Cavalier Attitude?

Wombat · 06-18-2002

I was looking at www.leoville.com which is the site for one of the hosts on TechTV, Leo LaPorte. In perusing his Blog, I was somewhat amazed to find the following statement:

This visit I’m trying a new hotel in the Upper West Side – closer to ABC, and just across the street from the museum. I picked the hotel because it claimed to have high-speed Internet access. Hah! Their idea of broadband is Web TV. There’s no way to hook up my laptop. Fortunately, I brought a little program along called MacStumbler, a port of the netstumbler program. It searches out 802.11b or WiFi wireless networks. I stuck my iBook out the window and found not one but two, unprotected connections. You’d be amazed how many of these there are. I’m finding that I can get online almost anywhere. I’m “borrowing” one of the connections to post this. I have to sit near the window, but otherwise it works great. I guess the hotel does have high-speed Internet access after all!

To me, this seems like quite a cavalier attitude about connecting to someone else's AP and using it. I'm also wondering if Leo will be getting any calls from LEO's. (Thanks Blackwave for educating me on what LEO means.)

blackwave · 06-18-2002

Quote:

Originally posted by Wombat
To me, this seems like quite a cavalier attitude about connecting to someone else's AP and using it. I'm also wondering if Leo will be getting any calls from LEO's. (Thanks Blackwave for educating me on what LEO means.)

Yes, I went and checked out http://www.leoville.com/mt (your link has a comma in it for some reason) and read his bragging of committing theft of services ... will Leo be visited by LEO's and be put into a real LEOville? He claims to borrow such services, he may be borrowing trouble...

idiots...

Dr3D1zzl3 · 06-18-2002

what a fool

sykojester · 06-19-2002

and to think he's a host on a tv network and a Tech guy on TECHTV. lol. you'd thought common sense woulda prevailed. Darwin would be ever so proud....ever so proud indeed.
*evil grin*

Gultig · 06-19-2002

Reminds me of when radio guy Sid Rosenberg bragged about, and even encouraged others to steal DTV's signal with a hacked access card on Imus in the Morning.

DirecTV Accuses Top Radio Personality of Piracy

joshua · 12-19-2002

His whole 'ideology' is that if it's unprotected, you can use it. Their whole network is like that (a quote from another host: "does this mean i cant use my next neighbors bandwidth?"). He actually leaves his wLan at home unprotected, so if you drive by feel free to have a _free_ "cup of bandwidth" (as he would say). "Word".

c0nv3r9 · 12-19-2002

His whole ideology is _wrong_. Whether he thinks it should be, wishes it too be, dreams that it is.. it is _illegal_.

eamonn · 12-19-2002

he only found 2 on the upper west side?

must be the mac.

e

Evil Bunny · 12-20-2002

Ah yes, Leo LaPorte, the most knowledgeable buffoon. Sometimes it's amusing watch the show. Gets the simplest things completely wrong and over complexs something.

Leo Laporte · 12-25-2002

Just out of curiosity, legalities aside, do you think it is morally wrong?

DigitalMDX · 12-25-2002

Quote:

Originally posted by Leo Laporte
Just out of curiosity, legalities aside, do you think it is morally wrong?

Legalities aside... well then, that would make it legal and therefore perfectly fine. It would be like connecting to a free, open wireless network such as Seattle Wireless.
Toss the legalities in and now we're somewhere I'd rather not tread.
Who can check the logged IP of the previous post? If you're legit then tell Patrick I like the kilt...

Happy Holidays All...
-Jay

renderman · 12-26-2002

Quote:

Originally posted by Leo Laporte
Just out of curiosity, legalities aside, do you think it is morally wrong?

In case everyone is wondering, I met Leo briefly at Comdex when I weasled my way into a Microsoft dinner and extended an invite to defend himself here. At least I'm assuming you got my email Leo and that's why your here.

As for morality, It's a tough question.

I personally think that access to the web should be a right and not somehting to be hoarded. The ability to connect from anywhere is very desirable and really helps the whole 'global community' concept.

The reason I don't connect is that I don't want to take advantage of someone elses stupidity. It's just not right to use something that the person did not 'intend' for you to use (i.e., putting 'free' somewhere in the SSID, or chalking thier own network). In the end it does cost them money in one way or another, I prefer they do it willingly.

Personally I don't like taking advantage of other people (unless I can see thier faces, but that's a different issue)

MRK · 12-26-2002

I came across a network the other day named "free2surf." Would you have connected to that network? (If you needed to atleast) Would you find that wrong?

