Comment Re:No problem (Score 1) 672
The analogies of the water fountain and the bicycle are good. If I put a water fountain in front of my house, people will drink from it, because they assume it is acceptable to do so. Taking a bike from my front porch prevents me from using the bike for my own purposes. Taking a drink from my water fountain does not prevent me from taking a drink, especially since the incremental cost of a single drink is very small. In this context a WiFi access point is much more like a water fountain than a bicycle.
Another important aspect of the discussion is that the wireless signals from my property do not stay on my property--they propagate into neighboring property and public space. As long as the intention is not malicious, I think the inherently promiscuous nature of wireless implies that the owner of an access point has more responsibility to prevent unwanted access than just leaving it open. Indeed, the user of an access point might not know whether the AP is in a public space or a private space. As a previous poster said, even WEP-40 with the password "welcome" or the 2-digit code on a 900-Mhz cordless phone should be sufficient to signal that the owner wants exclusive use of a base station.
There is already a convention that many public places (cafes, libraries, hotels) offer free open wireless access. Open wifi in a public area is very similar to public water fountains and public toilets. You don't need to ask permission to use a personal quantity of toilet paper in a free public toilet.
thanks,
-rohan
Another important aspect of the discussion is that the wireless signals from my property do not stay on my property--they propagate into neighboring property and public space. As long as the intention is not malicious, I think the inherently promiscuous nature of wireless implies that the owner of an access point has more responsibility to prevent unwanted access than just leaving it open. Indeed, the user of an access point might not know whether the AP is in a public space or a private space. As a previous poster said, even WEP-40 with the password "welcome" or the 2-digit code on a 900-Mhz cordless phone should be sufficient to signal that the owner wants exclusive use of a base station.
There is already a convention that many public places (cafes, libraries, hotels) offer free open wireless access. Open wifi in a public area is very similar to public water fountains and public toilets. You don't need to ask permission to use a personal quantity of toilet paper in a free public toilet.
thanks,
-rohan
