Background
Piggybacking has become a widespread practice in the 21st century due to the advent of wireless Internet connections and Wireless access points. Computer users either who do not have their own connections or who are outside the range of their own might find someone else's by wardriving or luck and use that one.
However, those residing near a hotspot or another residence with the service have been found to have the ability to piggyback off such connections without patronizing these businesses, which has led to more controversy. While some may be in reach from their own home or nearby, others may be able to do so from the parking lot of such an establishment, from another business that generally tolerates the user's presence, or from the public domain. Others, especially those living in apartments or town houses, may find themselves able to use a neighbour's connection.
Wi-Fi hotspots (unsecured and secured) have already been recorded (to some degree) with GPS-coordinates. Sites such as Wigle.net and WifiMaps provide this information.
Special antennas can be purchased that can be attached to laptop computers which allow a user to pick up a signal from up to several kilometers away. Since unsecured wireless signals can be found readily in most urban areas, laptop owners may find possible free connections in a wide variety of locations. Antennas like these are commercially available and easily purchased from many online vendors. Making one homemade is possible with some skills.
Read more about this topic: Piggybacking (Internet Access)
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