-Mr.K

sparafina · 12-26-2002

Quote:

Originally posted by Leo Laporte
Just out of curiosity, legalities aside, do you think it is morally wrong?

I think that its pretty basic kindergarten stuff. Its called, "asking permission."

Unless the AP is publically designated as a community resource, then you should ask permission. Its really quite simple.

Leo Laporte · 12-26-2002

As I said to you at Comdex, renderman, don't you think most people use Stumbler to find open networks they can "borrow" access from?

This seems an odd place to debate the morality of using open WiFi links.

If I use someone's unprotected WAP to check my email how exactly have I harmed them?

06-18-2002	#1 (permalink)
Wombat Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Smalltown, AZ Posts: 82	Cavalier Attitude? I was looking at www.leoville.com which is the site for one of the hosts on TechTV, Leo LaPorte. In perusing his Blog, I was somewhat amazed to find the following statement: This visit I’m trying a new hotel in the Upper West Side – closer to ABC, and just across the street from the museum. I picked the hotel because it claimed to have high-speed Internet access. Hah! Their idea of broadband is Web TV. There’s no way to hook up my laptop. Fortunately, I brought a little program along called MacStumbler, a port of the netstumbler program. It searches out 802.11b or WiFi wireless networks. I stuck my iBook out the window and found not one but two, unprotected connections. You’d be amazed how many of these there are. I’m finding that I can get online almost anywhere. I’m “borrowing” one of the connections to post this. I have to sit near the window, but otherwise it works great. I guess the hotel does have high-speed Internet access after all! To me, this seems like quite a cavalier attitude about connecting to someone else's AP and using it. I'm also wondering if Leo will be getting any calls from LEO's. (Thanks Blackwave for educating me on what LEO means.) Last edited by Wombat : 06-18-2002 at 11:03 PM.

12-19-2002	#6 (permalink)
joshua six6.nu Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: el toro, ca. Posts: 29	His whole 'ideology' is that if it's unprotected, you can use it. Their whole network is like that (a quote from another host: "does this mean i cant use my next neighbors bandwidth?"). He actually leaves his wLan at home unprotected, so if you drive by feel free to have a _free_ "cup of bandwidth" (as he would say). "Word". __________________ six6.nu

12-19-2002	#7 (permalink)
c0nv3r9 Church of WiFi Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: not behind you, or am I? Posts: 290	His whole ideology is _wrong_. Whether he thinks it should be, wishes it too be, dreams that it is.. it is _illegal_. __________________ He shall recount his worthies: they shall stumble in their walk; they shall make haste to the wall thereof, and the defence shall be prepared. -- Nahum 2:5, The Holy Bible, KJV

12-19-2002	#8 (permalink)
eamonn UberCrumbler Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: nh Posts: 173	he only found 2 on the upper west side? must be the mac. e __________________ welcome to mudville

12-25-2002	#10 (permalink)
Leo Laporte Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3	Just out of curiosity, legalities aside, do you think it is morally wrong? __________________ -- Host, The Screen Savers on TechTV http://leoville.com

06-18-2002	#3 (permalink)
Dr3D1zzl3 Mental Penis Fencer Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 371	what a fool

06-19-2002	#4 (permalink)
sykojester Net Lurker - phjear Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 371	and to think he's a host on a tv network and a Tech guy on TECHTV. lol. you'd thought common sense woulda prevailed. Darwin would be ever so proud....ever so proud indeed. evil grin

06-19-2002	#5 (permalink)
Gultig Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 1	Reminds me of when radio guy Sid Rosenberg bragged about, and even encouraged others to steal DTV's signal with a hacked access card on Imus in the Morning. DirecTV Accuses Top Radio Personality of Piracy

12-20-2002	#9 (permalink)
Evil Bunny The Undead Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 35	Ah yes, Leo LaPorte, the most knowledgeable buffoon. Sometimes it's amusing watch the show. Gets the simplest things completely wrong and over complexs something.

12-26-2002	#13 (permalink)
MRK Grid Stumbler Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 241	I came across a network the other day named "free2surf." Would you have connected to that network? (If you needed to atleast) Would you find that wrong? -Mr.K

12-26-2002	#15 (permalink)
Leo Laporte Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3	As I said to you at Comdex, renderman, don't you think most people use Stumbler to find open networks they can "borrow" access from? This seems an odd place to debate the morality of using open WiFi links. If I use someone's unprotected WAP to check my email how exactly have I harmed them? __________________ -- Host, The Screen Savers on TechTV http://leoville.com

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