Members of the BuzzBlog Brigade were asked to weigh in on the notion of private property owners being required by regulation or law to secure their wireless networks. Here’s what Jason Thomas had to say:
The more you consider it, the slipperier the slope gets. You really can come down with some good arguments on both sides.
The network admin in me applauds this step, but the civil libertarian raises an eyebrow.
I think that if the property owners actually installed the wireless network and charged the residents a fee to use said wireless network, then they would be more than justified in setting up and maintaining wireless security. I laud their effort at making sure that they can prevent wireless interlopers from setting up shop and using a free WLAN from a resident’s condo.
Nonetheless, if a user does not set up any type of security on a wireless network, they deserve to reap what they sow.
A happy medium would be for the property owners to suggest/strongly urge that all wireless networks on premises meet a certain level of security. If someone objects to doing so, then there should be a waiver/acknowledgement signed by the objecting party. Essentially, it states they know the risks of an unsecured wireless network, and they hold no one responsible but themselves.
— Jason Thomas
