About the Author
My name is Kevin A. Thompson, I am an intellectual property attorney in Chicago, Illinois with the firm Davis McGrath LLC. I practice in the areas of domestic and international trademark, copyright, and internet issues. Internet law is my real love, especially how trademarks and copyrights intersect there. The focus of this blog is the digital world, its impact and legal framework. I write about recent issues, cases, and controversies. I also give my general thoughts about the Internet and its impact upon us and our society.
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Local Man Pleads Guilty to Unauthorized Use of Wi-Fi
From the Rockford Star, here is a link to an article by Chris Green. David Kauchak, formerly of Machesney Park, pleaded guilty Tuesday to unauthorized use of a computer system. He received a fine of $250.00 and a year of probation.
According to the article, Kauchak was in a car at night outside a nonprofit agency’s offices with a laptop computer using the agency’s open wi-fi connection. A police officer coming by saw him and figured out what was happening.
Sometimes people set up open wi-fi connections with the intent to allow others to access them, but I can’t imagine a nonprofit agency doing so deliberately. It’s hard to plead innocence when caught using it in a car outside the building but within range of the wireless signal.
A reminder to all out there with wi-fi connections – be sure to secure them using at least WEP, if not WPA, level of encryption. If your hardware supports it, I recommend WPA. It’s much more secure.
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