"unauthorized access to a computer network, a third-degree felony."
http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/07/07/wi.fi.theft.ap/index.html
Man charged with stealing Wi-Fi signal
Friday, July 8, 2005; Posted: 9:48 a.m. EDT (13:48 GMT)
ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (AP) -- Police have arrested a man for using someone e
lse's wireless Internet network in one of the first criminal cases involving t
his fairly common practice.
Benjamin Smith III, 41, faces a pretrial hearing this month following his Apri
l arrest on charges of unauthorized access to a computer network, a third-degr
ee felony.
Police say Smith admitted using the Wi-Fi signal from the home of Richard Dino
n, who had noticed Smith sitting in an SUV outside Dinon's house using a lapto
p computer.
The practice is so new that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement doesn't
even keep statistics, according to the St. Peter*****urg Times, which reported Sm
ith's arrest this week.
Innocuous use of other people's unsecured Wi-Fi networks is common. But expert
s say that illegal use often goes undetected, such as people sneaking on other
s' networks to traffic in child pornography, steal credit card information and
send death threats.
Security experts say people can prevent such access by turning on encryption o
r requiring passwords, but few bother or even know how to do so.
Wi-Fi, short for Wireless Fidelity, has enjoyed prolific growth since 2000. Mi
llions of households have set up wireless home networks that allow people to u
se the Web from their backyards but also reach the house next door or down the
street.
Prosecutors declined to comment, and a working phone number could not be locat
ed for Smith.