(edit title) Can you steal Wifi connection Is it illegal in Sweden? Options

[fighter_mind]

Hello,

was just wondering if stealing neighbors Wifi is illegal in Sweden and what are the consequences of it??

[Bender B Rodriquez]

Yes, it is illegal even if it is unlocked.

The chances of getting caught with stealing wifi is essentially zero, and if you get caught you should not expect more than a fine, unless you do something else illegal when on the internet.

[carterhayes]

I doubt it is illegal. If so, it should be illegal to freely share your WiFi also and i dont think it is?

[queenS]

If someone has open WiFi, why would it be illegal to use it?

[skogsbo]

yes illegal.

why? Because you are knowingly taking a service that somebody else is 'paying' for 'without their permission'. You also have 'no intention' of providing them with some form 'remuneration' for it and it can't be 'returned' to them un-used. So it is theft.
Not to mention a very un-neighbourly thing to do. They might well notice, if they have a contract that limits how much data they use, but despite only logging on occasionally they start getting bills for extra data. The provider could tell them exactly what time they were on and how much data they used, plus what they viewed. Folk have been caught in the past.

[Mb 65]

Your neighbour should secure their wifi because someone could down load child porn and then they would really be in trouble trying to prove it wasn't them.

[queenS]

Whoever keeps his WiFi open is "knowingly" doing so and is allowing others to connect to his WiFi.

[Vstrommer71]

As an IT pro I'd rather say it's unethical(sometimes) than illegal.I often let my wifi network free to my neighbours(limitating the available bandwidth in certain occasions).To me seems a matter like an unofficial kind of a mutual agreement.As I am usually searching-and using it,if found- for a free wifi network when I am outside and using my smartphone,I feel at the same time that I should let from time to time my wifi free for potential users.That's clearly my personal perception on the matter.
Of course I am strongly against any kind of abuse(eg sniffing locked wifi networks)
As for the legitimacy of whether is or not against the local laws to use a free wifi network,I think it's a question for the lawyers of this forum.

[Bender B Rodriquez]

It is illegal if you in any way affect the owners service, or cause any inconvenience for the owner, and it is covered by "olovligt tillgrepp" in the law. It does not matter if the wifi is unlocked as long as you don't have the explicit permission from the owner.

By the same law, you are not allowed to drive away with a vehicle just because the driver left the keys in.

Of course, I doubt that anyone will get caught for stealing wifi.

[Vstrommer71]

It is illegal if you in any way affect the owners service and it is covered by "olovligt tillgrepp" in the law. It does not matter if the wifi is unlocked as long as ... (show full quote)

It is illegal if you in any way affect the owners service and it is covered by "olovligt tillgrepp" in the law. It does not matter if the wifi is unlocked as long as you don't have the explicit permission from the owner. ... (hide full quote)

That was my very first idea,you can only use a network with prior agreement with the owner.But technology has vastly overcomed law enforcements.Who of us(especially of those using smartphones) hadn't ever used a free wifi network when it comes in handy?

[skogsbo]

Your neighbour should secure their wifi because someone could down load child porn and then they would really be in trouble trying to prove it wasn't them.

very easy to prove or disprove, your computer and the serice provider's data will have dates,times and sites that would either match or differ. No hiding online!

Whoever keeps his WiFi open is "knowingly" doing so and is allowing others to connect to his WiFi.

so if you don't lock your garage you are saying it is OK for a neighbour to borrow your car, use your fuel and put the car back, all without permission or knowledge of?

There is no ethical this or that, you are KNOWINGLY STEALING something that you KNOW you should pay for. Technically, theft is the intention to permanently deprive the owner of something, with the intention of not reimbursing them or returning the item to them at a later time.

[BritVik]

Quite simply it is theft. You are stealing a service that someone else has paid for.
And - as has been mentioned - you could well expose that person to untold bills and risk of prosecution for illegal acts of downloading among other things.
That is the main reason for having your WiFi well protected using a strong WAP2-PSK, to prevent 'hangers on' from pirating your Internet connection. I would not care to have anyone using what I pay dearly for. I can see that there are other WiFi networks in my vicinity, but they are wise enough to have protected themselves, as have I, against this piracy. Without this protection it is very easy to utilize someone else's Internet connection, and whether they learn of your theft or not is pure conjecture. But it is only a matter of time before they find that you have been there and 'stolen' their Internet connection.
I might add that my security key is not permanent, but is changed at irregular intervals. I have no wish to have anyone stealing my Intenet time or capacity,

[Gordy]

so if you don't lock your garage you are saying it is OK for a neighbour to borrow your car, use your fuel and put the car back, all without permission or knowledge of?

[Devil's advocate]

And what if you park your car in their kitchen with the keys in it?

Likewise someone else's wifi signal, you are not going onto their property to use it, if there are transmitting an unprotected wifi signal onto your property it's an open invitation to use it.

[/Devil's advocate]

[Bender B Rodriquez]

Not really a good analogy since the communication is two-way in this case.

Also, in the case of the car in the kitchen it is actually illegal for them to remove it.

[carterhayes]

So if i would share my WiFi, and namen it 'Free Wifi for everyone', it would be illegal to utilize it?

If i sit opposite to McDonalds utilizing their free WiFi - its illegal?