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Did you know you can be prosecuted for using your neighbours wi-fi without permission?
Up to a third of Britons leach off someone else’s broadband, they either sneak through an unsecured connection or guess a password.
One man had problems with his neighbour over a fence and solicitors got involved, they found the man was in the right, he thought that was the end of it.
But now another battle has begun over piggybacking. He was asked to attend a police interview in connection to internet use. He was confused as he did not have a wi-fi connection.
But when he was interviewed he realised although he didn’t have any internet he would log on to his neighbours wi-fi on his mobile phone. The neighbour reported him when he found out somehow. Although many might think he would just get a slap on the wrist, the police are taking it seriously and he faces prosecution.
What The Law Says.
If you use a neighbours unsecured wi-fi without their knowledge it is known as piggybacking and is a criminal offence. Under the computer misuse act 1990 or the communications act 2003, it could lead to criminal charges. A report found that people between 35 and 44 are the ones most likely to piggyback off a neighbours connection.
But you need to think twice about doing it as it is a serious offence.
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