IMHO the wording of #1 makes you sound too much like an evil ISP. I would
say "appears to law enforcement" not "appears to us".
Actually, we just say in our TOS that WiFi routers must be secured and not
available for use by the general public. We also say the customer is
responsible for making sure that all users abide by our AUP, which of course
is not possible if they run an open hotspot for anyone to use.
I would get rid of #5, anyone under 30 is likely to scoff at the legal basis
for "Theft of Service" and will just get pissed off at you. Seriously,
under 30 or not, no one sees using someone's unsecured WiFi as illegal, in
fact many phones will connect to any unsecured WiFi by default.
-----Original Message-----
From: Chuck McCown
Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2015 1:01 PM
To: af@afmug.com
Subject: [AFMUG] Scary Letter
Every so often, I send out something similar to the text below.
Critiques welcome
A WIRELESS ROUTER IS AN OPEN DOOR TO YOUR HOME
Most people use a wireless router so they can use their handheld devices.
Wireless routers are great, but there are some very important reasons they
need to be locked down with strong passwords:
1) An open WiFi router or sharing your router password allows others to
do illegal things that will be traced with you. Direct Communications
cooperates with law enforcement authorities to track down internet sexual
predators. If the predator is parked near your house using your WiFi signal
from their car, it appears to us to be coming from your home. What will
happen is that the authorities will kick down the door at your house.
2) Outsiders can use your Wifi to attack others or to hack into other’s
computers and accounts. With a strong antenna they can be a half mile away
and still use your WiFi. Again, the activity will register as happening
inside your home.
3) A sophisticated hacker can take over your computers in your home and
make them repositories and servers for child porn, stolen credit card
numbers or any of a plethora of illegal information. You would not even
know it was happening in many cases.
4) An open router allows outsiders to actually see what web pages and
other content you are looking at.
5) Allowing a friend of neighbor to use your WiFi connection and your
internet account is called “Theft of Service”. You are collaborating in
allowing them to commit a crime and your are jeopardizing your own service
too.
