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Original poster

Next door asking for WiFi password

461 replies

Sparkles556 · 09/05/2021 12:21

Just want to start by saying I would do anything for anyone but I’m not quite sure we have done the right thing. Last night next door knocked on asking if they could have the WiFi password. I didn’t answer as I was upstairs, so DP did and he gave it her. Now, they aren’t my favourite people (putting that nicely) I put a thread a bit back saying how much of a nightmare they are. Not really sure why DP gave it her to be honest. I’m really paranoid now they have it. Does anyone know if they could do anything dodgy with it? I might be sounding dramatic but if so, could I change my WiFi password and would that kick them off it?

OP posts:
LadyDanburysCane · 10/05/2021 18:10

@purplebunny2012

"No, that's utter bollocks. It would be traced back to the computers/tablet/phones IP address."

What do you believe IP stands for, then?

IP address stands for internet protocol address; it is an identifying number that is associated with a specific computer.

I can’t access my husbands computer files even though he is on the same WiFi as me. If he gets a virus on his PC it won’t spread to my computer.

mam0918 · 10/05/2021 18:10

Change the password, if they come back set out a billing system (like when staying at a travelodge etc... I think thats like £3 for 24 hours).

prh47bridge · 10/05/2021 18:11

@Horehound - I'm afraid you don't understand how it works.

If the neighbours use the OP's wifi they will be using the OP's public IP address. The private IP address used by the neighbour's PC will be one allocated by the OP's router but will not be visible to anyone who isn't on the OP's wifi..

The public IP address actually identifies the router. Any device on the OP's wifi network will have that address regardless of whether it is in the OP's house, in the neighbour's house, or anywhere else. The neighbour cannot have their own public IP address while they are on the OP's wifi.

The private IP address is allocated by the router but is not visible to any device outside the OP's wifi network. The logs of a website visited by someone on the OP's network will show the public IP address, not the private one. Even if you used a network sniffer to intercept the data in transit, you wouldn't see the private IP address.

If someone is downloading and watching child porn, it would be easy to tell it was someone using the OP's wifi but there would be no way of telling if it was the OP, someone else in her household or the neighbour.

If you visited whatismyipaddress.com/ on the neighbour's PC while it is connected to the OP's wifi network it would show that the neighbour's PC had the same public IP address as the OP's.

Tessabelle74 · 10/05/2021 18:11

My neighbour asked for mine a few months back, I played dumb and said I didn't know what it was as my husband deals with it, she wasn't brave enough to come and ask him Grin

smittenkittten · 10/05/2021 18:12

The neighbour caught your dh off guard. Sometimes when you’re put on the spot like that it’s hard to think quick and think of a good reason to refuse. Just get the password changed, or get in touch with provider.

PandorasMailbox · 10/05/2021 18:13

@Branleuse

your dp sounds wet
I was going to say something similar but not quite as polite.

Change your password asap OP..

FortniteBoysMum · 10/05/2021 18:14

Find your WiFi settings on PC and it may give option on their. Failing that contact your Internet provider. Word of advice don't tell dp the new one just incase he gives that out too.

purplebunny2012 · 10/05/2021 18:15

"You do realise there are public and private IP addresses yes? So if someone is downloading and watching child pron (abuse) it would be easy to find out which device was using it. Obviously if this was in the same house it could be anyone in that household but if the neighbour is doing it using the ops WiFi, it would be traced to the neighbour."

So how come most people on here are saying the person I quoted is wrong?

purplebunny2012 · 10/05/2021 18:16

Oh sorry, just realised the person I replied to WAS the incorrect person, that's why they're telling me I'm wrong still

prh47bridge · 10/05/2021 18:17

IP address stands for internet protocol address; it is an identifying number that is associated with a specific computer.

The first part of that is correct. The second part is partly correct. The important point missing is that your computer's IP address is not unique. Most home PCs will have an IP address that starts 192.168. At any given time, there will be thousands of PCs with the same IP address. That is because this is a private IP address. When traffic goes out on the internet, it uses your router's public IP address. As per my last post, no-one outside your wifi network will see your computer's IP address. They will see the public IP address which is shared with all the other computers on your home network.

I can’t access my husbands computer files even though he is on the same WiFi as me. If he gets a virus on his PC it won’t spread to my computer.

You can't guarantee that viruses won't spread on your home network. There is a specific type of malware known as a worm. If your husband's PC is infected by one of those there is a good chance it will spread to your PC.

