Alex Heney wrote:
> On Tue, 02 Aug 2005 23:10:57 GMT, SMS in message
> <news:54THe.7073$p%3.33969@typhoon.sonic.net> wrote:
>
> > Alex Heney wrote:
> >> On Tue, 02 Aug 2005 22:43:08 GMT, SMS in message
> >> <news:0GSHe.7064$p%3.33963@typhoon.sonic.net> wrote:
> >>
> >>>Roderick Stewart wrote:
> >>>
> >>>>In article <t64ve1dincun8ejos60plc39hd9cna0d37@4ax.com>, Paul Harper
> >>>>wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>>>No there isn't. The SSID is simply an identification, not an
> >>>>>>invitation.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>That is an opinion, not a legal ruling.
> >>>>
> >>>>It may not have legal standing, but it's more than an "opinion".
> >>>>
> >>>>What do the letters "SSID" stand for?
> >>>
> >>>"SSID: SSID is an acronym for Service Set Identifier.
> >>
> >> Precisely. It is an identifier, nothing more.
> >
> > "A closed wireless network does not broadcast the SSID, requiring users
> > to know the SSID to access the network."
>
> So what?
>
> That is not part of the definition.

Very creative snipping.

"SSID is set by a network administrator and for open wireless networks,
the SSID is broadcast to all wireless devices within range of the
network access point."

This is precisely the point. If the SSID is broadcast, then it's an
open wireless network. If the network is not intended for open access
then either the SSID is not broadcast, and/or the network is secured by
WEP, WAP, or MAC filtering. The quick-set-up instructions of wireless
routers explain exactly how to do this.

If someone turns on their notebook PC and it automatically connects to
an unsecured wireless network, it is not their responsibility to know
if it is one of millions of free access wireless networks, or if the
owner of the network simply neglected to set up security.