Using Neighbors Wi-Fi is a Crime!

This story is purely moronic!! The guy was sitting in his car in the middle of night and on the internet using the Wi-Fi signal from the agency that had floated out on the streets! The agency did have the option of securing their wireless which they did not… and the guy was merely using air waves.. that travelled TO HIM.. is that a crime?? If one is sitting in his study and catches his neighbors Wi-Fi…. is that a crime? He did not even venture out to make the effort! Nor did that person try to “steal” the signal… merely used the signal that HIT his wireless card!

Just as pirating your neighbor’s cable service to watch premium movie channels is against the law, so too is surfing the Web using someone else’s wireless Internet access.

David M. Kauchak, 32, a former Machesney Park resident, is the first person in Winnebago County to be charged with remotely accessing another computer system without the owner’s approval. He pleaded guilty Tuesday to the charge and was fined $250 and sentenced to one year of court supervision.

“We just want to get the word out that it is a crime. We are prosecuting it, and people need to take precautions,” Assistant State’s Attorney Tom Wartowski said.