The argument of "it is not stealing because it is not a physical thing" is not valid. At least not valid here in the US. We have laws against Theft of Services. By using someone else's WiFi you are stealing their service.
Personally, I think using someones unprotected WiFi is a very lame reason to get in trouble. Unless you are doing something else illegal along with it. Browsing their PCs trying to steal info, or using it to download illegal things and trying to hide that you did it, etc.
If you just happen to connect to someone else's WiFi and use their connection as you normally would, then I don't see it as that big of a deal. But, my opinion does not mean that you couldn't get in trouble for it.
And, for the guy who said his WiFi connection wasn't fast enough to game... If you are talking about gaming on the Internet, then a WiFi connection is very much fast enough. Most WiFi is 54Mb nowadays, and the older stuff is 11Mb. Both are fast enough for any Internet game. And more than likely faster than your Internet connection. If you have a internet connection at home faster than 54Mb, then you are one lucky SOB.
Personally, I think using someones unprotected WiFi is a very lame reason to get in trouble. Unless you are doing something else illegal along with it. Browsing their PCs trying to steal info, or using it to download illegal things and trying to hide that you did it, etc.
If you just happen to connect to someone else's WiFi and use their connection as you normally would, then I don't see it as that big of a deal. But, my opinion does not mean that you couldn't get in trouble for it.
And, for the guy who said his WiFi connection wasn't fast enough to game... If you are talking about gaming on the Internet, then a WiFi connection is very much fast enough. Most WiFi is 54Mb nowadays, and the older stuff is 11Mb. Both are fast enough for any Internet game. And more than likely faster than your Internet connection. If you have a internet connection at home faster than 54Mb, then you are one lucky SOB.