Using Kindle WI-FI could get YOU Arrested!

vugtitan · 09-10-2010, 02:42 AM

A man in London was arrested and charged by police (who have nothing better to do nowadays other than arresting people for trivial things) for letting his laptop use a nearby householder's unsecured wi-fi.

It is illegal to use WI-FI without written permission.

So the question is can you set the kindle to us only 3G even in a strong WI-FI signal area as otherwise we could all end up with criminal records and the prisons full of kindle users.

TheKindleWorm · 09-10-2010, 03:02 AM

How silly! If people leave their wifi unsecured then that should be their own problem, not a police matter.

I believe that you cannot choose to use only 3G - the 3G only comes on if there is no wifi available to use.

warp · 09-10-2010, 03:03 AM

You should give the origin for that case, that has happened in 2007, for example there: http://www.pcworld.com/article/13632...ling_wifi.html

Anyways, the whole case is stupid. In Germany you can't get charged for using unsecured WiFi. But - and that makes sense - as an owner of an WiFi access point you have the responsibilty for that, means, you have to make it secure.

brewjono · 09-10-2010, 03:14 AM

I was of the opinion that you could change it to just 3G.

I watched a Podcast today and the guy did a comparision of the K2 and K3 in 3G for web surfing. He made of point of showing that he had put the k3 in 3G mode so that the comparision would be fair. He didn't show how he did that though.

The review was by a bloke called Len EDGERLY who has a podcast I found on iTunes called The Kindle Chronicles.

Some of the stuff he does is a bit basic, but still not bad.

Brewjono

spacemonkey · 09-10-2010, 03:18 AM

The issue is that for some reason the UK police have decided that using someone else's wi-fi without permission is "hacking", I can see how that would be true if you broke into their secure wifi, but if it's unsecured then the law is an arse.

It's like suggesting I "hacked" mobileread's forums by reading them without having an account (written permission).

Anyway, you won't fall foul of this because you still need to tell the kindle to use a specific network, it won't just go and casually use any unsecured wifi it can see, only if you tell it to connect to that particular wifi.

FizzyWater · 09-10-2010, 03:19 AM

Wonder how they knew?

vugtitan · 09-10-2010, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheKindleWorm

How silly! If people leave their wifi unsecured then that should be their own problem, not a police matter.

I believe that you cannot choose to use only 3G - the 3G only comes on if there is no wifi available to use.

Dishonestly obtaining electronic communication services is an offense under Section 125 of the U.K. 2003 Communications Act, while unauthorized access to computer material is a summary offense under Section 1 of the 1990 Computer Misuse Act.

You can end up with a criminal record and be sacked from your job.

No laughing matter at all.

SneakySnake · 09-10-2010, 03:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spacemonkey

<snip>, but if it's unsecured then the law is an arse.

<snip>.

Although our American friends tend to exchange their ostensibly (less rude) 'ass'for the proper word 'arse' meaning bum, I think in this case, that the law may be an ass, as in donkey.

So says the ageing pedant!

mrzerga · 09-10-2010, 03:37 AM

Bl**dy h&&L! Why nobody starts rants with the words, using Apple IPAD's WIFI could get You(Yes I mean YOU) arrested? Why don;t you list everyfreaking device that is out there that supports wifi? Why don't you name your post Using Laptop, Netbook, Dekstop, Imac, Ipad, Ipod, Ic*$p, Webradio, Your cellphone could get you arrested. Why is it necessary to single out kindle and refference ancient case from 2007? Huh?

I suggest removing this post altogether, cause this is obviously hater's post.

Tiersten · 09-10-2010, 03:52 AM

Or you know, not try to connect to an unsecured WiFi network that you don't have permission to connect to? It is a fairly simple solution to this "problem".

HarryT · 09-10-2010, 03:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiersten

Or you know, not try to connect to an unsecured WiFi network that you don't have permission to connect to? It is a fairly simple solution to this "problem".

Absolutely right.

spacemonkey · 09-10-2010, 04:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SneakySnake

Although our American friends tend to exchange their ostensibly (less rude) 'ass'for the proper word 'arse' meaning bum, I think in this case, that the law may be an ass, as in donkey.

So says the ageing pedant!

I hang my head in shame, although to defend the indefensible, the law is probably both an ass and an arse.

pchrist7 · 09-10-2010, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brewjono

He made of point of showing that he had put the k3 in 3G mode so that the comparision would be fair. He didn't show how he did that though.

If you disconnect from Wifi network(s) it'll go to 3G automagically

HarryT · 09-10-2010, 04:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spacemonkey

I hang my head in shame, although to defend the indefensible, the law is probably both an ass and an arse.

