re: #196 A Cranky One

Having an open network does present a security risk if you do any on-line banking, bill payment, etc. if there are neighbors nearby who can access your network. Also, if a neighbor was poaching your wifi and downloading copyrighted material, you might be considered liable (since the downloads would be occurring from your wifi).

I left my mom’s network open but she lives too far away from neighbors to worry about poaching and she doesn’t do any financial transactions over the internet.

Generally speaking, you should keep your network locked for your own protection and privacy.

Privacy is a dangerous illusion, viz the subject of this thread.