
Wi-Fi Networking News' Glenn Fleishman today looks at the news that Singapore teenager Garyl Tan Jia Luo has pleaded guilty to using a neighbor's Wi-Fi network. His mom, apparently, banned him from using his own network, so he used an unsecured one nearby at 3 a.m.
"The judge appears to have shown lenience given possible penalties -- three years in jail and a $10,000 fine," Fleishman writes. "The judge turned down an offer to impose a small fine, an offer made by Tan's attorney. The judge suggested that the youth might avoid a criminal record by enlisting in national service earlier than is normally the case. Tan may receive probation if he agrees."
According to The Inquirer's Nick Farrell, Tan has agreed, and a pre-sentencing report will follow next month.
Mr Wong
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I have a friend, let's call him "Mark", who decided to move out of his comfortable flat and live on a narrow boat. The greatest wrench for him was the loss of his broadband access. But within days he was back online, through the unsecured, broadband-connected wireless networks accessible at the moorings where he stopped.
Almost everywhere in London there are wireless networks offering their services, some through unsecured protocols. In the centre of town those unsecured networks require payment before their proxy is useable, but those in the suburbs simply open their doors wide. A wireless-enabled laptop can connect to the network and from there to the internet. No wonder Mark is never short of an access point. But it raises the question: is Mark breaking the law? Is this a form of hacking?
The Computer Misuse Act 1990 recognises two principle offences: unauthorised access to and unauthorised modification of the contents of a computer. The word "computer" is not defined in the act so the wireless router could be considered a "computer".
For More:http://www.itweek.co.uk/itweek/comment/2140504/law-disorder-wireless-l
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