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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What's your Wi-Fi password?!

116 replies

ohbigdaddio · 08/11/2017 17:53

This has just happened and I didn't have a clue what to say and feel like an idiot!

So a man just came to my door and said he was staying next door for a few weeks and doesn't have wifi so wanted to use mine until they get it installed in a few day's time. That didn't add up to me as if you were staying somewhere temporarily then you would just use 4G or go to a cafe and use free wi-fi there! It's a rented house with various people living there and I didn't want to give my password out anyway but also he could tell the whole house and then everyone there could use it for free! It's also hard to believe that nobody in the house has wi-fi.

He was quite pushy and I told him to use 4G or BT wi-fi FON. He ignored this and when I wouldn't give him the password he got annoyed and said "So you're not going to give me the password then? I'm your neighbour!!" He added that his mum was ill in Pakistan and he wanted to phone her with my Wi-fi code...

I told him I was in a rush to go out (was in middle of drying my hair!) and I would get back to him. God knows why I said that, I just didn't know what to say and just wanted him to go.

Any ideas?! Don't know if I over reacted but there have been some dodgy characters next door and I just didn't feel comfortable potentially giving them all my password.

OP posts:
Teacupinastorm · 08/11/2017 18:59

He seriously thinks that’s ok?!

What a weirdo!

LittlePaintBox · 08/11/2017 18:59

No way! If you really can't face saying a downright no to him, just give him a fake one.

Eg FUKOFTW4T Grin

Ausparent · 08/11/2017 19:01

Not only that but if he has your password he could change it and lock you out of your own network.

BarbaraofSevillle · 08/11/2017 19:02

Mine is Itsbrokensorry

It would be very easy for nasty people of any variety to rent a house short term and then 'borrow' a naive neighbour's wifi if they want to communicate undetected and untraceable on the dark web and when/if the authorities catch up with them they will be long gone and all the bad stuff went through your router. You'll then have to suffer the investigation while they try and prove it was/wasn't you up to no good.

Might be fairly unlikely but I don't want to take the risk.

toffeepumpkins · 08/11/2017 19:03

Hell will freeze over before I give anybody the wifi password - there is no way you should do it!

rwalker · 08/11/2017 19:06

say no but if you want a get out say you have cheap package with limited data and you use your limit each month

Andrewofgg · 08/11/2017 19:10

Tell him you have consulted your solicitors, the well-known firm of E Chitt & Dye - and it's No.

Appuskidu · 08/11/2017 19:12

Bloody cheek-some people have so much nerve!

pinkingshears · 08/11/2017 19:13

Ooooh!!!!

I am SO going to do this.
I just had a thread about my ds and wifi passwords so if I could learn to change the name too that would really freak him Grin

Badbilly · 08/11/2017 19:13

Not only that but if he has your password he could change it and lock you out of your own network.

No he couldn't, the password he is asking for is for access to the wifi, not access to the router.

However, he is a complete CF, and no she shouldn't give him her wifi details.

londonrach · 08/11/2017 19:16

No way!!!!!!! No and no and no no no

AlexanderHamilton · 08/11/2017 19:18

I'd have replied with the first part of the name of our router & left him to wonder

It's Hasa Diga Eebowifi in case anyone wonders.

Namethecat · 08/11/2017 19:22

No way would I do that ! My friend has kindly given me hers as I'm often at her place and I stay with my daughter for a week at a time and I have hers but other than that i'd think myself as a cf to have anyone elses !!

Theresnonamesleft · 08/11/2017 19:25

Of course the op can be locked out of the router.
With the WiFi password it’s a huge step closer to accessing the modem log in. These details are online and a lot of people never change these.

A lot of people also have their devices on a share with this network/household or similar. If the op has this set up it gives him a way into her devices.

GrockleBocs · 08/11/2017 19:25

Not all routers have the password on them Hmm
We don't use the ISP router and if we did we'd set the Wi-Fi key to something different.

woodhill · 08/11/2017 19:29

What a cheek he had. No way

Supermagicsmile · 08/11/2017 19:32

I'm
Shocked he thought that was okay!!

SemolinaSilkpaws · 08/11/2017 19:33

E Chitt & Dye

Love it

milliemolliemou · 08/11/2017 19:42

OP v suspicious. I don't know where you live but if he wanted to call his ma in Pakistan, whom he knew was ill, even in my rural town there are places you can call from and Skype. And just use the signal rather than wifi, though he could have been upset to find there was no signal. Does happen.

He knew enough to ask you for your password code so not IT-illiterate - and he's part of a rental next door? I'm surprised those already renting haven't got wifi.

I know people do piggyback but you do have to know to whom you're giving the code. And though it's unreliable, your suggestion of BT-Phon was fine.

Keep us up to date.

Beansonapost · 08/11/2017 20:01

NO and Just close the door.

You don’t need to give an explanation.

2rebecca · 08/11/2017 20:54

We chose our wifi password, but then we also chose the router it wasn't part of a package. We have 2 passwords and wifi logins upstairs and downstairs. You have to be in our house and trusted to get them. You are responsible if someone downloads paedophile etc content from your system. He is a stranger. The fact that he claims to live near by is irrelevant

Topseyt · 09/11/2017 00:38

Letting him bring his laptop into your house has to be one of the worst pieces of advice I have ever seen on here.

Don't even open the door to him. Anyone who thinks this sort of request via OK is very possibly up to no good.

FV45 · 09/11/2017 06:49

Topseyt That was me! What an accolade.
I was talking more in general rather than in this specific situation.

If a new neighbour knocked on my door asking to use my WiFi so they could contact their ill mother then I think I'd say they could do just that in my living room, while I was around. They make the call, they leave and I would change the Wifi password. Of course if he said that wasn't good enough or became verbally aggressive then I'd retract the offer.

VivienneWestwoodsKnickers · 09/11/2017 06:57

No way, no one do this, ever!!

If they download indecent images of children it will show up as your IP address. Do you want the police banging the door early one morning and seizing all your computers, the router, memory cards, memory sticks, Xboxes, and anything else capable of holding images? Let alone arresting anyone in your household?

Feel free to explain this to CFN. I had to one, and did it on this same basis. They thought about it, agreed they wouldn't share for the same reason, and that was that.

Original poster
ohbigdaddio · 09/11/2017 06:58

He only threw in the sick mother line when it became apparent I wasn't going to give him my password! But I've never seen him before in my life so wouldn't want him in my house. I'll let you all know if he returns...lets hope not!

OP posts: