Cleaner wants internet access - WWYD

[BlankProfile]

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?

I turn my mobile data off at work and use their internet. The reason for this is because most people contact me via WhatsApp and it stops my mobile date running out before the end of the month. I imagine she is the same and I genuinely dont see the issue. Everyone who comes in my house uses the wifi - family members, children's friends, my friends. I wouldnt find it any stranger for the cleaner to log onto it. Find your feelings about this really strange.

@Girlzroolz

I’m very interested in the fault-lines in this thread. I’m betting it’s a generational thing.

I’m 49 (for info) and I’m hitting up against these issues a bit at the moment with people from 10-25yo. As an example, my child’s singing teacher. She’s 19, and thought it perfectly reasonable to conduct her zoom lesson lying on her bed in her loungewear. I was quite when I walked past the screen. I checked around and it seems that this is comprehensively acceptable for young adults, and I’m the fuddy-duddy. My counter-argument is that since I’m the client (who pays handsomely), my norms for these things get a say. My norms aren’t wrong, just different. And sometimes my preferences are allowed a voice, even if different other age-groups prefer something different.

I’d be very about anyone working for me assuming I was fine with them accessing my passwords and data services without asking. And without offering a reason. I’d be ok with ‘Do you mind if I hook in to your Wifi to listen to music/podcasts while I iron’ but not ok with TV in the background of cleaning work paid by the hour or downloading stuff via my account. Nopety nope.

Call me old. I don’t care. My house, my money, my rules. At work we all dance to someone else’s tune, consider it one of those things.

I’d be saying (friendly tone) ‘We don’t hand out our passwords as a rule, can you tell me more about why you need it?’ and I’d base my answer on the response. At my house I do confidential online work, so I’d prolly use that as an excuse and say no.

I think it is a generational thing. Nowadays wifi hotspots, free internet in cafes etc is the norm, so I’m guessing some people think this extends into personal homes as well. I’m not far off your age and I’d not give out my wifi password to anyone other than family. I have a guest network on the router I have now, but previously I used to set it up so that only specific mac address could access the internet. So even if somebody did pass on my wifi details their device’s mac address wouldn’t be registered and they’d not be able to get on.

And yes, to posters that didn’t know you can get packages that aren’t unlimited (guessing this may also be a generational thing), it used to be very common, back before the days of fibre broadband to have e.g. a broadband package with a download limit of, say, 100GB. For people that just wanted the internet for web browsing and stuff this would have been a good cheap alternative.

"I trust her with keys to the house, she knows the alarm code, has access to all our stuff."

And now she'll have to break in when you're out to find the damn password

@JinglingHellsBells

why doesn't she download what she wants before she goes out to work?

I really don't see the need.

Maybe she has an older phone with limited storage space.

Why didn't she go to the toilet before she arrived?
Why does she need a drink of water, couldn't she have brought a bottle filled at home?

Internet access is a utility, you should provide it for your visitors.

No don't give it out. Im amazed the number of people on this thread who clearly have zero data security!

PeaceFilly I totally agree with you. They are clueless.

Does she live nearby too? I would put it in her phone but not see the password .

I'm usually happy to hand out my wifi password but usually to guests, not someone expected to be working, not mumsnetting or messing around online. It's quite likely she's actually listening to Spotify or like when I'm working, downloading an audiobook mid shift when I finish one so I guess it could be a legitimate request.

I do agree that she is cheeky as fuck to just sign into someone's WiFi without asking first. How rude! I changed mine when I found loads of extra devices on it. A visitor of my DD's was given the password as we usually do, but then gave it to a family member who lives next door.

I would suggest you set up a guest account (it's free) and give her access to that.

Okay- for the record.

when the OP said her cleaner needed access to the internet, I assumed she meant using their computers.

On the other hand, if she's using her phone to access it, I still don't see why she can't have a phone that gives access without using her employer's router.

No. She can listen to music offline in her phone, I do it all the time. She's there to clean not use the internet.

