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AIBU?

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Original poster

Giving out your internet password to a neighbour

49 replies

Daffodil55 · 08/12/2019 11:36

I have a youngish neighbour who I get on well with but the other evening she knocked at my door and asked could she use my internet log in for her phone so she could chat to a friend (I assume she meant through social media)

She had her phone in her hand and the list of nearby connections and mine was at the top so I just said oh there's mine right there. She then asked for the password but I made an excuse, which was more or less the truth as I told her I couldnt think of it. I said my internet just automatically connects and I have long forgotten the password. I do have it written down of course but my question is,

If I had given her the p.word and she connected her phone through my (paid for) account, would she then have used mine for free every time she wanted to access Fbook or whatever?

I did ask her did she not have internet in her home but she said she used to but lost it. No idea what she meant but didn't pursue it. Anyway she went away and said no worries she would find another person to help her.

I am not savvy enough to know if (had I given her my password) would she then be able to see anything at all to do with my account? Other than that I am not happy for her to have free internet connection when I pay for mine.

What would you do ?

OP posts:
GunpowderGelatine · 08/12/2019 11:37

No way in hell, and I'd tell her she was cheeky

Thingsdogetbetter · 08/12/2019 11:39

Lost it means didn't pay for it and got disconnected. CF.

ChardonnaysDistantCousin · 08/12/2019 11:40

Sorry, but no, I wouldn’t.

It’s your IP address and if she does something dodgy it will come back to you.

Confusedbeetle · 08/12/2019 11:40

No way, she would be using data you had paid for. If she has a phone contract she will have a data allowance. If you gave her the password she would have it forever and use it whenever she liked until you changed it

Suebnm · 08/12/2019 11:40

Don't do it.

If she is looking at illegal stuff or ilegal downloads it will be you that gets 'into trouble'. She won't be able to see your account though if that is your only concern.

ChardonnaysDistantCousin · 08/12/2019 11:40

Oh sorry, clicked on YABU by mistake.

Shuckle · 08/12/2019 11:44

Absolutely not, never give your WiFi password to anyone you don't know - worst case, they could be accessing illegal material and because it's your internet connection and your IP address, its your door authorities would be knocking on to speak to you. Even worse case, there are readily available tools which would allow somebody connected to your network to scan and save all information you enter into YOUR phone/laptop etc - passwords included. Only give your passwords to visitors you 100% trust.

If you are ever in doubt that somebody who shouldn't has the password/access, resetting the router will change the password back to the default (usually on a sticker on the back of your router) and will ask everyone who has access to sign in again - they won't be able to without the new password.

Hope that's helpful! 😊

Original poster
Daffodil55 · 08/12/2019 11:44

Thanks for replies. I have no reason to think she is or would be looking at anything dodgy but we never know.

Maybe her phone data ran out and her monthly contract allowance will renew so it could have been a one off request. Hoping she doesn't ask again though.

I know some connections can be accessed easily without passwords as it is in the account set up of whoever is paying. I think I will look into this.

OP posts:
MyNewBearTotoro · 08/12/2019 11:45

Yes, if you gave her the password she would be able to connect whenever she was in range of your house. If she wrote down/ remembered the password she could also connect other devices in her home or give it out to anyone else living there or visitors she might have.

You definitely weren’t unreasonable not to give it to her.

BestOption · 08/12/2019 11:46

I don’t really understand how, but I know that it’s been said on here that it’s a bad idea because they can access stuff. I really don’t understand how 🤷🏻‍♀️

I wouldn’t mind helping out a young neighbour by letting them use some of the allowance I pay for if they were strapped for cash. I don’t even know what our limit is & I doubt one more person using it would make much difference. But if it did, it would be easy enough to change the password.

However, despite not understanding it, I would be concerned about the warnings about them being able to access ‘stuff’ ?!

You probably did the right thing saying you didn’t know the password. 😊

ChardonnaysDistantCousin · 08/12/2019 11:49

Also, she can always go to Pret or Starbucks and she can use their free WiFi.

