Criminal Justice

Prosecutor’s Apology for Home Raid Highlights the Dangers of Unprotected WiFi

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A Buffalo businessman learned about the dangers of unprotected WiFi earlier this month when he was awakened by federal agents who battered open the back door of his home, pointed guns at him and seized his computer.

The man got his computer back three days later when authorities arrested a neighbor and accused him of using the businessman’s WiFi to download child pornography, the Buffalo News reports. On Thursday, U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. apologized to the businessman.

The neighbor, John Luchetti, was charged with child pornography. He has pleaded not guilty.

A statement of apology issued by Hochul warned WiFi users to make sure their system is password protected.

Prior WiFi coverage:

ABAJournal.com: “Angry at Attorney, Neighbor Hacked His Encrypted Wi-Fi & Sent Child Porn to His Law Firm Colleagues”

Sarasota Herald-Tribune: “Wireless router hijacked for child pornography”

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