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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not let my new neighbour have our Wi-Fi password

226 replies

lozzylizzy · 19/10/2016 12:17

So our new adjoining neighbour came round to introduce himself and then asked if he could 'borrow' our wifi until he had his sorted next week (for work apparently). I was put right on the spot and didn't know what to say so he said that maybe I wanted to discuss it with DH and left. I don't think its a good idea.

DH has been winding me up saying poor man is bored etc but AIBU for thinking a neighbourly favour is taking in a parcel or putting out their bins and not sharing internet access with practically a stranger?

OP posts:
ItShouldHaveBeenJessMass · 19/10/2016 14:07

Oh dear, what does 'block file sharing' mean please? I'm so crap with technology. I honestly don't mind my neighbour using mine as we're good pals, but does this mean she can access what I look at? It's nothing exciting but I still like my privacy!

Fevs · 19/10/2016 14:08

When we first moved into our new place we were in your neighbour's position and asked our new neighbour if we could borrow their wi fi for a few days until ours was set up. I was 9mths pregnant and at home a lot and my husband needs it for work.
They reluctantly said yes and after 3 days (on the dot) the password was changed. My husband and I actually moaned together about how tight that was of them as we were genuinely waiting for our own to be ready and the internet doesn't run out.

I'd say let him use it for up to a week and then change the password. He'll probably be too embarrassed to ask for the new one (if he needs it) and you'll have been a friendly, helpful new neighbour who will be owed a favour! Wink

jdoe8 · 19/10/2016 14:09

I've let my neighbour use my microwave to heat up food when they had building work that left them without power. It's just what you do.

whirlwinds · 19/10/2016 14:11

www.btfonpurchases.com/en/products Point to this as he then controls his own access and pays for the time he needs. People take the piss and we had to change ours as well.

manhowdy · 19/10/2016 14:11

For those of you that do loan out your wifi to complete strangers, I would strongly advise you to not use Internet banking, email or anything else sensitive while they are on your network. Then scan all household devices including mobile phones for viruses and malware once the loan period is finished. Sheesh.

noeffingidea · 19/10/2016 14:12

jdoe it's hard to break the law with a microwave though, innit?

manhowdy · 19/10/2016 14:13

noeffingidea Grin

noeffingidea · 19/10/2016 14:14

manhowdy I wouldn't bother, tbh. I think some people think being 'nice' is more important than being ripped off or dragged into illegal activity.

McMumface · 19/10/2016 14:15

YANBU..a new neighbour of mine asked to use mine when she first moved in until her broadband was up and running,and I refused as I didn't know her from Adam.Im SO glad I didn't...found out she was running a 'personal services' business from her property(I know this thanks to the many 'male clients' turning up at her door),so I dread to think what sites she would have been accessing.She moved shortly after the neighbours found out what she was doing.
It is bad enough dealing with the incessant cr*p that the internet bombards us with anyway,without someone else adding to the mix!

SquatBetty · 19/10/2016 14:15

A new neighbour that I don't know from Adam - not a fucking chance

My current lovely neighbours - yes I would

BlancheBlue · 19/10/2016 14:15

Sorry asking neighbours for their wifi is cheeky as fuck especially when smart phones can be tethered, pay as you go data sims can be purchased etc.

bummyknocker · 19/10/2016 14:18

Tell him to use his mobile phone as a router.

Penhacked · 19/10/2016 14:19

There was a new neighbour from Skye
Who requested to use the wifi,
When questioned "why for",
He replied "I'm not sure"
She replied "why, then neither am I!"

manhowdy · 19/10/2016 14:21

noeffingidea

"No Mr Barclays Bank, I genuinely have no idea how they accessed all my details and drained my bank account. Or how they intercepted my credit card details and maxed that out too. It's a complete mystery. Give it me back? No. Oh."

BarbaraofSeville · 19/10/2016 14:23

Unless you live somewhere very remote, where your broadband is likely to be shit anyway, it's just not necessary to borrow your neighbour's wifi, as there are so many free or cheap alternatives:

tether on his phone
various PAYG home/mobile solutions that you can probably walk into PC World and buy and be up and running straight away.
McDonalds, Costa and many other high street providers. There's free WiFi all over the place if you look.

There's so many things that can go wrong, that it's just not worth it. He could be honest, or he could be downloading all sorts or a hacker stealing your data and passwords. Plenty of paedophiles and terrorists were just known as that nice man at number 26 to their neighbours.

Ncbecauseitshard · 19/10/2016 14:23

He can go to a coffee shop or get a dongle like everyone else.

bimbobaggins · 19/10/2016 14:25

Exactly noeffing . I think some people think just because you say you won't give out the password means you aren't being nice, neighbourly, friendly etc. I am actually a nice person and do lots for my neighbours, including letting them park on my driveway! But I'm certainly not going to give a complete stranger my wifi password.

BlancheBlue · 19/10/2016 14:26

In a place I used to live a neighbour named their router "MI6 surveillance van"

GerdaLovesLili · 19/10/2016 14:28

Nope just no. Our niece neighbour said yes after we'd said no, and he ended up in a hell of a mess having been taken advantage of by our new neighbours.

Wikkitikki · 19/10/2016 14:31

No, I wouldn't do it. Just say you've exceeded the maximum number of devices or summat. He could give out the password to his visitors.

BarbaraofSeville · 19/10/2016 14:31

I don't give anyone my WiFi password Bimbo.

I was Shock the first time visiting teen relatives walked in and grunted 'Hello Aunty Barbara, can I have your WiFi password' by way of a greeting.

I didn't realise demanding to be connected to home WiFI at friends and families houses during visits was a thing, but that's a whole other thread.

ShmooBooMoo · 19/10/2016 14:34

Tell him to get a dongle.

LouisTherouxsGlasses · 19/10/2016 14:56

I would, for the sake of neighbourliness, but tell him you're getting an update in 2 weeks anyway so it'll only work until then. After 2 weeks, change the password and hub name.
Politely mention that it would be better if he doesn't stream anything.

Quite cheeky of him to ask though.

QuinionsRainbow · 19/10/2016 14:59

If he downloads anything dodgy it could be tracked to the IP of his laptop - not your wifi!

Don't think so. Traffic over the internet between your router and the outside world is identified by the IP address of YOUR router, which may remain generally constant, but which is likely to be dynamically re-assigned by your ISP every time you re-boot it. Any computer or other device on your local network on your side of the router will similarly be assigned a local IP address by the router, typically of the format 192.168.0.xy. A neighbour's netork, while having a different external IP address, will have the same set of internal 192.168.0.xy addresses. So traffic generated by a neighbour borrowing your network will be indelibly tagged with YOUR IP address.

MackerelOfFact · 19/10/2016 15:38

I had this. I didn't particularly like the neighbour for a variety of reasons and suspected she just didn't want to pay for own internet. I'm crap at saying no so I just gave her the wrong password and just pretended the connection was a bit temperamental when she returned to say it wasn't working.