wireless Internet, London

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Tom Espiner ZDNet UK | Police: Wi-Fi arrest not part of a crackdown | Published: 23 Aug 2007 16:58 BST

The arrest of a man for piggybacking on someone else's Wi-Fi-enabled broadband connection is not part of a wider crackdown, police said on Thursday.

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But this is not part of a proactive operation, said the Metropolitan Police. "This was not a strategic, pre-planned operation," said a spokesperson. "We're clearly not targeting broadband theft. The PCSOs saw a man acting suspiciously, and investigated."

The Met spokesperson denied that the arrest was a waste of police time and resources. "We're not going to ignore crime. If we find somebody committing an offence then we act on it, but this [crime] clearly doesn't happen in the hundreds or thousands."

On Tuesday morning the man was taken to Chiswick police station where the case was handed over to the Computer Crime Unit. The man has been bailed to return to the station in October pending further investigation, but may be let off with a caution, police said.


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wireless Internet

uk.reuters.com

"This arrest should act as a warning to anyone who thinks it is acceptable to illegally use other people's broadband connections," said Detective Constable Mark Roberts, of the Metropolitan Police.

"Computer users need to be aware that this is unlawful and police will investigate any violation we become aware of."


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msnbc.msn.com | Man held over wireless broadband "theft"
Wed Aug 22, 2007 6:29PM BST

Briton held for using Internet without asking
Officers spotted male suspect using laptop outside house near London
Updated: 6:12 p.m. ET Aug. 22, 2007

LONDON - A 39-year-old Briton has been arrested on suspicion of using someone else's wireless Internet connection without permission, police said on Wednesday.

Officers spotted the man using a laptop as he sat on a wall outside a house in Chiswick, west London, on Tuesday.

He told officers he had browsed the Internet via an unsecured broadband link from a nearby house, Scotland Yard said.

He was arrested and later released on police bail to Nov. 11 pending further inquiries.

"This arrest should act as a warning to anyone who thinks it is acceptable to illegally use other people's broadband connections," said Detective Constable Mark Roberts, of the Metropolitan Police.

"Computer users need to be aware that this is unlawful and police will investigate any violation we become aware of."

The practice, known as piggybacking, breaches the Computer Misuse Act and the Communications Act, he added.

Earlier this year, a man and a woman were arrested in the Midlands for wireless theft as they sat in their cars.



Gregory Straszkiewicz, from west London, is believed to be the first person to be convicted of the offense in 2005. He was fined 500 pounds and given a 12-month conditional discharge.

Internet security experts say people should secure their wireless connections to prevent identity theft and fraud.