I’m with Brian Schneier — it’s no big deal to leave your wi-fi network open.

To me, it’s basic politeness. Providing internet access to guests is kind of like providing heat and electricity, or a hot cup of tea. But to some observers, it’s both wrong and dangerous…

I get few guests needing wi-fi access, but I’ve been lucky enough to visit friends with open access and I’ve been grateful. Future etiquette books will probably provide an entry on the graciousness of open access.

I remain unconvinced of this (security) threat, though. The RIAA has conducted about 26,000 lawsuits, and there are more than 15 million music downloaders. Mark Mulligan of Jupiter Research said it best: “If you’re a file sharer, you know that the likelihood of you being caught is very similar to that of being hit by an asteroid.”

I’m also unmoved by those who say I’m putting my own data at risk, because hackers might park in front of my house, log on to my open network and eavesdrop on my internet traffic or break into my computers. This is true, but my computers are much more at risk when I use them on wireless networks in airports, coffee shops and other public places. If I configure my computer to be secure regardless of the network it’s on, then it simply doesn’t matter. And if my computer isn’t secure on a public network, securing my own network isn’t going to reduce my risk very much.

I’ve gotta say, though, that I did have a problem when I lived Bakersfield. I suffered serious network slowdowns every evening. I suspected a neighbor of tapping into my network for file sharing. Once I secured my router, the slow downs stopped.

Of course, that was Bakersfield.

(via Boing Boing)

Or you could build a community network: Building Wireless Community Networks