We've all done it: You're using your laptop in a location without hotspot access. You want onto the Internet, so you start scanning for open wireless LANs. You find one and, regardless of who owns it, you piggyback a ride onto the Web.

Yesterday, the California legislature passed a law (AB 2415) that takes the first steps toward outlawing wireless network piggybacking, as well as hacking into wireless LANs. The bill, which was written by Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles), has been submitted to Gov. Schwarzenegger and is expected to be signed. It will go into effect in Jan. and will apply to devices manufactured after Oct. 1, 2007.

The law will require all manufacturers of wireless access products to put warning labels on their products that remind users to password-protect their WLANs before launching them. The warnings could take place as stickers on wireless routers, notes during installation, or an alert that requires buyers to take action before the device is used.

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— Tim Wilson, Site Editor, Dark Reading