Kismac: comical little feller

Although wireless thieves say it is a victimless crime, the number of arrests for dishonestly obtaining free access under the UK Communications Act 2003 are rising. This practice is known as war surfing or piggybacking, and while hedge fund managers are allowed to trade insolvently, and kids wander around with guns and knives, it is reassuring that the police still find time to prosecute, or is that persecute downloaders. It’s the 21st century equivalent of being sent to Australia for picking an apple from the ground in an orchard.

In order to assist Inspector Plod in their mission of persecuting off-grid internet users, we are compiling a list of all known piggybacking hot-spots on the Internet. All readers are invited to add to the list by going as quickly as possible to the off-grid forum, here.

Don’t tell anyone else, but there is also software that you can install on your computer that alerts you to the presence of unsecured wireless networks in the area. For Windows, try NetStumbler. For Macs the software is called Kismac and you can see it at http:// kismac.macpirate.ch/. Apparently Kismac will also crack passwords on secured wireless connections as well, but we have not tried it. Please let us know if you do.

Sounding more than a bit defensive, Detective Constable Mark Roberts, of the Metropolitan Police computer crime unit, was widely quoted in the British press as saying that said those illegally using unsecured broadband should fear arrest. “This arrest should act as a warning to anyone who thinks it is acceptable to illegally use other people’s broadband … computer users need to be aware that this is unlawful and police will investigate any violation we become aware of,” he said. Some hours later, though, the official statements out of Scotland Yard were softened to indicate that the arrest was not some part of a new widespread crackdown on Wi-Fi theft.

Meanwhile, the bloke caught perched on the fence does potentially face a hefty fine and even a jail sentence. Indeed the Brits have, on rare occasion, arrested others for Wi-Fi theft, the most celebrated case one back in 2005 when the perpetrator was fined $1,000 and handed a 12 month suspended sentence.

In April this year, a man was cautioned by police after neighbours spotted him in a car outside a house in Redditch, Worcestershire.

The record does not state whether the 39-year-old, who was spotted by community support officers as he surfed the net in Chiswick, West London, is living off-grid. But he could be.

Met Police said: “Computer users need to know this is unlawful.”

The man was handed over to the Metropolitan Police’s Computer Crime Unit which charged him with breaching the UK’s 1990 Computer Misuse Act and 2003 Communications Act.

He was released on bail until October.