Stealing your neighbor’s Net
To a growing number of Internet piggy-backers, it’s the sweet sound of pirating their neighbor’s wireless network. Most new computers are equipped for wireless Internet access, and more and more people opting for Wi-Fi in their homes. But as the networks become stronger and more prevalent, more of those signals are available outside the home of the subscriber, spilling over into neighbor’s apartments, hallways and the street. Add to this the growing number of cafes and other public “hot spots” that offer Wi-Fi (for wireless fidelity) connections and the ability to buy more powerful antennas that can pick up signals several hundred feet away. The coverage in some places can be pretty near flawless. One study by Jupiter Research said 14 percent of wireless network owners have accessed their neighbor’s connection. Yet anecdotal evidence suggests that more and more people are logging on for free.