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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:
MissConductUS · 10/05/2021 18:51

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.

Right, this is done with NAT:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_address_translation

But the point still stands. The IP address your internet service provider assigns the network interface device (i.e. cable modem) is associated your account and stays constant for long periods of time. So if the dodgy neighbors are using your wifi to make death threats against someone the police will trace it back to you.

Mangofandangoo · 10/05/2021 18:55

Change it. They could be doing anything. Cheeky shits

skodadoda · 10/05/2021 18:56

@daisypond

Under certain circumstances, this would be ok with me. Eg, Internet is down temporarily until broadband provider fixes it.
Our neighbours did this for us but he was computer expert and had a guest login that couldn’t access anything sensitive. OP, they could be looking at porn, (or worse), which could trace back to you. Change the password.
AlwaysLatte · 10/05/2021 18:56

Change it then if they say anything just say, oh sorry you thought they just needed it that day.

Insanelysilver · 10/05/2021 18:57

I’d change it now and should they knock again then tell them you’re sorry but your DP was caught on the hop which was why he agreed.

Roussette · 10/05/2021 19:00

Cash the cheque!

Whitchurch · 10/05/2021 19:04

Cancel the cheque... change the password... RTFT Grin

prh47bridge · 10/05/2021 19:06

@MissConductUS - Sorry - I agree with you! On a quick scan I thought you were one of those insisting that the authorities could tell exactly which PC on a wifi network had visited a website.

Leftlegin · 10/05/2021 19:06

It's easy to change your password (google it) but change your router name as well (easy), most people don't bother. It wil have a default ID such as BT123XZY, change it to Policemobilesurveiilance or BTfraudmonitoring.

CharityDingle · 10/05/2021 19:08

@Sparkles556

We’ve changed it woooGrin
OP you should change the... oh wait you DID! Wink

Tell your partner to have a word with himself about handing out the WiFi password.

MissConductUS · 10/05/2021 19:19

[quote prh47bridge]@MissConductUS - Sorry - I agree with you! On a quick scan I thought you were one of those insisting that the authorities could tell exactly which PC on a wifi network had visited a website.[/quote]
No problem and no harm done. It might actually be possible to track which PC made the request by looking at the NAT table and the logs on the various PCs. The problem is that the police are going to assume the illegal activity was done by the account holder, not some neighbor piggybacking on the wifi.

PhilCornwall1 · 10/05/2021 19:20

DH's computer couldn't get the same virus simply from being on the same WiFi.

Strictly speaking, that's not true.

Mummyyyyyyyyyy · 10/05/2021 19:22

I haven't read all the pp so apologies if this is a repeat.

Change the password immediately!!!

If they do anything dodgy using your Wi-Fi (dark web, illegal porn etc) it will be down to your IP address.
Or they could be watching Netflix or other downloads on your connection which will slow the system down.

Cheeky beggars!

TopBlogger · 10/05/2021 19:31

@Mummyyyyyyyyyy

I haven't read all the pp so apologies if this is a repeat.

Change the password immediately!!!

If they do anything dodgy using your Wi-Fi (dark web, illegal porn etc) it will be down to your IP address.
Or they could be watching Netflix or other downloads on your connection which will slow the system down.

Cheeky beggars!

Couldnt you even just read the OP's posts before (after over 260 posts) you came up with this pearl of wisdom "Change the password immediately!!!" Surely you must have thought that OP would have done that, or that SOMEONE would have said that before you

Grin Grin Grin

PhilCornwall1 · 10/05/2021 19:31

But the point still stands. The IP address your internet service provider assigns the network interface device (i.e. cable modem) is associated your account and stays constant for long periods of time. So if the dodgy neighbors are using your wifi to make death threats against someone the police will trace it back to you.

That's what the poster was saying. They were rebuking the fact that a poster said that anything dodgy the neighbour was doing , would be traced back to their actual device, via the IP assigned to the device, but as we know, it's traced back to the public IP assigned to the router by the ISP (as you say, assigned via DHCP, unless they give out statics).

nickymanchester · 10/05/2021 19:38

@Horehound

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.

Well, it would be - eventually

But, until then, the OP and her family would be questioned by the police and have all their devices (phones, computers etc) seized and searched by the police. At the moment, these searches are typically taking upwards of two months.

So the OP would be under suspicion and have all their devices confiscated for two months as an absolute minimum.

Only then would the police start looking at the neighbours.

Would you want to be in that position?

MatildaJane · 10/05/2021 19:42

Unbelievable cheek! Change your password ASAP!!!!

OneMorePieceofCheese · 10/05/2021 19:53

@MatildaJane

Unbelievable cheek! Change your password ASAP!!!!
CANCEL THE CHEQUE!
Horehound · 10/05/2021 19:55

[quote nickymanchester]@Horehound

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.

Well, it would be - eventually

But, until then, the OP and her family would be questioned by the police and have all their devices (phones, computers etc) seized and searched by the police. At the moment, these searches are typically taking upwards of two months.

So the OP would be under suspicion and have all their devices confiscated for two months as an absolute minimum.

Only then would the police start looking at the neighbours.

Would you want to be in that position?[/quote]
I wouldn't be stupid enough to give away my WiFi password in the first place :)

ThisIsStartingToBoreMe · 10/05/2021 19:55

Just change the password and say that your employer pays for your wifi and you're not allowed to share the password and your husband wasn't aware that you're not allowed to share the password.

For everyone else if you're ever asked just say your employer pays for your wifi and you're not allowed to share it because strictly speaking it doesn't belong to you.

nimbuscloud · 10/05/2021 19:58

For everyone else if you're ever asked just say your employer pays for your wifi and you're not allowed to share it because strictly speaking it doesn't belong to you.

What’s wrong with just saying a straight No??

ThistleTits · 10/05/2021 20:07

[quote Sparkles556]@LowlandLucky I know. He struggles saying no to people sometimesAngry[/quote]
He best hope they're not looking at dodgy stuff on your ip address or a fraud.

ThisIsStartingToBoreMe · 10/05/2021 20:10

What’s wrong with just saying a straight No??

Nothing really,, but some people just don't like to.

Nanny0gg · 10/05/2021 20:12

@OneMorePieceofCheese

You beat me to it!!

MyOtherProfile · 10/05/2021 20:14

Did she come knocking?

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