Reply #146: You can't tell the difference

[northzax]

between an unsecured private system and a community open access system? You are free, under whatever terms you negotiate with your ISP, to open your wifi to anyone you want. You are just as free to put a sign on your front door inviting everyone into your house. However, if you don't have the 'open house' sign on your front door, you should still be able to leave your door open in the summer without worrying that someone will wander in. Your analogy implies that people cannot tell the difference between the two.

Portland, Oregon, offers free bicycles. They are painted yellow, and you get on one and ride it until you reach your destination (anywhere downtown) then you leave it, unlocked for someone else to use. They are advertised as free-use bicycles. Bob Jones' use of a non-free bike downtown isn't confusing to people, right? one's public, one's private. you can tell the difference. Even if bob doesn't lock his bike up, you can't ethically take it.

It is practical advice to lock down your WAP, obviously, just as it's practical advice to lock your car, but not locking it doesn't put it into the public domain.