DIGIT-ARC read-only archive · snapshot: July 23, 2026

Free internet - moral dilemma

27 posts · originally from https://geek.digit.in/community/threads/free-internet-moral-dilemma.68808/

chesss
chesss Original post #1
Sep 21, 2007 at 9:52 PM
I am in a strange position..
I am on a 64kbps unlimited connection, which I use through my wireless router on my laptop.

Now since the past few days my laptop detects another two wireless networks. Both are unsecured(not even a wep key).
Infact they even haven't setup a password for their routers, i easily went to have a look around in their router settings :), even found ones mtnl login-info

But the dilemma is that i can freely use their DSL internet, which gives me about 40-60 kb/sec download speed, 8-10 faster than my own.. I am in a fix, generally speaking I am good honest guy, who would just ignore them, but 50kb free unlimited internet is too tempting...
I am just restricting myself to downloading just a few vids per day(50mb max), so not to totally screw them. The only readon why I want to curb my usage is coz I know they must be on data-limited plans(that the main problem..)

wat to do?? Should I continue using them moderately (their fault for being such noobs); or just chill and enjoy my good luck???

btw Any chance of me getting caught(if I restrict myself to using their net and not doing any port scans?)
din
din #2
Sep 21, 2007 at 9:58 PM
In my opnion - tell them and help them secure their wireless

Never do anything un-ethical. You are a good guy. Be the same :)
dd_wingrider
Sep 21, 2007 at 10:00 PM
dude my advice dont use it seriously, dont know much about scenario in india, but in U.S people have been jailed for using net without owner premission through wifi that is.

If i remember correctly that news was also on digg.

But it all depends on you, again my advice dont use it and tell them about this :)
hailgautam
Sep 21, 2007 at 10:15 PM
I don't know what will I do in such a case but will advise you to ask them to secure the network. Most probably they would not have any idea as - how to secure their network. So again help them with setting up their network. In case if you find someone is useing a Unlimited connection - It may (MAY) not be a bad idea to use that connection once in a long while when your own network is down.
chesss
chesss #5
Sep 21, 2007 at 11:03 PM
I don't think i need to be worried abt jail(this is India!).
There is another problem, if I help them secure their network then I know I'll try to crack that wep/wap key as well.
din
din #6
Sep 21, 2007 at 11:19 PM
@chesss

Stay away from temptations. Help them

And never go un-ethical in life. Personal life and business.
iNFiNiTE
Sep 22, 2007 at 7:28 AM
@chess

Sure i agree that the temptation is great but i would suggest u to help them.

You will be free of any guilt and will feel good abt the matter whenever u stop to think abt it.Imagine how u would feel if u r in their shoes.

U cant call urself a goodguy if u cant resist the temptation and take advantage of the situation.
kumarmohit
Sep 22, 2007 at 8:42 AM
If they are on data ltd plan, you should go and tell them right away
sourav
sourav #9
Sep 22, 2007 at 9:09 AM
^^ i agree

ask them do they have unlimited plan, if yes then use, if no then forget about it and just they secured for them.
enticer86
enticer86 #10
Sep 22, 2007 at 11:03 AM
chesss said:
I don't think i need to be worried abt jail(this is India!).

This is India n u need to b all the more careful- u never kno, they mite charge u fr HACKIN or fr anythin, coz accordin to our Cyber crime cell, all sorts of cyber crimes r pretty similar, they r quite misinformed, n ignorant....

watch out
azzu
azzu #11
Sep 22, 2007 at 11:08 AM
i too totally Agree with KUMARMOHIT n SOURAV
gary4gar
gary4gar #12
Sep 22, 2007 at 1:43 PM
Dude i think you should not use it.
even i have at least 25 working user id & pass of data one:D
still i use my own account only*

all others i would like to know the effects of using others user id & pass, though whether i would get caught & or not i will never them, but still want to know for information only
aryayush
aryayush #13
Sep 22, 2007 at 2:02 PM
I'd once given my notebook to have the SuperDrive checked (which was making a little grinding noise). They kept the notebook for a day. In that period, some employee unwittingly saved the username and password for their DataOne connection on my Mac. I had a DataOne connection at home too and I knew they had an unlimited connection. But when I saw their username and password saved, I did not even log into it once. I just replaced it with my own username and password and forgot about it.

