There's a whole universe between some dickhead keeping a gun in a household where there are kids and it isn't stored in an absolute secure place, and having an unsecured Wi-Fi. Comparing the two by the law firm is utterly abhorent. In other words, re the 70 year old woman… 'she was asking for it'. Oppenents should have used that tact against them and watched the misery being heaped on the shysters.
I've done plenty of unofficial IT work for friends and family who got pcs and the internet with relatively little thought of the dangers/hassle both can have. The risks a completely undersold by all concerned in selling the products, because it does take a certain degree of skill and knowledge to secure yourself.
I think what's missing these days are the 'nanny state' public information films of the 70s to warn people of possible threats, ironically it was announced the UK government dept that produced such retro delights as ... not running around corners, putting rugs on polished floors, and flying kites near electricity pylons, was to close. IMO there is a crying need for more education when it comes to the home technology.
As for these legal actions against downloaders, it is clearly extortion dressed up as legal action, as seen in the case against ACS:Law in the UK