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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to steal broad band??

57 replies

macdoodle · 14/02/2010 23:38

Am staying at my mums house,brought my lap top to do some paperwork stuff!

My mum doesnt have internet at all, but one of her neighbours has a unsecured broadband which my laptop has picked up.

So I am connected and using it, AIBU??

OP posts:
Slartybartfast · 14/02/2010 23:39

no, go for it.

BunnyLebowski · 14/02/2010 23:40

Wot slarty said.

Molesworth · 14/02/2010 23:40

YANBU. Although it would be taking the piss if you were downloading massive files or similar.

DuelingFanjo · 14/02/2010 23:40

to be honest I can't believe people worry about this kind of thing.

gerontius · 14/02/2010 23:40

YABU. You could at least ask.

Original poster
macdoodle · 14/02/2010 23:43

Gerontius....I have absolutely no idea who it is, my laptop has picked up about half a dozen wiifii signals, it has good range so it could be any house within a good range!

OP posts:
TidyBush · 14/02/2010 23:43

Technically YABU.

BUT we keep connecting to our next door neighbour's broadband (not on purpose it's a stonger signal than ours in certain rooms)and we don't always notice until we try to print or send an email.

We've told them loads of times but they still leave it unsecured.

If you know who it is then it'd be polite to pop over tomorrow and let them know that it's unsecure and 'someone' might be able to use their bandwith if they don't sort it.

In the meantime I'd use it but not take the pee with the amount of download.

Original poster
macdoodle · 14/02/2010 23:43

Not downloading anything just browsing!

OP posts:
TidyBush · 14/02/2010 23:45

Wouldn't worry then

jaquelinehyde · 14/02/2010 23:47

Nah go for it, when I first moved into my new house I was without broadband for about 3 weeks. So we used the broadband of the house opposite, the deanery I presumed the vicar wouldn't mind.

WhatNoLunchBreak · 15/02/2010 07:24

YABU. I would have said YANBU in the past, but then we experienced the other side of the argument when we had an unsecured network for a wee while. Two problems:

  1. Other user/s slowed down our connection to the point we couldn't connect to some sites
  1. We ended up having to pay a top-up because we didn't have unlimited GBs

I would definitely ask first. And, really, if you find it difficult to ask, then perhaps that indicates that you don't really believe that what you're doing is completely above board.

Tee2072 · 15/02/2010 07:33

I have always been of two minds in this.

On the one hand, if someone is too ignorant to secure their broadband, they get what they deserve.

On the other hand, it is stealing...

Tee2072 · 15/02/2010 07:34

Duh...to not secure their broadband...

SayHitIsntSo · 15/02/2010 07:37

YABU and you are breaking the law

I hate it when people do that- it's stealing, point blank.

If you walked down the street and saw a car with keys in the ignition- would you take it for a ride just because the owner was "dumb enough not to protect his property"??

seeker · 15/02/2010 07:40

"
On the one hand, if someone is too ignorant to secure their broadband, they get what they deserve."

Can't believe anybody actually posted this!

Jackstini · 15/02/2010 07:51

Wouldn't worry about it as you are only browsing, not downloading and also you have no idea which house it belongs to so couldn't tell them if you wanted to!
Why people don't secure it is beyond me.

HSMM · 15/02/2010 07:52

But the OP can't ask, because they don't know who it is!

Tee2072 · 15/02/2010 07:59

Glad I can still shock, Seeker.

And I didn't say dumb. I said ignorant. As in doesn't know how or understand they are suppose to. And yes, I do think you have some responsibility if you leave your keys in your car/your purse in view/your front door unlocked.

People take advantage. Its the way of the world. It is up to you to protect yourself, because no one is going to protect you from your own ignorance.

So get educated. Learn how to secure your broadband. Lock your car. Hide your purse.

Don't.be.ignorant.

BelleDameSansMerci · 15/02/2010 08:03

Some people don't secure because they don't know how.

You are stealing, however, but if you're not downloading I don't suppose it's a huge deal.

There was a thread on here the other day about someone not understanding how they'd used so much bandwidth so it can have an adverse affect and cost people money. It's not fair to download as you don't know the financial status of the person you're taking it from.

Phew - lecture over (and can you tell I work for a communications company )

fiveisanawfullybignumber · 15/02/2010 08:04

I personally wouldn't do it, they may well have limited access and you could be costing them money.
As for having unsecured broadband, it doesn't mean you can just take it. We had a problem with my DS1 (17) switching on the wireless connection so he could facebook till midnight in bed on his laptop, but he left it unsecured.
Can you imagine how you'd feel if it was yours and some cretin was browsing nasty stuff online. Not saying you're doing that of course, but could have some nasty outcomes.
I would just get on with your paperwork if I was you.

warthog · 15/02/2010 08:06

yabu.

it is stealing.

MmeLindt · 15/02/2010 08:07

I would not because, as others have said, you don't know if they have unlimited broadband.

If they do not then they might use up their limit too quickly.

PurpleCrazyHorse · 15/02/2010 13:58

If you're only browsing the web then I wouldn't worry about it but YwouldbeBU to download files or watch streaming media such as BBC iPlayer.

howdidthishappenthen · 15/02/2010 14:00

Just for a day or so, it's surely 'scrumping', not 'stealing'. If you lived there and did it every day it might be another matter. I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

MrsDimples · 15/02/2010 14:04

I use my Dad's neighbours when I'm there, its secure, I asked & they 'accepted' me. I let them know when I'm using - usually via FB.

YAB a bit U, just ask permission.