Save money on wifi using user agent switching

The wifi network never asked him what device type he was using, it just made an assumption based on something as unreliable as a user agent string. How is it fraud?

Re: Save money on wifi using user agent switching

#7

Post by Fizzer » Sat, Mar 03, 2012, 10:56 AM UTC

MattBearman wrote: post #6

davidchua wrote: post #2

Isn't this fraud and an open admission of guilty?

The wifi network never asked him what device type he was using, it just made an assumption based on something as unreliable as a user agent string. How is it fraud?

He knowingly manipulated their device detection system. Yes, it's true their device detection system is trivial to manipulate, but that doesn't change the legality. If a bank forgets to lock their vault, you still wouldn't want to clean them out and admit to it on your blog.

Re: Save money on wifi using user agent switching

#8

Post by mooism2 » Sat, Mar 03, 2012, 10:58 AM UTC

luca-giovanni wrote: post #4

davidchua wrote: post #2

Isn't this fraud and an open admission of guilty?

Is it legal to charge people different rates for the same service on different devices? I would argue it certainly isn't moral. Switching user agent is perfectly legal.

It's legal to price discriminate based on age (discounted cinema tickets for children and pensioners), gender (free entry to certain nightclubs for women), occupation (teachers get educational discounts on some software, even when they only use it at home), not to mention the tricks aeroplane/train companies pull. So why not legal to price discriminate net access based on the device you're accessing it with?

Re: Save money on wifi using user agent switching

#9

Post by wladimir » Sat, Mar 03, 2012, 10:59 AM UTC

davidchua wrote: post #2

Isn't this fraud and an open admission of guilty?

There is no law that you have to send any user agent at all, or indeed a valid one that matches your device/browser. It is just a hint for the server.

Edit: and IMO, it's toxic to the hacker spirit to be too quick in condemning ideas as illegal or immoral

Re: Save money on wifi using user agent switching

#10

Post by patio11 » Sat, Mar 03, 2012, 11:00 AM UTC

Word to the wise: "circumventing the access restriction was easy to do, Your Honor, so I assumed it was OK" is not something you ever want to have to say.

There exist wifi systems where setting a cookie "paid=1" will save you $15. You might think there are no legal consequences for "writing a text file on your own computer." I strongly suggest not testing that.