German court orders wireless passwords for all

Users can be fined if a third party takes advantage of an open connection

By Kirsten Grieshaber

updated 10:55 a.m. ET May 12, 2010

BERLIN - Germany's top criminal court ruled Wednesday that Internet users need

to secure their private wireless connections by password to prevent

unauthorized people from using their Web access to illegally download data.

Internet users can be fined up to euro100 ($126) if a third party takes

advantage of their unprotected WLAN connection to illegally download music or

other files, the Karlsruhe-based court said in its verdict.

"Private users are obligated to check whether their wireless connection is

adequately secured to the danger of unauthorized third parties abusing it to

commit copyright violation," the court said.

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But the court stopped short of holding the users responsible for the illegal

content the third party downloads themselves.

The court also limited its decision, ruling that users could not be expected to

constantly update their wireless connection's security they are only required

to protect their Internet access by setting up a password when they first

install it.

The national consumer protection agency said the verdict was balanced.