At our vacation house, we connect to the Internet via an UNSECURED signal which we think originates two or three doors AWAY from our place.  We only go there 2 or 3 times a year for a few weeks at a time  so this connection is good ENOUGH for US.  Here's what has STARTED to happen lately.  We open the browser IE or Chrome (doesn't matter which one we use) and although the computer shows that we are CONNECTED to the Lynksys (unsecured) signal it won't open the Internet.  This only happens sporadically though, sometimes for just minutes to a few hours, and sometimes for a day. Then all of sudden we can get Internet again.  All the while though, it shows that we are CONNECTED!!   What would cause this or what would the owner of this connection be doing that would prevent us from getting on th Internet??  Any help would be appreciated.The most likely reason it is not working is that the owner of the network no longer has internet access, but they left their wi-fi on. I have run into a few networks like this myself. If they are blocking you, leave it alone. If you try to get past it, it is likely that you will be breaking the law.No they DO have Internet access MOST OF THE TIME!!  We were just there for two weeks and 95% of the time we could get on the Internet.  It just goes out OCCASIONALLY!!  But, to repeat, we always get their Wi-Fi connection.  If you are stealing someone's wireless connection you have no right to complain when it does not WORK, and I think helping to do this may be against CH rules.