Author Topic: WI-FI users: Secure your network or else... (Read 1231 times)

1K3 · « **on:** December 08, 2007, 03:05:00 AM »

Read here - S.A.F.E. Act of 2007

http://www.profy.com/2007/12/07/us-house-passes-safe-act/
http://www.news.com/8301-13578_3-9829759-38.html

If you have friends or relatives that have OPEN WI-FI, tell them to secure it right away. For some of you, SAFE Act may change they way you surf on the internet in public places.

Gunslinger · « **Reply #1 on:** December 08, 2007, 06:15:35 AM »

This is the stupidest thing I've read all week.

1K3 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 08, 2007, 10:04:09 PM »

yep, and Ron Paul agrees with you:aok

Meatwad · « **Reply #3 on:** December 08, 2007, 11:40:39 PM »

And after that, the govt will probabally access encrypted Wi-FI networks to make sure your being a "good boy"

Just plain BS

LePaul · « **Reply #4 on:** December 08, 2007, 11:59:27 PM »

Wow, read the C-Net article. (News.Com)

They really snuck this one in.

I'm all for protecting kids and stuff. But they are expecting ISPs and large web hosts to play policeman for them.

Our Nanny Government in action with more feel-good laws. Note in the article that such requirements are already in existance to a varying degree.

SD67 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 09, 2007, 02:23:31 AM »

I guess freedom of speech is no longer effective anymore then?
While I'm all for protection of minors, who gets to decide what is "offensive"?

Vulcan · « **Reply #6 on:** December 09, 2007, 02:40:50 AM »

It will be impossible to enforce.

SD67 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 09, 2007, 02:43:41 AM »

That depends, we may get gangs of bible belting WiFi vigilantes scouring unsecured networks for anything they think is offensive then calling the police.

Heater · « **Reply #8 on:** December 09, 2007, 09:16:39 AM »

Do they even have a clue to what they are doing?

Meatwad · « **Reply #9 on:** December 09, 2007, 10:10:35 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Heater
Do they even have a clue to what they are doing?

\

No, not a single one.

1K3 · « **Reply #10 on:** December 09, 2007, 11:36:06 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by SD67
That depends, we may get gangs of bible belting WiFi vigilantes scouring unsecured networks for anything they think is offensive then calling the police.

This may encourage citizens snitching on other citizens. .Gov is encouraging citizens to do what I think is "dirty work".

This is clearly Soviet-style lifestyle and isn't it the reason why USA feared Soviets?

AKIron · « **Reply #11 on:** December 09, 2007, 11:50:26 AM »

For the record, I am opposed to government intrusion into all citizens privacy but I just read the bill and I think the article referenced missed the focus of this bill. It's about reporting "knowledge" of illegal activity. Not about preventing it or even watching for it.

`(a) Duty To Report-

`(1) IN GENERAL- Whoever, while engaged in providing an electronic communication service or a remote computing service to the public through a facility or means of interstate or foreign commerce, obtains actual knowledge of any facts or circumstances described in paragraph (2) shall, as soon as reasonably possible--

`(A) complete and maintain with current information a registration with the CyberTipline of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, or any successor to the CyberTipline operated by such center, by providing the mailing address, telephone number, facsimile number, electronic mail address of, and individual point of contact for, such electronic communication service provider or remote computing service provider; and

`(B) make a report of such facts or circumstances to the CyberTipline, or any successor to the CyberTipline operated by such center.

Vulcan · « **Reply #12 on:** December 09, 2007, 04:36:05 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by 1K3
This may encourage citizens snitching on other citizens. .Gov is encouraging citizens to do what I think is "dirty work".

This is clearly Soviet-style lifestyle and isn't it the reason why USA feared Soviets?

A couple of thoughts...

Should people secure their wireless networks? IMHO hell yeah.

What would you do if you say had a next door neighbour who was sharing folders on his wifi network that contained porn, and you had kids?

culero · « **Reply #13 on:** December 09, 2007, 04:46:23 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by AKIron
For the record, I am opposed to government intrusion into all citizens privacy but I just read the bill and I think the article referenced missed the focus of this bill. It's about reporting "knowledge" of illegal activity. Not about preventing it or even watching for it.
snip

Yeah, that was my take, too. What's more, in addition to the example Vulcan cited, what about an ISP that knew one of their subscribers was distributing child porn and remained silent? Why wouldn't we see that as "aiding and abetting"?

Is there some gray area here with room for abuse? I'd say yes. But I already trust the government to have its agents carry guns and have the power to restrain/remove people. I'd say this bears constant scrutiny, but that used properly its a good thing.

I don't see what the comment about prudes cruising looking for hotspots is getting at. That could happen already, and under this law they'd simply be providing information about what they see, not what anyone knows about that.

SD67 · « **Reply #14 on:** December 09, 2007, 08:28:02 PM »

What I was getting at was it's a justification for invasion of privacy.
Now my network is secured (encrypted) but that does not mean it's not hackable. There is no such thing as a 100% secure network that isn't switched off and unplugged.
Now I don't want some do gooder hacking into my network, and then reporting me because I happen to have some pron there. None of it is anything illegal, but some would find it offensive, just as some find ankles and faces offensive.
What I was getting at is where is the line drawn between duty to report and invasion of privacy?
Where does freedom of speech fit in with file sharing and this new legislation?