Could That Be The Wireless Police Knocking? 322
netbuzz writes "Should private-property owners be required to practice safe wireless? Are the wireless police about to come a-knockin' on the front door of your castle? Network World reports on a condo complex in Arizona that will monitor your wireless signal for security. Is this the way all condos and apartment complexes should go?" From the article: "'We just kind of kicked it around the table and everybody said that's a helluva good idea, (mandatory encryption) ought to go in the declarations,' says Welch. However, a lawyer warned that wireless technology could quickly overrun any specific covenants they put to paper, 'so we decided that instead of recording (declarations) at the county that we would leave it up to the hotel manager to put it in their rules and regulations.' Why bother at all? 'We just don't want to see anybody hurt with their wireless system,' says Welch. 'If someone (unauthorized) were accessing it and an owner's information, there could be damage and a potential lawsuit.'"
Re:paper tiger laws (Score:3, Funny)
I imagine the defense's case going something like this...
Lawyer "Mr. Doe, you set up your own independent wireless network on my client's premises, correct?"
Idiot "Yes."
Lawyer "Mr. Doe, you left the SSID or 'name' of the network at the default value and didn't add any encryption or security?"
Idiot "Yes."
Lawyer "What could my client have done to protect you from your own actions?"
Idiot "They could have made me sign an agreement to not leave a wireless network unsecured."
Lawyer "So, my client is responsible for this because they didn't force you to use safety measures. Is Ford responsible for your ticket because they didn't force you to wear a seatbelt and drive under the posted speed limit?"
Idiot "HEY! Thanks for the idea, I'll sue them next...Uh...What?"
LK
Re:Potential lawsuit? (Score:1, Funny)
I didn't expect... (Score:4, Funny)
Are you all criminals? (Score:4, Funny)
I don't get all this obsession with wifi security and encryption. I mean, why do we, as the average citizens, need encryption?
I mean, if we haven't done anything wrong, then we have nothing to hide, surely?
The only people who would want wifi encryption are criminals, because they have something they don't want the authorities to see.