Next door asking for WiFi password

[Sparkles556]

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?

@memberofthewedding

I wouldnt even give my wifi password to a relative, let alone a neighbour. If they asked they would get a few choice words. I wont even give them my phone number or email address. Neighbours - I hate the bloody things.

Are you serious?!?! So if your Mum or brother/sister came round and asked to briefly use your Wi-fi to send an email for example, you'd give them "a few choice words?!" How awful

@TheSmallAssassin

Have you changed your WiFi password (the one on your router) or the password for your account with your ISP provider? If you haven't had to change the wifi password on your phone to get WiFi access back, then you've changed the wrong one.

To change the WiFi password, you normally have to log on to the router (there will be instructions on the back of it) and not your online account.

@Sparkles556 Please read this. Unless you have had to enter the new password on your phone and all devices in the property which use the Wi-fi such as computer etc, then you have t changed the right password!

You need to log into the admin side of your router- it’s normally a website that looks like an IP address like 192.168.0.1 type that into a web page. (It might differ per provider but a quick google of bt router address etc Will bring it up.
You can then disconnect devices you don’t recognise and block them.
You can change your password too.
It’s probably easier to just block devices and make new devices ask permission to access or you’ll have to pair all your devices again.

askleo.com/if_i_let_my_neighbor_share_my_wifi_can_they_see_my_network_traffic/

titchy
So if they start money laundering, buying drugs off the dark web, distributing porn, the police will be knocking at your door because it's your IP address that's been used. FFS how stupid of you. angry

This is incorrect the IP address is linked to the computer not the WiFi.
If it was as simple as using someone else’s WiFi terroists would never get caught as they would just sit in Starbucks using free WiFi and Starbucks would suddenly be on the government watch list.

I would just mainly be worried about them using my data, causing delays on my internet and if they are savvy enough they might be able to access the router or work out other passwords from my router password if they are all similar

@Kona84, it is not incorrect. @prh47bridge has already explained it all in detail upthread.

@Sparkles556

Right I’ve gone onto the broadband providers website and the steps on there seem fairly simple. So problem solved I think (and hope). I will be ready for her if she knocks on again once we have changed it (because I reckon she will). This is a neighbour that makes no effort to speak and enjoys having parties until the early hours not caring one bit that we have a 4 year old and a 10 week old. I have told DP not to be such a pushover and to grow a pair of balls in the future

While you're doing that, change the SSID to '5GRadiationTest' ;)

This is incorrect the IP address is linked to the computer not the WiFi.

It's not the IP address that's assigned to the computer (most probably through DHCP from the router), that will be private and not routed on the internet. It's the public facing IP address that's logged on remote servers.

Change the password and then offer them the new one for £££ per month. Ive found with entitled people who want you to favours for them for free if you say something like "well Ill think about it and give you a price" they quickly lose interest.

Cheeky fuckery level 10/10.

@Kona84 - As CallmeHendricks points out, I have already explained this is not correct. Terrorists do indeed use public wifi to avoid detection. They also use other techniques such as impersonation, which allows them to use another system's IP address.

I borrowed my neighbours once when mine went down (they had virgin) and I was in a bind, otherwise no way

We’ve changed it wooo

It will have knocked her off it now won’t it?

@Sparkles556

It will have knocked her off it now won’t it?

You should be able to knock their devices off from the Admin panel. It's worth doing this and knocking off any device that's not one of yours. Also, have a note of how many devices they've got logged into your wifi.

I can't remember if changing the password breaks an existing session, or only takes effect when they log-in after disconnecting.

(nb. I've known this situation arise when people have moved out of a block of flats where wifi was provided as a communal service - if they knock on the door, be polite and mention it's something you pay for for yourselves and isn't a shared service)

If they ask again just say you haven't got wifi , but you use a hot spot from your phone and suggest that's what she could do with her phone ?

Change it. Now.

Not necessarily. I personally would disconnect the WiFi at mains first :)

If she knocks I'd say mine is OK and if she asks for password again say husband already gave it u but mine has been playing up recently anyways. Why what is wrong with yours

Why on earth would anyone give anyone their password? Presumably you pay for your broadband? Why does your DP think he should pay for them??

@alrightfella

Firstly I wouldn't give out my password to a neighbour I neither knew nor liked. But I just wondered how many of you have teens?

The first thing all their friends do when they come round is log in to our WiFi ...

Best practice is to have a guest network for visitors to join, and leave your home WiFi completely private (photos and sensitive info protected)

@Sparkles556

It will have knocked her off it now won’t it?

@Sparkles556 she may still be able to use it until you restart your router. Once the router has been restarted, all devices will need to enter the new password