Belt tightening Computer ??

[pampam]

To save $$ I am considering cutting off my internet service. I can use the computers at the library, but I was also considering getting a notebook or mini pc laptop. Here's the questions. The school, 4 doors away and the library 5 doors away have Wi-Fi. Please bear in mind I'm not tecki so I hope these are not foolish questions. Someone told me I can use my computer on the internet using their wi-fi. Is this possible? How do I do it and how secure is it? I use my computer for games, Google searches for recipies, info and of course the Dis. I don't use it for banking, shopping or anything personal.

 

[englishteacha]

The school network is probably blocked to all outside computers. I know ours is. You probably are too far away at home to reach either place, so you'll have to either go to the library or sit in your car outside the library. Not very convenient, but free! Some libraries make you sign a waiver to use their service so you can't sue them if you're hacked or whatnot.

Have you looked into switching your internet provider to something cheaper?

 

[Lisa_M]

I agree with the PP. I also wanted to add if you use someone else's wireless, it's not secure, so you won't be able to secure it. I would get rid of cable before I get rid of the internet.

 

[edandcolleen1995]

You can get very cheap dial up (netzero and the rest) if you are that tight on the budget.

But you can't "steal" other folks wifi. First off they will have it secured. So no password, no access. If they don't have it secure, well honestly you should not take their signal anyway

 

[nowellsl]

There are other places with free wi fi. Starbucks etc. google your area for free wi fi. The bad part is you have to leave your house.

 

[pampam]

You can get very cheap dial up (netzero and the rest) if you are that tight on the budget.

But you can't "steal" other folks wifi. First off they will have it secured. So no password, no access. If they don't have it secure, well honestly you should not take their signal anyway

Sorry, I didn't realize it wasn't honest. I tried going back to dialup, but my computer wouldn't update my virus protection. It was too slow. So I upgraded to a cheaper highspeed. I want to get rid of our cable as well. I never watch tv- too much junk on it. DD would much rather watch her dvd's of old tv shows anyway. If I suggest to DH to get rid of his cable I know he will want me to get rid of my internet, and honestly, I have no problem with that, but I will miss the Dis. I know we can take laptops into the library, because I've seen people do that. Then I saw a laptop on the shopping channel and thought maybe I could access the wi-fi from the library or school just a few doors away.

 

[englishteacha]

Using the library signal for personal use is not stealing. It is provided as a free service to residents of your town. Now, if you were a business using the library's wi-fi, then you'd be stealing. But for personal use, it's no problem.

 

[Jeanne B]

Our library offers public access to their wifi and sometimes if I'm in town waiting for DD and I have my netbook with me I'll sit outside the library to kill time. But I guess I'm one of those one's that doesn't necessarily believe it's dishonest to pick up on someone's wifi...I have wifi at my house and during setup it asks you if you want to block it with a security code so if someone didn't want people picking up on their wifi I don't know why they wouldn't block it.

OP - Do you know anyone that has an ipod touch that would be at your house? They could see if they pick up an wifi connection from the library but being 5 blocks away, I highly doubt it.

 

[drinkme]

I work at a library. We have wi-fi for our patrons. We always have patrons sitting outside of our library (or in their cars) with their laptops. I don't see it as stealing at all.

I'm not sure if the wi-fi would reach that far for you. But it would be worth a try.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

In most communities the library signal is free to the residents to use. The school's is most likely not. Being only a few doors away, you might be able to pick up either signal in your home but it may be weak. You connection will also be slower at peak usage times because you will be sharing your access with everyone else using it.

You can check your wi-fi enabled Vista computer to see if it detects the library's network by clicking on Start and then Connect To. This will open a window with a list of wireless access points. I can see 5 in addition to my own. All of them are secured so only my network is available to me. Your library's network is probably unsecured. You can connect to an unsecured network by clicking on it to highlight it and then click on Connect.

Please don't add your computer to a neighbor's unsecured network. Just because someone has not taken the steps to secure their network that does not mean that it is there for the taking. That would be like borrowing someone's car because they left the key in the ignition.

Like others have said, using an unsecured network opens you up to sharing your files with others on the network unless you take the precautions to keep your files private. Make sure that you have any file sharing turned off.

Another drawback would be that if the library is closed, they may also shut off their network. So you may not have access during the late night, on Sundays, holidays or early morning hours. It's something to think about if you enjoy surfing the web at those times.

 

[Colleen27]

We've lived without internet at times in the past, for financial reasons and other circumstances, and I haven't found it to be too bad. As long as you have some place nearby that offers free public wi-fi, you should be able to manage. I actually liked sitting in the quiet of the library on my laptop rather than using the computer at home, and we ended up going without internet longer than we planned because it just didn't end up being a priority. We only got it reconnected when our youngest was born, because getting online at the library wasn't much of an option with a newborn.