Comments on: “Borrowing” Neighbor’s Internet to Save Money

By: Lazy Man

Lazy Man — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:29:38 +0000

I leave my network open for those that need it occasionally because theirs is down. I trust that people don’t use it for months without my permissions… then again how would they even know to ask me?

Do you have a sign on your door that says omgwtfbbq? If so, I’m coming over, fire up some ribs.

By: Miss Niss

Miss Niss — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:21:55 +0000

OK – my neighbors at our cottage thought we were nuts… We found that someone in our remote area had a wireless network. Knowing that it only goes so far from a location, we were able to go around to our neighbors and find the source. We then offered to pay 1/2 of their internet bill over the summer and the months that we are up, if we could also use their network. They asked us why we didn’t just use it. “because we felt like we would be stealing.”

So yeah, we could have just tapped in – but these are our neighbors. We live next door or across the street.

Besides – it saved us money and the guy gets money he wasn’t planning on. It is a deal for both.

By: J-F Arseneault

J-F Arseneault — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:59:45 +0000

Given that many (most?) ISPs are now putting bandwidth caps on their packages (mine is 100Gb/month upload/download), isn’t there a risk that ‘borrowing’ that connection could incur your neighbor some over-usage charges?

And if that’s the case, I would think that ‘fine line’ has been crossed, if you’re incurring your neighbour money for stuff they didn’t do themselves.

Of course, some will say that’s the ransom of not securing their network, but still…

By: Flexo

Flexo — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:39:15 +0000

I can usually detect around 20-30 wireless networks from my home. A lot of my neighbors work from home as consultants. In fact, many of them must be in IT because almost all of the connections are secure (WPA2).

By: Cap

Cap — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:22:06 +0000

Erica: It’s probably more geekness than fetishes, but agreed.

Abdul: ah.. no thanks.

Frugalista: I think thats sort of how it is for many people in apartment complexes. Most people dont seem to bother to secure their network or care if others use it.

savergirl: Yeah as mentioned plenty of people/organization doesn’t really care about their networks being open. If they do they’ll simply secure it and require a login for patrons taht visit.

jim: and I’ll come next door and punch you in the face.

By: jim

jim — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 23:15:07 +0000

I’m going to move next door to you just to steal your internet… :)

By: savergirl

savergirl — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 16:06:04 +0000

I wouldn’t use a neighbor’s without asking, or offering to pay a bit as a thank you, but I live near a bunch of hotels/restuants and it’s just there.

I patronize them pretty often so I don’t feel it’s unfair/unlawful. Plus it beats paying for the internet, even if I buy soemthing a few times a week.

By: The Frugalista Files

The Frugalista Files — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 13:09:33 +0000

Most of my friends who live in apartments steal Internet service. I’m the only desktop queen paying for Comcast Internet.

By: Abdul

Abdul — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 11:44:14 +0000

Cap- I say you leave your network (omgwtfbbq) open, let the moochers come in and then somehow redirect to last measure.

Agreed y/n ?

By: Erica Douglass

Erica Douglass — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 06:19:02 +0000

Hmm, maybe we bloggers have a fetish for the “omg” network names… mine’s called OMGLOL. And it’s open. ;)

-Erica