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Caution for wi-fi broadband thieves

In Redditch, Worcestershire, two people have been cautioned for using other people’s wi-fi broadband connections without permission.

According to a BBC report, police were alerted when neighbours spotted a man in a car using a laptop outside a house.  Earlier in the month a woman was arrested for the same offence.  Both were cautioned for “dishonestly obtaining electronic communications services with intent to avoid payment”.

The recent arrests highlight the dangers of using a wireless router without setting up any form of security. 

Manoj Solanki of SeekBroadband.com, comments, “Users must ensure they enable wireless security on their router.  There are several protocols available, including Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) and Wi-fi Protected Access (WPA).  These work by encrypting data sent over the network.  If possible, use WPA as it offers much better protection than WEP.”

“Unfortunately, older routers may only have WEP.  But it is worse to have no security configured, so it is better than nothing.  Users should also change the default password for the router. 

“Some people also don’t seem to realise it is illegal to use someone else’s internet connection without their permission.”

Related links

• How to secure your wireless network
• Two cautioned over wi-fi ‘theft’ (BBC)