Cleaner wants internet access - WWYD

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We have had our cleaner for several years. She's honest, reliable and does a reasonable job.
Our internet password is on the back of the box and at some point she has seen this and used it to sign into our network. I found out today because we have recently changed our password and she asked me for the new one, obviously forgetting she had never asked me for the password in the first place.
It's annoyed me, but we have unlimited data and in the time she's been using it, it's never caused a problem.
Should I give her the new password?

Of ffs - when you even get a WiFi bix they give you a number of stickers so that people can see the password. It’s not a state secret

I wouldn't provide access. She should download music when she's home or pay £10 for a data plan which is affordable.

I don’t know why you are unwilling to give this. She’s doing a good job, she’s reliable and trustworthy. A password is easy and this isn’t costing you anything to do.

I wouldn't give it. I'd just say I work from home and my employer does not permit the WiFi to be shared. This is the truth in my case.

Just give it to her.
I can't believe you didn't offer in the first place, to be honest. The cleaner knows the ins and outs of your home.

It was one of the first things we did with ours, she doesn't have internet on her phone and sometimes her kids need to contact her

@AnnaSW1 sorry - so what do you do about your children wanting to play online etc. Think you’re telling a bit of a fib

@MiniMum97 well no

Hmm the bomb making download was done at the exact time’s your cleaner was here. And you’ve mentioned she has access to your WiFi.

I really hope you never have teenagers - generally they first thing their friends will do when they come into your house is ask for the WiFi password

@Whenlifegivesyoulimoncello I have toddlers. They are not playing online. I can't share the wifi outside of my household members. Not sure why someone would believe I would lie about that. But there you go. That's what the homeworking policy says.

Unless your employer pays for your wifi and line rental, they have no right to restrict your personal use of property you pay for.
Plus unless you work for the ISP, they wouldn't know who uses your wifi.

You should be accessing, securely, your work network via VPN or Citrix.

my immediate thought. she's there to clean and her phone will have access to her provider for calls , so why does she need your internet, unless she's on a limited data and wants to save usage. never the less she wants to go on internet when she is being paid to work? i don't think so! but it's your decision as your cleaner has been with you a long time and reliable cleaners are like family.

@AnnaSW1 is your company paying for your WiFi? Even if they are - tbis isn’t normal practice.

[quote Whenlifegivesyoulimoncello]@MiniMum97 well no

Hmm the bomb making download was done at the exact time’s your cleaner was here. And you’ve mentioned she has access to your WiFi.

I really hope you never have teenagers - generally they first thing their friends will do when they come into your house is ask for the WiFi password[/quote]
I don’t think you understand what cybercrime might be possible if someone has access to your network. I’ll try to find something that explains it as the risk is not limited to dodgy thing she might download....you’ve basically given access to someone to your home network. The biggest risk is accidental malware as I understand it.

Here’s one link discussing it but there’s lots of others:

www.dignited.com/40942/why-you-should-setup-a-guest-wifi-network-for-your-home/

Yeah that makes no sense Anna - you should be on a VPN to access work stuff so the WiFi shouldn’t matter. What are they worried about?

@MiniMum97 that’s for a networked system - not for someone using your WiFi.

[quote Whenlifegivesyoulimoncello]@MiniMum97 that’s for a networked system - not for someone using your WiFi.[/quote]
Your WiFi is a network.

YABU

@MiniMum97 malware is passed from a device. So for example if I plug my phone into my laptop there’s a possibility if I click “trust this device” of passing malware

As far as I know - if I use your WiFi - with my own - non connected device - I’m not going to pass on malware. The clue is in the “ware”.

And as I’ve pointed out - cleaner has acccess to far more sensitive info than a wide password.

@sirfredfredgeorge

Which is perfectly easy to do and avoids any issues security wise

No it doesn't, but it does mitigate some risks.

Cybercrime is much harder to pin down. And why take the risk if it’s easily avoided

What it is does not mitigate though is the "cybercrime" you talk of, once the packets leave your network there's no evidence at all that they came from your "guest network" vs your "normal network", and if you actually put logging such that you could demonstrate they did come from your "guest network", you would of course still be suspected just as much as obviously you also have access.

There are very good reasons to have a guest network, but "preventing cybercrime committed on your broadband" is certainly not one of them.

I'm probably using the wrong terms as I couldn't think of the right ones when posting. Sorry I have ADHD and often cant always find the right words. I just meant security of your network. The link above explains it better than I can.

And anyhow. The purpose of my post was to highlight the possible security risks to the OP as everyone was focusing on the fact she wasn't going to be downloading porn etc etc. It's something that is overlooked by people

I am no expert by any means. I just know there are risks that can be mitigated by setting up a guest network. To say there aren't any is not correct.

[quote Whenlifegivesyoulimoncello]@MiniMum97 malware is passed from a device. So for example if I plug my phone into my laptop there’s a possibility if I click “trust this device” of passing malware

As far as I know - if I use your WiFi - with my own - non connected device - I’m not going to pass on malware. The clue is in the “ware”.[/quote]
That's not what it says on the article I attached or on many other sources on the internet written by people who know more about these things than you or I

Anyway I'm ducking out now as I honestly don't care what any of you do and this appears to be turning into an unnecessary argument.

I was simply bringing the security risk to the OPs attention and that my view is that I don't give out my WiFi password. Everyone else can choose to ignore or not and do as they see fit.

The article is by a telecoms company (who have a vested interest). Yes setting up a guest WiFi can be a good idea but honestly / a cleaner using your WiFi is NOT a bit deal

Most people get some sort of perks in a job. Why not just enjoy being good hearted and giving it her. What would you gain from not giving it her. She may choose to leave if you are mean to her.

Yes.
Maybe she relies on WhatsApp for emergency calls and needs WiFi.

I would say no, she didn’t ask the first time, she just helped herself to the password. It’s also in your contract about not sharing it with people outside of your household.

Has anyone suggested calling 101 yet?