Presumably you're not a fan of Dickens? The phrase "the law is an ass" comes from "Oliver Twist", specifically from this:

Quote:

'That is no excuse,' replied Mr. Brownlow. 'You were present on the occasion of the destruction of these trinkets, and indeed are the more guilty of the two, in the eye of the law; for the law supposes that your wife acts under your direction.'
'If the law supposes that,' said Mr. Bumble, squeezing his hat emphatically in both hands, 'the law is a ass—a idiot. If that's the eye of the law, the law is a bachelor; and the worst I wish the law is, that his eye may be opened by experience—by experience.'

In this particular case, though, I really don't think the law is an ass. Using someone's computer resources without their permission is wrong, regardless of whether or not they have secured them. You don't have the right to go and sit in someone's living room and watch their TV if they go out and leave their house door unlocked. Using their WiFi network is really not much different.

gollu · 09-10-2010, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiersten

Or you know, not try to connect to an unsecured WiFi network that you don't have permission to connect to? It is a fairly simple solution to this "problem".

There are places (e.g. airports) that provide free internet access as a service for their clients.
There are organizations that promote opening wifi spots as a community service.

Why shouldn't I enjoy those but pay hundreds of dollars per year to cellular providers for internet access?

09-10-2010, 02:42 AM	#1
vugtitan Addict Posts: 299 Karma: 1042776 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: none	Using Kindle WI-FI could get YOU Arrested! A man in London was arrested and charged by police (who have nothing better to do nowadays other than arresting people for trivial things) for letting his laptop use a nearby householder's unsecured wi-fi. It is illegal to use WI-FI without written permission. So the question is can you set the kindle to us only 3G even in a strong WI-FI signal area as otherwise we could all end up with criminal records and the prisons full of kindle users.

09-10-2010, 03:37 AM	#9
mrzerga Connoisseur Posts: 59 Karma: 7060 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: kindle 3 wifi - love it	Bl*dy h&&L! Why nobody starts rants with the words, using Apple IPAD's WIFI could get You(Yes I mean YOU) arrested? Why don;t you list everyfreaking device that is out there that supports wifi? Why don't you name your post Using Laptop, Netbook, Dekstop, Imac, Ipad, Ipod, Ic$p, Webradio, Your cellphone could get you arrested. Why is it necessary to single out kindle and refference ancient case from 2007? Huh? I suggest removing this post altogether, cause this is obviously hater's post. Last edited by mrzerga; 09-10-2010 at 03:50 AM.

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09-10-2010, 03:02 AM	#2
TheKindleWorm Guru Posts: 860 Karma: 177868 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: East Anglia UK Device: Kindle 3G, iPhone 3G, iPod 4G, PB 360, Sony 600 sold, Kindle 2i sold	How silly! If people leave their wifi unsecured then that should be their own problem, not a police matter. I believe that you cannot choose to use only 3G - the 3G only comes on if there is no wifi available to use.

09-10-2010, 03:03 AM	#3
warp Connoisseur Posts: 64 Karma: 16 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Berlin, Germany Device: Kindle 3 WiFi	You should give the origin for that case, that has happened in 2007, for example there: http://www.pcworld.com/article/13632...ling_wifi.html Anyways, the whole case is stupid. In Germany you can't get charged for using unsecured WiFi. But - and that makes sense - as an owner of an WiFi access point you have the responsibilty for that, means, you have to make it secure.

09-10-2010, 03:14 AM	#4
brewjono Zealot Posts: 106 Karma: 501816 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Australia Device: K3, K4, KPW	I was of the opinion that you could change it to just 3G. I watched a Podcast today and the guy did a comparision of the K2 and K3 in 3G for web surfing. He made of point of showing that he had put the k3 in 3G mode so that the comparision would be fair. He didn't show how he did that though. The review was by a bloke called Len EDGERLY who has a podcast I found on iTunes called The Kindle Chronicles. Some of the stuff he does is a bit basic, but still not bad. Brewjono

09-10-2010, 03:18 AM	#5
spacemonkey Enthusiast Posts: 47 Karma: 120 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: kindle 3 wifi	The issue is that for some reason the UK police have decided that using someone else's wi-fi without permission is "hacking", I can see how that would be true if you broke into their secure wifi, but if it's unsecured then the law is an arse. It's like suggesting I "hacked" mobileread's forums by reading them without having an account (written permission). Anyway, you won't fall foul of this because you still need to tell the kindle to use a specific network, it won't just go and casually use any unsecured wifi it can see, only if you tell it to connect to that particular wifi.

09-10-2010, 03:19 AM	#6
FizzyWater You kids get off my lawn! Posts: 4,220 Karma: 73492664 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Device: Oasis 2 and Libra H2O and half a dozen older models I can't let go of	Wonder how they knew?

09-10-2010, 03:52 AM	#10
Tiersten Guru Posts: 987 Karma: 8641 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Kindle 3G+WiFi	Or you know, not try to connect to an unsecured WiFi network that you don't have permission to connect to? It is a fairly simple solution to this "problem".

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