Needmoresleep · 10/05/2021 18:19

Just tell her that your speeds have slowed down significantly, so you are no able to offer her continued access. If she questions it, say you have a cheap plan.

Our nice neighbour let DD have her password during lockdown. DD needed to "attend" an important University seminar, and our wifi was down. We parked our car outside her house and DD sat in the car. We did not save the password and half assume the neighbour changed the password straight away afterwards.

MissConductUS · 10/05/2021 18:19

@purplebunny2012

"No, that's utter bollocks. It would be traced back to the computers/tablet/phones IP address."

What do you believe IP stands for, then?

It stands for internet protocol address. It's a unique way of identifying a particular device among the billions on the internet. That's how the web page finds your computer when you click on a link. They're often logged and can be used to trace back to you.
Cassilis · 10/05/2021 18:25

@KD99

Change it. Now.
RTFT. Now.
stayathomer · 10/05/2021 18:25

Wondering what your neighbours are like? Are they 'could sell sand to the arabs' people? Easy for everyone to say wtf about your partner, but if they're cf enough to ask, they're probably convincing/ persistent enough to see it through/make someone feel uncomfortable. I'd say he was just caught on the hop by a master cf? (I could be totally wrong of course!)

Docsmix · 10/05/2021 18:29

Glad you've changed it.

prh47bridge · 10/05/2021 18:32

@MissConductUS

It stands for internet protocol address. It's a unique way of identifying a particular device among the billions on the internet. That's how the web page finds your computer when you click on a link. They're often logged and can be used to trace back to you.

Except that it isn't unique. That's the point lots of people seem to be missing.

Right now, my computer's IP address is 192.168.1.111. There are thousands of PCs out there with the same IP address. The important thing, for the internet to work, is that this IP address is unique on my network, i.e. no other PC or device in my home is using that IP address.

I also have a public IP address. Let's say it is 151.101.64.81 (it isn't - that's the BBC). When I visit, say, Google, it will respond to 151.101.64.81 because, as far as Google is concerned, that is my IP address. The public IP address is actually the IP address of my router, so Google's response will come back to my router. That knows it is my PC that is expecting this response from Google so it changes the destination IP address to 192.168.1.111 and forwards the response to my PC.

Notavegan · 10/05/2021 18:32

See if you can check what devices are connected

Roussette · 10/05/2021 18:34

I don't agree. There are times when we are caught on the hop when we're asked a favour, but he could've said... not sure on that one, let me have a think and get back to you.

For me, it would be the equivalent of someone saying... 'could you just hold this cable, I want to wire it in to your electricity mains for a while'
🤣

Bluntness100 · 10/05/2021 18:35

I dont think it knocks her out, I think you need to switch it off and in again

The whole thing is very odd behaviour from both of them. She just knocked on the door asked for the password, sith no explanations? And then he just said sure and gave it to her? Just like that

Emmelina · 10/05/2021 18:37

You’re responsible for anything through your internet connection, so if they do something dodgy it’ll be your door the police knock, not theirs!

PeachyPeachTrees · 10/05/2021 18:37

She has changed the password, so you can all stop saying it now!

Brainwave89 · 10/05/2021 18:38

If a neighbour came to me and said they were having a short term issue and could they use my wifi I would say yes. This looks a bit different, and if they are planning on using your wifi indefinitely they are very CFs indeed! Depends on the level of security on your system as to what they might use it for. If they are planning to use it indefinitely change the password and tighten your security.

prh47bridge · 10/05/2021 18:44

@Bluntness100

I dont think it knocks her out, I think you need to switch it off and in again

The whole thing is very odd behaviour from both of them. She just knocked on the door asked for the password, sith no explanations? And then he just said sure and gave it to her? Just like that

Yes, changing the password does knock people off the network. All devices have to log in again with the new password. That is because the password is used as the encryption key. Once you change the password on the router, any device using the old encryption key can't decrypt anything it receives from the router. Similarly, the router can't decrypt anything it receives from a device using the old password.
TinselTinsel · 10/05/2021 18:44

I'd give them a week, 2 weeks tops then change the password and if they ask say you always changed all passwords periodically for security as recommended. Then tell them to piss off and pat for their own!

dexterslockedintheshedagain · 10/05/2021 18:49

@PeachyPeachTrees

She has changed the password, so you can all stop saying it now!
This