[FrayAdjacent911]

Yep... I read about that. They're calling it 'unauthorised access of a computer network' which is a third degree felony.

I think it should be defined better. The guy MIGHT have been doing something nefarious or downright illegal, or he could have simply been having a chat with some people in innocent context.

Myself, I have a wireless card for my laptop, and a wireless router. I don't use it much anymore, so the router stays off. I tried to set up WEP, but could never get my laptop to take the key correctly, so I set up MAC address filtering.

When I got the wireless stuff, I plugged in the card and set up the software, and BAM, from my apartment, I saw 5 networks, and was able to get on 3 or 4 of them. I can still get on a couple of them. I do from time to time if I don't feel like plugging my router in, or if I want to try accessing something from the outside (testing my webserver and such).

It's just not that difficult to protect your stuff. There are some good tips that are easily found. I don't think someone who leaves their network wide open has much room to complain if someone uses their network without their knowledge. It's like leaving your front, back and garage doors wide open and complaining when people come in and drink your milk.