balding_parrot
09-29-2007, 03:53 AM
I meant to post this a while ago, but forgot.
Man arrested over wi-fi broadband theft
Aug 22 2007
Police officers arrested a man on suspicion of stealing a wireless broadband connection after spotting him using his laptop in the street.
The 39-year-old man was seen sitting on a wall outside a home in Chiswick, west London, by two community support officers. When questioned he admitted using the owner’s unsecured wireless internet connection without permission and was arrested.
The move is the latest example of police cracking down on a crime that did not exist several years ago when wireless internet access was relatively rare.
Dishonestly obtaining free internet access is an offence under the Communications Act 2003 and a potential breach of the Computer Misuse Act.
In April, a man was cautioned by police after neighbours saw him using a laptop in a car parked outside a house in Redditch, Worcestershire.
In 2005, a man was fined £500 for piggybacking on someone else’s wireless broadband connection in London.
Detective Constable Mark Roberts, of the Metropolitan Police computer crime unit, said anyone who illegally uses a broadband link faces arrest.
He said: "This arrest should act as a warning to anyone who thinks it is acceptable to illegally use other people’s broadband connections.
"To do so potentially breaches the Computer Misuse Act and the Communications Act, so computer users need to be aware that this is unlawful and police will investigate any violation we become aware of."
Most wireless networks are open to anyone when first set up, but can be configured to stop unauthorised users with a password.
The 39-year-old man, who was arrested yesterday and taken to Chiswick Police Station, was bailed to October pending further inquiries.
The original article can be read here (http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/birminghampost/news/tm_headline=man-arrested-over-wi-fi-broadband-theft%26method=full%26objectid=19672330%26siteid=5 0002-name_page.html).
If you have similar articles from wherever you are, could you please post them here so as people who come on here and insist it is not illegal, can see it is illegal wherever you are.
Man arrested over wi-fi broadband theft
Aug 22 2007
Police officers arrested a man on suspicion of stealing a wireless broadband connection after spotting him using his laptop in the street.
The 39-year-old man was seen sitting on a wall outside a home in Chiswick, west London, by two community support officers. When questioned he admitted using the owner’s unsecured wireless internet connection without permission and was arrested.
The move is the latest example of police cracking down on a crime that did not exist several years ago when wireless internet access was relatively rare.
Dishonestly obtaining free internet access is an offence under the Communications Act 2003 and a potential breach of the Computer Misuse Act.
In April, a man was cautioned by police after neighbours saw him using a laptop in a car parked outside a house in Redditch, Worcestershire.
In 2005, a man was fined £500 for piggybacking on someone else’s wireless broadband connection in London.
Detective Constable Mark Roberts, of the Metropolitan Police computer crime unit, said anyone who illegally uses a broadband link faces arrest.
He said: "This arrest should act as a warning to anyone who thinks it is acceptable to illegally use other people’s broadband connections.
"To do so potentially breaches the Computer Misuse Act and the Communications Act, so computer users need to be aware that this is unlawful and police will investigate any violation we become aware of."
Most wireless networks are open to anyone when first set up, but can be configured to stop unauthorised users with a password.
The 39-year-old man, who was arrested yesterday and taken to Chiswick Police Station, was bailed to October pending further inquiries.
The original article can be read here (http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/birminghampost/news/tm_headline=man-arrested-over-wi-fi-broadband-theft%26method=full%26objectid=19672330%26siteid=5 0002-name_page.html).
If you have similar articles from wherever you are, could you please post them here so as people who come on here and insist it is not illegal, can see it is illegal wherever you are.