To think friend was being a bit tight over internet password

[CadgingCarol]

Name changed as I'm an over sharer.
Anyway I had some issues with paying my internet account recently basically direct debit hadn't come out and I'd been cut off long story!

I was stuck at home on my own with the kids, my older dc was going on and on and on about internet being cut off stress. I thought I'll ring up and pay to get it back on etc but realised I couldn't transfer the money as no internet! My phone internet wouldn't work either.
I thought shit, I messaged my friend who lives close and I'm a round about way asked her if I could borrow her internet password to get things sorted,
Her reply was "sorry I don't want to give it out" now we've been friends for over 4 years have each other kids do stuff etc etc so I was quite shocked at her response. It's basically saying she doesn't trust me isn't it?
Yes the internet being back on wasn't urgent but I still needed it back on ASAP. I wouldn't have given a second thought to giving a "friend" the password so aibu to think she isn't really a friend as she didn't help me out when I was in the shit?

Lol, not giving your password to people isn't paranoid, it's common sense

Something that's sadly lacking in this day and age

Boy! I know I"m jumping on a bandwagon and I've only read the first page,but I can't believe you'd ask.

Do you have a history of falling behind on payments? Do you live close enough that you could use her wifi from your house?

I give mine out to anybody that calls to mine btw, but if it was a neighbour I thought might take the piss (and slow down my connection), or it was the same password I use for other stuff, then I wouldn't.

I give everyone the WiFi code when they ask, but to use while they are in my home. It is her choice though x

You say you couldn't phone the bank and transfer because you had no reception? But you could send a text to the neighbour asking for the wifi password and THEN miraculously managed to phone and get someone to transfer the money for you. Giving out your internet banking in the process!

You couldn't leave the house as in on your own with the DC..if your neighbour is close enough that you can jump on her wifi from yours, why not text her and ask her if she could come round for 5 mins with her laptop/table/phone so you can use her wifi on her own already logged in device and transfer the money yourself? Job done.

Your story sounds like you are a CF, and I bet you've got form and she knows that you had no intention of paying your own internet bill and using hers for as long as you could get away with it. And took the slightly less awkward route of saying she doesn't like to give out her password than giving it to you and then eventually changing her password so you no longer have access and you guilt tripping her into giving you that one aswell.

Her tablet, not table. Not sure her table picks up wifi.

Having no internet isn't really being in the shit is it? It's her choice to give it out or not so if she doesn't go to Costa Coffee or McD's and use their free wifi. Problem solved.

www.theregister.co.uk/2017/06/23/virgin_media_router_security_flap/

BertrandRussell

"What on earth can you do with someone's wifi password except access their wifi?" The WiFi password allows you access to their router. From there you can access anything else that's connected to the router, one of those things being the broadband service. But it also includes their PC, and any phones, tablets, printers etc. that are also connected to the router either by wire or wirelessly. I would certainly not allow my friends free rein to look through all that stuff.

Also, unless you explicitly delete the password from your device (and it's not always obvious how to do that) it will continue to use it as one of the possible connections to the internet, whether you mean to do so or not.

I think YBVU.

I think the OP's nickname says it all!?

The WiFi password allows you access to their router.

Not unless you are foolish enough to set the same password for both. Ditto other devices - you need their login/password details as well unless you have password cracking software or similar and the time and desire to use it and the devices have weak passwords.

Can I suggest some of the other recent PPs read the OP if not the whole thread to save the exertion of jumping to conclusions which have already been addressed? Or maybe that is more a new thread in AIBU

kangra where did I say that I couldn't use my phone to make calls? I had no 3G as reception poor I could still send txts.

And thinking about it now yes I could have rang the bank I just didn't think...

Think it's pretty idiotic to do any form of online banking using Maccies or Costas wifi

I assumed by poor reception you meant poor reception like I get as you mention living rurally like I do and no 3G meaning no being able to make calls because you know, no reception. It's a fair assumption.

C8H10N4O2

"The WiFi password allows you access to their router." Not unless you are foolish enough to set the same password for both.

I'm not talking about logging in to the router to alter the configuration. The WiFi password allows you to connect your device to the router (otherwise you wouldn't be able to access the broadband connection) and from there you are also connected to every other device in the house. It's not as straightforward as letting your neighbour plug their lawn mower into your power socket!

So are you saying that anyone who has the password to my wifi has automatic access to my iPad, phone and laptop? Surely not.

If my phone doesn't automatically connect to your wifi I don't consider you a friend....you're an acquaintance! :-P

Pay your sodding bills and stop trying to blag something for nothing. How does neighbour know you aren't going to start rinsing her internet and using all her data so she gets a massive bill.

Tell the kids to read a book until you can afford to pay your bills.

I kind of feel that OP's neighbour might have been taking a stand with her decision.
Perhaps she's been leant on by the OP a bit before, or this is just one too many favours and it was a bit of a line in the sand moment.

Borodin

No it really doesn't unless you have a bunch more users and passwords.

Do you really believe that sharing a router, DHCP server or any other common network point automatically gives you access to them? You have to be able to connect to them with their own user and password. Simply being on the same network != device access.

OP was trying to pay her bills Cub

C8H10N4O2

"No it really doesn't unless you have a bunch more users and passwords." If your system is set up defensively, yes. But most routers are probably still set to admin/admin, and many storage devices and PC will have a guest account or a login (which is probably just their first name) without a password.

Bertrand, people upthread have made the valid point in response to your questions that if you allow free access to your wifi you run the risk of someone else's illegal activity online/accessing dodgy websites being attributed to you. You seem to be ignoring it.