I was wondering what other parents of a pre-teen/teen aged child would do if they found their child accessing the internet in which they were connected to an unsecured wireless network they did not have authorization to use. Would you call the police and report your child or would you deal with it another way?

That's a touchy issue. I also caught my child doing it. DSHS doesnt need to know the disciplinary action I took against her.

My daughter did bring up one point that lessoned the Severity of it. "If I am not supposed to access it, why isn't it password protected"?
O.K. so she is part weasel, she got a scooby snack for her answer.
I have 3 wireless networks were I live, all 3 are UNPROTECTED. There not mine but if I fix a laptop it immediately connects to the fastest one, without me trying. That is like so dangerous it is not funny.

So the issue begs the question, "Did she illegally access it, Did she have permission, or did the computer hook to the fastest one at the time bypassing the proper connection"?

If you leave your car running, unwatched, on the Northside, aren't you asking for trouble? Shouldn't you partly take the blame?

Would I call the cops? No. And not because of my personal feelings against the TPD. I don't think it's an issue they should be involved with.

I would deal with the child then lock down your computer from accessing the networks that are unprotected.

Also. We must remember that the computer is not a babysitter. We must also remember that kids will be kids. We need to put the computers in an area where we can see what is going on. Preferably an area we can walk up without them hearing us, this will prevent the "Naughty Stuff" for the most part.

My kids are coming down this summer again (YAYYY). They will have a computer in there room, unconnected to the internet. If they want internet they can use the one in the living room with high traffic.

Well.. my kids are grown, so the issue is really a moot point for me... However, my son went to Tulsa Technology Center and studied Networking and Internet Security.  He will eventually be some sort of Engineer.. at least that's what he says now, but if he can manage a double major he'll include the Networking and Internet Security with Engineering.  He's already taken me on a drive around our neighborhood just to show me how many people have unsecured networks, and then he proceeded to tell me how he would make them secure for the people that had them.  Needless, to say, he's secured our wireless network at home! LOL

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jd4fox23