Letting neighbour using my wifi?

[Ladyof2022]

Man who owns the flat next door, and lets it, whilst he lives in another town, is having a friend stay in the empty flat for ten days, to decorate it, ready for new tenants.

He's never lived here so we have never been friends or neighbours and I don't owe him any favours.

He's just asked me if the decorator can have my wifi password and use my broadband for those 10 days. Promises he won't use it for films or tv.

Never been asked this favour before.

Are there any dangers in allowing it? Would I have the hassle of having to change the password on the ten devices in our household that use the password? Should I charge him for the inconvenience? Or just tell him he's a CF and should foxtrot oscar?

He can buy a dongle cheaply which will give him internet - they’re about £30 for a basic one. Or if he has phone data he needs to tether his laptop to that. No need for him to use your Wi-Fi.

When we moved into new home, we didn't have WiFi yet, my son is autistic, with an obsession with computers. Our next door neighbour popped by for a chat and my disgruntled child mentioned that he was frustrated because he had to wait a few days for WiFi. Later that day my wonderful neighbour popped by with his WiFi code and a personal profile set up for my son. I thought it was super kind and we were truly grateful. I'm not sure of the security risks, and I don't know if I'd have done it but it was a lovely thing for them to do.

Yes, there are definite dangers if it's someone you don't know.
I offered my to share my password with my single neighbour who can't work due to illness because I knew there would be no problems but it turned out she had no interest in being online.

Absolutely no. No question.

You have no idea how up to date the anti virus protection is on his device. If he has access to your network he could allow a virus in and infect your devices. Not a good idea. Suggest he buys a portable wifi dongle or sets up a hotspot from his phone.

I wouldn't. Tell him to buy some data from his mobile provider or go to the pub. A friend had this CFery from a neighbour and ended up changing several passwords.

Exactly, use his own data as a mobile hotspot. I often do it if i need a secure connection.

100% definitely no....But I'm baffled why you would even ask a question like this? Are people too scared to say no to someone? Lack of common sense maybe?

Very unwise indeed.

Someone else using your WiFi could be downloading or distributing indecent images of children, defrauding someone, harassing someone - you name it. Then if they aren't using a VPN (surprisingly common), any checks will come back to your IP address.

Never ever give out your WiFi password unless you trust someone. Certainly not to someone not even in your home at the time it's in use. Visitors, friends, people you know, fair enough, but even then there's a risk if someone isn't who you think they are.

You don’t need to keep finding reasons why the answer is no

You don't know the decorator. What if they use it to download something illegal? It'll be traced to your IP address and you might have a hard time proving it wasn't you.

Sounds extreme and unlikely but you don't know anything about this person at all.

Nope!

Most people have mobile data in their call plans, if he needs the internet he can use that!!

Just say no. No need to justify it. If they ask just say you’d prefer not to.

They are an adult and should be able to find other solutions at their own expense e.g. mobile data, downloading music or videos for offline use in advance or going to a coffee shop or restaurant to use the internet

You have said no. No need to worry about how else the guy might access wifi. It's not your problem so don't let anyone try to make it so by offering alternative solutions.

No. They could torrent music and you’ll be liable for it. Amongst many other worse things they could do.

No! If he is likely to be bored he can watch TV, read, go to the pub etc.

You seem over invested in this OP, it isn't down to you to suggest ways a grown adult who you don't even know could occupy themselves while away from home for a few days.

That's what phone data is for;most companies let you bet extra data when needed;he can pay for his friends extra data whilst staying there.

This falls under CF territory.

So what if he's bored? Not your problem. He can use his mobile data, or heaven forbid, read a book.