01 09:21 +0000
        Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2025-12-01 13:47 +0000
          Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2025-12-01 15:04 +0100
            Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Marian <marianjones@helpfulpeople.com> - 2025-12-01 07:50 -0700
              Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2025-12-02 13:53 +0100
                Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Marian <marianjones@helpfulpeople.com> - 2025-12-02 10:04 -0700
              Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Winston <wbe@UBEBLOCK.psr.com.invalid> - 2025-12-02 12:04 -0500
                Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Marian <marianjones@helpfulpeople.com> - 2025-12-02 10:56 -0700
                Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2025-12-02 23:19 +0100
            Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2025-12-01 15:03 +0000
          Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Marian <marianjones@helpfulpeople.com> - 2025-12-01 07:18 -0700
          Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? wasbit <wasbit@REMOVEhotmail.com> - 2025-12-02 09:33 +0000
            Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Daniel70 <daniel47@nomail.afraid.org> - 2025-12-02 22:21 +1100
              Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2025-12-02 13:30 +0000
            Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Chris <ithinkiam@gmail.com> - 2025-12-02 14:11 +0000
            Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2025-12-02 15:25 +0000
        Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Chris <ithinkiam@gmail.com> - 2025-12-01 18:04 +0000
          Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? wasbit <wasbit@REMOVEhotmail.com> - 2025-12-02 09:20 +0000
            Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Chris <ithinkiam@gmail.com> - 2025-12-02 14:11 +0000
              Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2025-12-02 15:26 +0100
                Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Chris <ithinkiam@gmail.com> - 2025-12-02 22:23 +0000
                Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2025-12-03 14:02 +0100
                Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Chris <ithinkiam@gmail.com> - 2025-12-04 18:36 +0000
                Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> - 2025-12-04 18:42 +0000
                Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2025-12-04 23:20 +0000
                Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Daniel70 <daniel47@nomail.afraid.org> - 2025-12-05 19:54 +1100
  Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? "Mr. Man-wai Chang" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2025-11-29 00:00 +0800
    Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2025-11-29 14:36 +0100
      Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? "Mr. Man-wai Chang" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2025-11-30 12:52 +0800
        Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2025-11-30 13:48 +0000
          Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? "Mr. Man-wai Chang" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2025-11-30 22:28 +0800
            Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2025-11-30 20:36 +0100
              Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Marian <marianjones@helpfulpeople.com> - 2025-12-01 11:45 -0700
  Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Adrian Caspersz <email@here.invalid> - 2025-11-28 17:56 +0000
    Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Marian <marian@dumbshits.com> - 2025-11-28 18:40 +0000
      Re: OT? Can my neiighbor, whose wifi I'm using, see what I'm doing? Marian <marian@dumbshits.com> - 2025-11-28 18:54 +0000

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