Sorry if this is a dumb question I'm a bit new to this but I was just wondering how risky\bad is it to use someone elses unsecure internet via your own wireless WiFi adapter?I have access to a Netgear WG111 (i think its called that) and set it search for another network other than my bigpond one and i used it just for the day because it was much much faster than my normal bigpond internet because i used up my usage limit. Can i get a comparison of how risky it is to do that?as in is it as risky as downloading music from limewire (lol) or something worse? is the average person with a wifi connection going to be able to figure out that im using his/her internet and be able to trace it back to me?



Thanks. just curious.

ps. does anyone know how to check how far your wireless wifi can go?as in how far can i detect my speedstream modem from with netgear wireless and still use its internet?its called "home wifi" but if it could travel great distances then i wouldnt mind taking my laptop around with me sometimes lol.

Thanks again!

Actually nice question supaweak , Okay here i;ll tell you the wifi network netgear which ur are actually using might be for free acess... Wifi networks are always secured tightly so that no one could freely gain access....(((there are also some masterminds who actually break through passwords , easily gain access to a wireless)))) I think the network u must have gained access to might be a free wireless network... the distance must vary according to the service provider actually some wifi networks could be detected up to 1km or half a kilometer.... If ur wireless is a satellite connected one may be more distance..

ah k thanks for the reply! gah i could use one of those masterminds ive forgotten my own ssid and wep key >.<

From what I know thru News.
You can be charge (sue) for using other people internet connection.
Especially when you are using it to do illegal thing.
So better don't try. :)

yeah but the only incident i read was when a guy was caught in his car with his laptop right infront of the house of the person who he was using his internet off.


I also seem to notice that i always seem to find this "dlink" network, that doesnt sound like a normal ssid, maybe a hotspot or something?

normally the range of a netgear wireless router would be from 30 m - 100m... and its not bad using internet from another persons computer using ur router, u can put a key on ur router so that only u can access it... also if the person has full control of ur router and the internet, he can send files over from his comp to urs and use loggers for everything u do on the internet... it is the same for wireless connections available at the airport and coffeeshops... so it just depends on the people who offer the service to u...

so is the average person with an unsecure wi-fi connection gonna be able to know how to do that?wonder if its that easy, how do you put a key on my netgear?lol

Curious to know, whether out there have some kind of application or tool to get the ssid and wep key ???

I know the sound like goin to enter other wireless network to gain access, but I'm just wanna use her/him wireless network to connect thorugh internet, coz i'm still using dial-up (out dated)

actually i'd only ever tap into a wireless internet that is unsecure because the person with the wep key obviously doesnt want anyone else using his internet,