> -----Original Message-----
> From: Paul Taylor
> 
> 
> I just love the legal advice that comes from a KCLUG forum. 
> One thing I
> know is illegal is giving legal advice in a State which you 
> don't have a
> legal license. Go figure, lawyers write the laws.
> 
> /*
> Also, 'sniffing' data from the internet is definitely not legal
> unless you have permission to do so from the parties you are sniffing.
> */
> 
> Which State are you referring too? I'm not aware of any such "law" or
> legal precedence.
All of them. IANAL, but the Economic Espionage Act of 1996 
criminalized the theft of business-related intellectual property.
That would include the capture of at least some data passing between
two corporate locations of a company. Just because people do it and it
is a big business doesn't mean it can't be prosecuted.

> 
> If it isn't specified in a law on the "books" then I'd wager it's
> perfectly legal since the Internet is publicly accessible with no
> ownership. The word public is powerful, meaning no privacy unless you
> provide your own.
It is specified on the books (see above stated law). Yes, but we were
talking about cracking encrypted data, which is by definition
*not* public.

> 
> 
> /*
> Just as it is illegal to tap into someone's phone line 
> without a warrant
> or permission.
> */
> 
> A phone line is private and falls under different legal terms 
> and laws.
Nope.