I trust her with keys to the house, she knows the alarm code, has access to all our stuff. Which is why taking the password without asking seems like an odd thing to do.

On the contrary, I would imagine that she thought that since you give her the keys to your house, the alarm codes, and access to all your stuff, you wouldn't in a million years have a problem with her using the wifi.

People who are security concious or precious about the wifi don't leave it with the password thats printed on the bloody modem, so how would she know?

It would never occur to me not to give her the wifi code.

Interesting comment re generational stuff. I'm 43 and generally quite old-school about stuff but if in the case of the wifi code, if it doesn't cost you anything and is helpful to her then why not. Like others, I'd assume it's so she can stream music/not use up data for any messages she's being sent during the time she's at your house. And as long as she's getting the job done, what does it matter?

@OnTheBenchOfDoom

This is a huge security issue and the fact that people are handing out wifi passwords like sweets is worrying.

This isn't about her trustworthiness, she could have malware on her phone that she has no idea about that then has access to your network. If she is using the wifi at your house, she is probably using it at lots of others.

No company would let you rock up and connect your computer to their network without some sort of protection so why would you allow people your wifi password?

Dh is in IT with a heavy interest in security, as in it is part of his day to day job to protect data and he listens to security podcasts about breaches. It is the reason you should always have a guest wifi password if you are going to let them onto your network.

In fact if you google should I give guests my wifi password it is a resounding no!

This

I’m amazed at what people are saying.

Oh ffs.

All of you saying it's a security breach... You aren't that interesting!!!

Nobody cares a fuck about Sandra and her brats home network. Bore off.

BobsYerUncle You are another with no idea. Why bother having a password in the first place then?

@BlankProfile

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?

NO.

Although her request is probably totally innocent, you should only give your password to friends or family. If she goes downloading something on torrent sites you are the one who will be sent a threatening letter by your internet provider if they see this activity. If you are willing to take that risk, fine, but otherwise don't do it. She should have asked before using your password. That was cheeky.

I'm close to someone who works in cyber security and he would advise the same as me.

@BobsYerUnclee

Oh ffs.

All of you saying it's a security breach... You aren't that interesting!!!

Nobody cares a fuck about Sandra and her brats home network. Bore off.

It’s not about that

It’s about malware etc

I use Spotify at work on their WiFi. Never thought it could be an issue.

Is it more the feeling that it would have been just manners to have asked for the password when she used it before, rather than the fact she is asking for it now?

Also I have bad signal at my clients homes. I like to have access to email incase school try to contact me.

@lastminuteschoolsdotcom

It would never occur to me not to give her the wifi code.

Interesting comment re generational stuff. I'm 43 and generally quite old-school about stuff but if in the case of the wifi code, if it doesn't cost you anything and is helpful to her then why not. Like others, I'd assume it's so she can stream music/not use up data for any messages she's being sent during the time she's at your house. And as long as she's getting the job done, what does it matter?

Younger people are mire internet savvy. Not all of them, but the internet is not a safe world without risks. If she dowloads music or streams TV off torrent sights (as many do) , that could be a big problem for the OP.

If she dowloads music or streams TV off torrent sights (as many do) , that could be a big problem for the OP

She's not going to be doing that on her phone at a cleaning job, ffs

Well I dont have a Cleaner ,but if I did I would not be too happy about this I dont think.I think she is there to clean .Also surely there would be a radio she could use?I dont think its policy to give it to her really

What’s app works everywhere.. on all smart phones that have it installed confused as long as you have a internet connection.

In some buildings (and some outside areas) mobile data is unreliable. My mobile signal only works in the front of my house and not at all inside the buildings at work.

DH works from home so when I am doing the housework I listen to music or podcasts on headphones using my phone. I don’t download music as I don’t know from day to day what I fancy listening to so I listen live to Spotify. Podcasts I download but if I finish one I might need to download another. Phones do have storage limits.

IF I had a cleaner I don’t think I’d have a problem with them using the wifi.