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ISPs could stop more than one IP number (or designated machine address) from accessing a DSL port, essentially killing all unauthorized access. You wouldn’t even need a password or WiFi encryption.
@sargasso not if i am running a nat service.
stupid lady
Is it stealing if they are stupid enough to broadcast it unencrypted?
@sargasso – How can the isp block a MAC when it’s hiding behind a NAT?
@sargasso
They tried, but NAT, DHCP and Mac Address Cloning in every consumer broadband router available made that incremental revenue generating pipe dream just that, a pipe dream.
Give Leo a call on his “Tech Guy” show and I’m sure he can explain it to you.
#1 – sargasso
It doesn’t work that way. A router is usually just hooked up to one DSL connection. In other words, it’s one IP address. Blocking of unauthorized users must be done at the router.
#3 – McCullough – Is it stealing if they are stupid enough to broadcast it unencrypted?
Is it okay to take your neighbors’ car for a joyride if he forgot the keys in the car?
#3 McCullough – Depends, it is stealing if you swipe an apple or wiper fluid from a stand outside the grocery store? 🙂
Its funny, the lady had enough smarts to call Leo, yet seems clueless…was she?? It is rather funny.
#7. Now there is a case of Apples and Oranges.
#1 – sargasso
So only one one person can use it?
What about wife, kids, roommates, etc.
Plus a router with nat takes care of it.
Hey sargasso, did you get the memo?
This is why I can’t stand doing consumer level tech support. People armed with *just* enough information to be dangerous, but not enough to 1) understand what they’re doing, and 2) not enough interest to fill in the gaps. I mean, you can just feel the caller NOT listening to Leo’s explanations. The matches striking but not lighting. Makes my colon clench! Maybe it was a planted Shark Tank call, in those cases you have to play the BOFH and advise something like “Caller, you should call the police and let them know what’s happening. Someone may be hurt or dying”. Hello, I’d like to report a missing router!
Who is this Leo Laporte they mentioned, is that the lady who is calling?
Mom?
#13 you’re kidding right?
Best ever? not so much.
I liked the person who scanned a mirror so they could use it as a screen background and couldn’t figure out why the monitor didn’t reflect their image.
I do agree that “they” charge too much for all this bandwidth. Not the DSL guys at $14.95/mo, I’m talking about the cable guys. She has too much self-esteem to pay for DSL, even if it is affordable. If you’re gonna steal, steal from the best!
Leo.. douchbag!
It’s rather sad that this lady is totally clueless with WiFi and her computer. But before you judge, consider the following:
* Possession, sale and/or consumption of marijuana is ILLEGAL! (According to FEDERAL statutes, that is.)
* Speeding on many public streets is ILLEGAL!
* Polluting is ILLEGAL! (Such as throwing trash on/over the ground.)
* Smoking in many (USA) public building areas is ILLEGAL!
* Carrying concealed firearms is ILLEGAL! (Without a permit/license, that is.)
* Selling a used toilet is ILLEGAL!
* Recording cellular phone calls without a warrant or either parties knowledge is ILLEGAL!
* Downloading music which you don’t have license to listen to is ILLEGAL!
* Intercepting cable services (stealing cable TV) is ILLEGAL!
Shall I go on?
Point is, how often do you see these illegal acts or maybe even have committed them yourself?! True, that woman is rather clueless where WiFi is concerned but she’s hardly alone in here ignorance either. Most of us here probably know better and probably find it amusing that anyone in the “digital age” could be so stupid. But lest ye not judge…
(I wonder how many of you didn’t know that selling a used toilet really is illegal!)
@1 sargasso
You’re as clueless as the lady who spoke with Leo on this video. Your broadband ISP only assigns you ONE single IP ANYWAY.
#17 George_nl
Hardly a douche. If I was taking that call I’d humiliate her and make her feel stupid, that would make me a douchebag. Leo is professional and deals with idiots on a regular basis, and was polite with her; which makes him a NICE guy.. not a douche bag.
She’s a borrow and spend Republican. She borrows the bandwidth but spent money to buy a devise to borrow more bandwidth.
bet the bitch voted for obama and thinks his healthcare plan will save her money too.
People like this are out there everywhere. It is scary.
A friend asked me to stop by her mother’s house to “fix” her broadband. The mom had been sold an expensive Verizon roaming wireless data package when what she wanted was cable internet at home on a desktop computer. She was upset cause (a) it was expensive, (b) it didn’t work. I was ticked off at the salesman who sold it to her. I know he knew better.
Another friend just got Verizon FiOS last week. I stopped by and just for fun checked out the router Verizon installed. Yup… Verizon configured WEP encryption (worthless), and left UPnP on for external access. I have to wonder if the FBI and NSA are paying Verizon to compromise their installs.
#8 – You analogy is incorrect. Using someones open WiFi is not like swipe an apple or wiper fluid from a stand outside the grocery store.
It is like taking junk that someone puts outside with a sign on it that says “Free”.
To use someone’s open WiFi your computer asks their router for permission to connect and their router grants it. This is the way the owner of the WiFi has it setup regardless if that is what they intended or not. It is not stealing when permission to take something has been ask and granted.
If you “hack” someones WiFi that has been protected with any encryption then you are stealing it.
#22
Correct me if I’m wrong but UPnP can’t be configured by “external” access. Unless you mean within the LAN it self (wireless) but not from the WAN internet side. It’s not really a bad thing it’s damn useful for hassle free configs.
Then once you see what the settings are for apps/hardware that used UPnP, you can then turn off UPnP and set your ports manually your self!
#23 I think you meant to respond to #3
Anyway no. Just because someone’s WiFi access is open and unencrypted doesn’t mean they are doing so willingly.
If a router still has it’s DEFAULT SSID then you can be sure you’re dealing with someone who is clueless about home networking. That still doesn’t grant you the right to steal their bandwidth.
Now if you DO find a router that has it’s SSID renamed and isn’t encrypted, you can only imply they are offering it for free. Unless the SSID says “FREE_WIFI” on it then by all means.. go apeshit!
It’s just another staged call. People are not really that stupid. They have to set those calls up to make people sound stupid. Don’t they ?
For those that like to use the car/home analogy to defend this is illegal…
You buy a car or home and the locks are unlocked by default and the security system is deactivated. You need to lock the car yourself and set the code for the alarm system.
Most know how to lock a car (at least most here on DU) and most will figure out how to enter the code for the home alarm (“1234”).
People need to wake up to risks of computing whether it is their wifi setup or falling for scams.
Why the f..k should I get arrested for using an open WIFI somebody forgot to encrypt? If it’s open it means anybody can get on it.
Otherwise have brains and seal it you morans.
And Sidney Crosby rules. Just sayin’.
P.S. Iggy’s pretty awesome too.
@FRAGaLOT #19
I agree and kudos to Leo for having the patience to deal with these calls. He is the consummate professional.