It’s not like she’s stuck forever with no
Access to her FB or Instagram.

LolaDabestest · 08/12/2019 11:50

Meh I would have for the night then just changed the password don't know why ppl are so uptight about these things she's not a random.

Original poster
Daffodil55 · 08/12/2019 11:52

I am almost sure she goes to college part time so will be able to access the net there but I think it is when she is at home (a couple of doors away from me) that she is missing her online contact.

OP posts:
BestOption · 08/12/2019 11:53

@Shuckle. But surely the police or whoever would need more than an IP address match to take things further otherwise house sharers would be at risk all the time?!

The ‘tools’ to get information is a bit more worrying, but you’re at risk of that anytime you use public wifi aren’t you?

Original poster
Daffodil55 · 08/12/2019 11:55

"Meh I would have for the night then just changed the password don't know why ppl are so uptight about these things she's not a random".

That is all very well but giving out my password once to her then changing it and saying no at the next request could cause er, unrest. No one likes falling out with neighbours do they?

OP posts:
BestOption · 08/12/2019 11:55

@LolaDabestest. No, she’s not a random, but equally she’s not someone the OP knows well and I suppose she could be down loading terrorist stuff - their neighbours (& indeed friends & family) often say they had not idea’ that this person was/would do that. 🤷🏻‍♀️

mencken · 08/12/2019 11:57

'lost it' - didn't pay for it. Was she staring gormlessly at her feet while saying this, as they do?

Are you going to start paying her other bills?

change the password and tell her that when she comes round again.

BestOption · 08/12/2019 12:00

Daffodil. I think saying you don’t know the password was definitely the best option if you didn’t want her to have it on an ongoing basis. Then as you say, you don’t have to ‘refuse’ her next time (or have the hassle if changing your password!) if she asks again it’s easy to say ‘as I told you last time you asked, I have NO idea what the password is’ and if she’s cheeky enough to say ‘it’ll be in the back if your router’ you can just say your ex/Dad/friend changed it when they set it up but you’ve lost the but if paper they write the new one on. Without saying you don’t want ‘her’ to have it. Much easier 🤷🏻‍♀️😊

PhilCornwall1 · 08/12/2019 12:02

I don’t really understand how, but I know that it’s been said on here that it’s a bad idea because they can access stuff. I really don’t understand how 🤷🏻‍♀️

It's quite doable if you know how to and what tools to use in your machine to do it.

msmith501 · 08/12/2019 12:03

We have a "friend" who came to our house once and asked to log on for five mins. I allowed her and thought nothing else of it - she lives ten mins away so not a neighbour. More recently she has been parked just outside her house with her daughter... turns out they were using our paid WiFi fo do daughter's homework. Soon put a stop to that!

HollowTalk · 08/12/2019 12:04

I think it's easier to say you don't know it than it is to give the password and then change it later. There's far more likely to be hostility that way.

Original poster
Daffodil55 · 08/12/2019 12:04

I have made a decision. While I doubt she will ask again, if she does I am going to be honest and say sorry I do not give out my password to anyone.

I am sure there are free connections in most areas which do not require a password.

OP posts:
PhilCornwall1 · 08/12/2019 12:05

"On your machine" that should say.

MulticolourTinselOnTheTree · 08/12/2019 12:08

I got asked once. I just said I don't give the password out to anyone except members of the household and a family member.

I used to be a people pleaser, and might have said yes many years ago. But I hit the peri-menopause and now happily say no to people. I just wouldn't want to take the risk of someone I don't know having access to my wifi.

BarbaraStrozzi · 08/12/2019 12:09

The homework one is rather sad (not that I'm suggesting you've done the wrong thing, I'd probably have done the same) - but to be so desperate you sit in the car with your daughter to do homework suggests quite a severe financial crisis to me. Not sure I'd put that one down as ordinary, common or garden piss taking.

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