I am not boasting and I hope I don't sound like I am. (And I am sorry if I do!) But what I am trying to say is, be honest! When all is said and done (and you've leeched their connection for all its worth), I'm sure you'll realise that all that "stealing" (that is the only appropriate term for what you are doing right now) wasn't worth the moral trade-off. You'll feel guilty and dirty. Don't give in to temptation. I hope you show "outstanding moral fibre" and make the right, honest decision. :)
chesss
chesss #14
Sep 22, 2007 at 3:28 PM
I checked the data usage of the mtnl guy. his is a router cum modem, so I got the login info . It turns out that guy has used 9gb is the past 20 days. this looks like an unlimited plan. :)

I had a DataOne connection at home too and I knew they had an unlimited connection. But when I saw their username and password saved, I did not even log into it once. I just replaced it with my own username and password and forgot about it.
arre but I am sure u were already on an unlimited connection, prolly with similar speeds. So there was no temptation.
In my case we are talking about a huge difference in speed -
mine - 6kb/sec
theirs -50kb/sec
and i am a sucker for youtube..

btw they thankfully keep their routers switched off most of the time, so I can't screw them too much. phew!!

@din/infi@everybody - thanks for your comments. For the time being I have removed the wireless notificaiton icon from my tray area, so that i can't keep on clicking 'refresh network list'. this makes it tad bit more difficult to switch to their network.. I'll still watch a video or two a day..sry can't resist that...
aryayush
aryayush #15
Sep 22, 2007 at 3:48 PM
chesss said:
arre but I am sure u were already on an unlimited connection, prolly with similar speeds. So there was no temptation.
No, I wasn't. I was on a limited plan too.
infra_red_dude
Sep 22, 2007 at 3:55 PM
even i suggest you stay away from such things. help them secure their network. afaik, there is no 512kbps unlimited connection for home users. so just checkout. that 9gb may actually be used by ur other neighbour too! help them out.
Abhishek Dwivedi
Sep 22, 2007 at 4:13 PM
ok this is shud sound a lil weird but yar if we have knowledge about sumthing better than others then its our responsibility to help them and not use our knowledge for our use and do remember da old Uncle ben's saying :
WITH GREAT POWERS COMES GREAT RESPONSIBLITY

and not to forget spidy :
ITS MY CURSE .... ITS MY GIFT !!!

u got huked up into a wireless net connection....this was ur gift.....and now u have to go and hlp dem secure their network....this is ur curse....:p :p

btw way dude which 64kbps wireless connection u got and whats its rental????plzz reply fast...or just PM me.....i need dat....
The_Devil_Himself
Sep 22, 2007 at 4:16 PM
^^yea man others like you may also be exploiting free net.HELP THEM DUDE.I hope your moral fibres are still strong enough to fight this temptation.
chesss
chesss #19
Sep 22, 2007 at 4:22 PM
btw way dude which 64kbps wireless connection u got and whats its rental????plzz reply fast...or just PM me.....i need dat...
its not wireless, its a regular lan connection. Which I 'make' wireless using a router. The lan wire goes into my router and the router sends a wireless signal to my laptop.
Similarly my neighbour's router also transmits a wireless signal which reaches my home.
Abhishek Dwivedi
Sep 22, 2007 at 4:23 PM
btw way dude which 64kbps wireless connection u got and whats its rental????plzz reply fast...or just PM me.....i need dat....
gary4gar
gary4gar #21
Sep 23, 2007 at 3:09 AM
@chess
there is no unlimited connection on MTNL with speeds more than 256kbps so thay must be on data capped plan.
Faun
Faun #22
Sep 23, 2007 at 3:22 AM
u deserve to die for letting in the devil:D

hold the horses of ur temptation:arrow:
chesss
chesss #23
Sep 23, 2007 at 3:35 AM
^^devil(wget) has been kept quiet till now ;)
@chess
there is no unlimited connection on MTNL with speeds more than 256kbps so thay must be on data capped plan.
Thanks for letting me know. but could they be on a business plan? 9gb on a data limited plan sounds too much.
gary4gar
gary4gar #24
Sep 23, 2007 at 3:49 AM
chesss said:
^^devil(wget) has been kept quiet till now ;)
Thanks for letting me know. but could they be on a business plan? 9gb on a data limited plan sounds too much.
For delhi
*delhi.mtnl.net.in/commercial/broadband_tariff.htm
For mumbai
*mumbai.mtnl.net.in/triband/htm/tariff.htm
desai_amogh
Sep 23, 2007 at 4:24 AM
u better stay away from using their conxn... its wrong ...

btw i have an idea for u .. as u said u have mtnl's login info .. y dont u login to their account & check what plan they r using.. if they r on a limited plan u can ignore it.. if its unlimited then !!!!!! bingo !!!!!!!

now u can forget this suggestion & get back to studies or work .. dont try this .. its illegal !! ;)
fun2sh
fun2sh #27
Sep 23, 2007 at 6:05 PM
yes dude dont use their internet coz its like cheatin common people.

but if u get free internet(by some method) directly from service providers like it used to be in Airtel gprs. then its is very essential to suck them.

but boy never cheat a common man