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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

On a scale of 1-10, how cheeky is this....

63 replies

IhaveNoOpinion · 29/03/2014 19:38

My NDN is using my wireless without my permission.

My DD and her DD (lets call her P) regularly play at each others houses. They each have a tablet. So that P can play on her tab when she is here, I put in my wireless code into it.

When P was round here the other day playing, she told me that her mum had taken the wireless code from her tablet and put it on her computer. P told me that their wireless was broken and her mum didn't want to be without the internet.

I am not necessarily concerned about security, I don't think she is computer savvy enough to find and look at our traffic and I have good firewalls in case her computer is affected by malware, but I am rather pissed off.

I don't want her using my wireless to be honest, but I also don't want a fall out as our DDs are so close. As I can't change the wireless password on my hub, I have contacted bt and have upgraded to the new hub and saved a bit in the meantime. WIBU to not let P have the password again meaning that she can't play on certain games when she is round here in the future?

WWYD?

OP posts:
HappyAgainOneDay · 29/03/2014 20:04

I'm so glad that I haven't entered this sort of thing. Grin Confused Blush Envy.

I'm computer literate, having used computers for 20 years, just passed a BCS exam but, now that I've retired, tablets, iPads. iPhones and other gubbins like that are just not necessary in my life.

PleaseNoMoreMinecraft · 29/03/2014 20:07

We give ours to the neighbours anyway (but if it gets too much we'll put in a password). Our computers are very well protected though - DH is a computer geek - and we've got unlimited useage afaik so not it's no skin off our nose.

I'd be pissed off though if we had put in a password and someone used it without asking. Surely a password is a clear 'Keep Out'!

EverythingsDozy · 29/03/2014 20:08

This is well cheeky, definitely up there with the 8s!
My grandmas NDN asked her for her wifi password. When she asked why he said because his was too expensive so he cancelled it. She asked if he was going to pay for it and he acted all shocked and said no!!! What is wrong with some people!? Everyone wants something for nothing!

puds11isNAUGHTYnotNAICE · 29/03/2014 20:11
  1. My next door neighbour did this to me. I didn't have unlimited access, so my bills rocketed! I called the company and changed all my passwords.

NDN then came round to ask if they could have it again! Obviously I said no. Pissed me off more that they know I'm a single parent and struggle financially, but still did it!

pudcat · 29/03/2014 20:13

bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/14110/~/how-do-i-change-the-wep-key-for-a-wireless-connection-to-my-bt-home-hub%3F

Have a look here. Your wireless security key (WEP key) is the password for your wireless connection. If someone knows the password they can access your wireless data. So changing your wireless security key regularly is important to make sure your data is secure.

Original poster
IhaveNoOpinion · 29/03/2014 20:16

pudcat I was looking at that earlier. Don't know why the bt guy said it couldn't be changed tbh.

When I follow the process, my hub does not show up on the list. My old talk talk one does, but not the more recent BT hub. Is it perhaps this computer is not using the hub wirelessly? I have always had it hardwired into the hub.

OP posts:
Moomey · 29/03/2014 20:21

Maybe she doesnt realise how cheeky it is. Everywhere has wireless nowadays, maybe she thinks it works the same way as if she's in Costa.... not realising that you may not have unlimited, or about illegal downloads.

I wouldn't bring it up with her though. Too much of a wuss!

sykadelic · 29/03/2014 20:45

Secure it and do not give it out. Why? Because if she does something suss with it (looks up bad stuff), YOU could be under suspicion for it. Happened to our neighbour who didn't secure their wireless. They had a not so pleasant visit...

And yes you can take the access code off some devices. I've had to do it when I lost it (it's a bunch of random numbers and letters).

As for cheek - 20. Extremely rude!

