5 Illegal Things You are Doing on the Internet

There are things everyone does on the net. Some of them are not technically legal. Most of us go ahead and do it anyway. Who hasn’t hopped on an unsecured Wi-Fi connection? Who hasn’t streamed a movie or downloaded a music album?

5. Using Pictures from Your Google Image Search:

If you’re writing an article and you want it to include a picture most of us would do a Google image search to find one. Officially, you can’t use many of these pictures as they are copyrighted. You’ll need permission from the owner if you want to use it. You’re not allowed to copy paste it straight elsewhere. Note that Google has a new feature in which you can actually search for copyright free images using their search bar. Similarly, corbis and sxc can provide you with copyright free materials.

However, if you want to parody this material, that’s a different story.

4. Downloading Without Permission:

This one is quite obvious but it is illegal to download movies or music from the net. There are plenty of websites where you can view films and listen to music legally for a small fee. Less obvious is pulling documents from the web. You’re allowed to view them online but once you print them and start distributing documents it becomes illegal.

To download music legally, you can read my article about the top sites from where you can download mp3 songs.

3. Having a Facebook Account Under the Age of 13:

Everyone uses Facebook but you may not be aware that you have to be at least 13 to open an account with the social media platform. However, this will not stop many secondary school children from using Facebook. And what about the parents who set up an account for their soon to be born child?

2. Sharing Your Subscription Passwords:

Millions of people have a subscription to Netflix, LoveFilm and HBO. Plenty of them share their passwords with others. It is very easy to get these services for free. It’s only a matter of logging in with your friends’ password. Easy and convenient it might be, legal it is not. 

1. Connecting to Other People’s Unsecured WiFi Networks:

According to the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act it is illigal to use others’ Wi-Fi networks. It is often there for anyone to use but not according to the law. Keep that in mind next time you log in at McDonald’s free WiFi network!

May be you can like on of my article which will let you know how to transfer file from one PC to another over WiFi.

So there we are – the five illegal things you’re doing on the internet. They look like petty crimes and plenty of us are doing them, but the defense “everyone’s doing it” wouldn’t hold up in a court f law. Have you done any of these illegal activities? Be honest…

Rens van der Windt

This article was written by tech savvy internet user Rens van der Windt. He works in partnership with Intralinks, More Than A VDR, a secure large file transfer provider.