If I'm using one of these services while connected to a guest wifi network, with the usual configuration for guest access (like no intranet connections), is that guest wifi network compromised? What's the threat model?

> is that guest wifi network compromised?

I'd say yes since you've allowed random people unauthorized use of the connection. It makes no difference if it's your connection or not. For example, if that proxy gets used as part of a DDoS attack, your device compromised that network.

how is this different than Tor? You seem a bit on the surveillance side. The computer/network is compromised if someone gains unauthorized access to it not if you share it.

TOR doesn't use unsuspecting participants as exit nodes, that's something you have to specificially enable.

> The computer/network is compromised if someone gains unauthorized access to it not if you share it.

Yes. And someone did get unauthorized access to it. You don't have the permission to delegate authorization to a third party.

Did the third party connect to the guest wifi or did they connect to your computer and you have allowed them access to the guest wifi?

Did they agree to the ToS that the wifi network requires for people to use it?

Are you certain that the wifi network isn't intentionally limiting the area where it is broadcast, allowing only people within that geographic area the ability to connect to it?

If there is a purely 100% open wifi network who is only limited geographically due to technological constraints but would allow anyone in the world to connect to it if the technology allowed, then using your device to solve the technological constraint of limited wifi range would not fall under compromising the network IMO. Assuming again that the operator of the network publicized it as such and you aren't just making assumptions about their intentions.

That's mind bending gimnastics. So if you connect a device(i.e. a TV) to WiFi and there is a Netflix app that downloading movies in background then Netflix has gained unauthorized access to the network because somehow is not `directly` connected to the Wi-Fi(like a kind of long cable from netflix server into the home router ) ? Did Netflix agree to the ToS of the Wi-Fi network provider ? What a stupid thing to say...I would expect more from this community.

> So if you connect a device(i.e. a TV) to WiFi and there is a Netflix app that's downloading movies in background then Netflix has gained unauthorized access to the network

There are two main differences. Netflix is working on your behalf. Connections initiated from netflix are no different from connections initiated from your web browser or your email client. Your use of the internet, for you, is authorized. With a proxy you have no idea who is connected or what they are doing with that connection. That network activity uses you, but isn't by you, or for you.

Finally, netflix isn't likely to be hacking, spamming, or attempting to bypass bans or IP blacklists over that connection, but those are exactly the kinds of activities that shady residential proxies are used for. You basically backdoored your own computer, and now access to the internet through it will be sold to people who want to use it for something that they couldn't get away with by using a VPN or any other legitimate provider.

Depending on the sophistication of the wifi network you may be held liable and accountable for everything that takes place over your connection, including what ever nasty things the people who bought access to your proxy get up to. If the wifi system isn't set up to keep careful track of who is using it and when the liability will fall to the entity offering the wifi access, and if that connection is repeatedly used for activity in violation of the law, or the AUP of the ISP being used, that same entity will face the repercussions. Their internet connection may be temporarily suspended, and they may even be forced to stop providing wifi access to guests entirely unless they are willing/able to spend the money needed to log and monitor who is using their connection and respond to notifications of abuse over their network as well as legal requests.

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You've confused intranet access with internet access. Guest networks rarely have intranet access, even between clients. They usually exist for "I don't trust this person on my network, but they want internet access".

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And, people getting into the intranet from internet has been seen. By your logic, this means all networks are compromised?