OMGtwins · 29/03/2014 20:47

If you just want to block her specifically then you can do something called mac address filtering. You program the router with the mac addresses of your devices as the only ones that are allowed to connect (or you program it with hers as one to reject). Bit of a pain when you get a new one, but otherwise keeps freeloaders off your wireless.

sykadelic · 29/03/2014 20:48

ours is a swear word (thanks to DH). A friend has one that's called something like "virus".

Armadale · 29/03/2014 20:51

some inspiration for you OP, an old thread in classics with some very good wifi name changes on Smile linky

cozietoesie · 29/03/2014 20:53

Yes - don't give out. Even if she's not actively doing anything dodgy, if she becomes infected and eventually goes on a block list, you could be as well - because it will be the same address etc.

WhoAteAllTheCremeEggs · 29/03/2014 20:57

10
I'd make out it's not unlimited and drop into conversation how you've gone over your allowance and you cant understand why, its cost you a small fortune and you intend to give the kids a grilling for it.

GiveTwoSheets · 29/03/2014 20:58

Erm 10!

With my Internet i can log onto my ip gateway and set it so only particular computers,tablets phone etc can use my Internet by putting in the devices wifi address so even if they had password they wouldn't be able to connect to my Internet.

GiveTwoSheets · 29/03/2014 20:59

Devices wifi address as in MAC address

Nocomet · 29/03/2014 21:02

Our pass word is slightly rude, and thus I always take DFs iPods etc. off them and type it in.

Having met my slightly eccentric DH non of them are in the least surprised he's set up a daft password and no one has ever asked what it is.

JerseySpud · 29/03/2014 21:03

a 10.

DH found our neighbours had managed to get on our wifi some how once. So he changed the name of the router to 'Nofreeridesbitch' and made the password obscure.

Never had a problem since.

JerseySpud · 29/03/2014 21:04

My dad used to have his named 'Policesurveillancevehicle'

HeartShapedStone · 29/03/2014 21:14

I don't see why P needed your password, surely her own wifi would work from next door (until it was discarded because they could use yours).

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 29/03/2014 21:21

*With my Internet i can log onto my ip gateway and set it so only particular computers,tablets phone etc can use my Internet by putting in the devices wifi address so even if they had password they wouldn't be able to connect to my Internet.

Devices wifi address as in MAC address*

This. If you set it up for specific MAC addresses it means your DDs friend could use it while in the house (allow her MAC address) but her mum couldn't. You could take her device of the list of allowed MAC addresses when she leaves.

MyCarHasBrokenDownAgain · 29/03/2014 21:27

Ours is called 'getyourownrouter' (too 'soft' imho, I wanted a swear word) after someone not only accessed it and changed the name to scottandkaren (or something similar) but they then locked US out and I couldn't get on my own broadband connection! Luckily OH pulled the plug and reset it. We no longer share ha ha!

TeaAndALemonTart · 29/03/2014 21:30

Actually call it 24hFreePorn, just for laugh of them asking you for the password for it.

Orangeisthenewbanana · 29/03/2014 21:42

9 on the cheeky scale. I definitely wouldn't be giving the
new code to her daughter again either.

mamalovesmojitos · 29/03/2014 21:52

10! Cheeky caah! Hope you get the code changed soon.

HoVis2001 · 29/03/2014 23:13

You can get the wireless passcode off a device that it's already been entered on to, especially tablets - there's usually a button to press 'show password', presumably because it's easy to enter such a random string of numbers and letters incorrectly. (It's also very handy if you lose the little card you get on your hub and need to find your passcode).

It's definitely very cheeky of her to use your wireless without asking. HOWEVER if she has a BT account, and you have a BT hub, she would be able to piggy-back on your router anyway - BT have this (quite handy) scheme whereby if you have BT login details you can get free internet whenever you're in range of a 'hotspot' - by which I am fairly sure they just mean another BT hub. (We used that to get internet for a while until BT finally provided us with a hub after we first signed up). So she's being even more unreasonable for not taking advantage of that and instead doing something slightly underhanded!