OK, so my husband and I are concerned about this. A while back we had a room mate who paid for us to have cricket wireless internet. With a USB card that plugged in and picked up the signal from the cricket store across the street. (might be wi-fi, might not be) however she moved out and does not pay for it anymore and had it turned off. And it WAS off for a month.

My 5 year old was playing with the MS Paint program, and clicked on the connection instead of the MS Paint, and it did the automattic dialing, and connceted us to the net..

We called our room mate and she isn't getting charged anything. And I certainly am not getting charged anything. We have had free internet for a month now.


I know its not the same as 'neighbor-net' and I'm concerned about this. Should we be worried and contact them? Or simply enjoy our free enternet?

Well, as long as the computer is picking it up, and you haven't hacked it or anything, then I don't see why it would be illegal or anything. If the cricket store across the street doesn't password protect their wireless, then they are basically giving free access to anyone within range.

I'm not just saying take advantage of it. You may consider informing the store manager that he is broadcasting. However, I don't see any problem in using it while you can! Some places advertise "free wireless" as an incentive to get more customers. (laptop wielding customers, but customers no-less)

How do you KNOW your roommate was paying for this? Did she make you pay half the cost?
Perhaps, she was getting it for free and using it as an excuse to get $10 a month from you... =[

I sure hope it isn't illegal anymoe they build the computers to pick up any wii-fi signals that are not secured now. That is the only way I am able to use my laptop. My neighbor always has his internet running but the signal isn't always strong enough and all the other connections my computer pick up are secure so I am unable to connect with them.

If and when I ever do get the internet I want the Cricket because you can go anywhere with it.
I think you are just picking up somebody else's signal.


If you click on the monitor pic on the bar of your computer you can get toi a list of the signals and which ones are secure and which ones aren't
You wouldn't be able to tell whose they are but you can keep track of which #'s your conputer generally connects tp.

Oooh I see OK thanks everyone.