WiFi borrowing

[GenerallyGreenerGrass]

A member of my family is very ill and requires a lot of care.
I work from home several days and am considering trying to work from their home, instead of going backwards and forwards but being quite elderly, they don’t have Broadband.
I’ve been using Hotspot on my iPhone today but it won’t be good enough for conference calls etc.
What do you think about approaching a next door neighbour who we don’t know well but they know him, to see firstly if they have WiFi and if so could we possibly join it for a couple of weeks.
What do you think?

I'd let you use my Wi-Fi under the circumstances, OP.
You are doing a lovely and courageous deed being there for someone's care and comfort at the end of their life.

Well unlike the majority I would ask. As long as you make it clear you're also offering to pay generously I think it's fine to ask.

You can get a dongle on a month by month basis if you need to, just FYI.

Just buy a dongle!

I think under the circumstances I'd get a dongle. You can buy a month's worth of unlimited data reasonably cheaply. You could be a crafty CF and pop a note through their door letting them know there might be comings and goings as relative is end of life. Ask which network has the strongest signal around here as you're going to get a dongle for a month so you stay with your relative till they pass. It's possible they might offer their WiFi. I probably would but it's better not to put them on the spot. If nothing else you'll have introduced yourself and got some useful info.

It’s a security risk though, not just a cost thing.

No one should be giving out WiFi passwords unless they know the person well.

If you were to access the Dark Web and / or do nefarious things (not all things on the DW are nefarious and you don't necessarily need the DW either!) the IP address comes back to the subscriber to the account and not you specifically.

It also means that someone who knows more than the householder could access their devices and personal data etc.

Piggybacking WiFi is one thing for immediate friends and family whom you trust. It's quite another to grant you weeks of access when they don't know you.

Anyone saying they'll blithely dish out their security is foolish IMO. There's a balance between being nice and becoming a mug.

Apologies for the Daily Fail as a source, but they have this one right:
www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-11890419/10-reason-NEVER-share-Wi-Fi-password-friends.html

This

Sign into BT WiFi, you can pay for this separately, or if you are a BT customer, it's included in your package.

I have allowed a new neighbour in difficult circumstances to jump on my wifi. They were incredibly grateful. Definitely yes from me.

Thanks everyone!
I’ve just approached them, they know my relative well and know he’s ill, they also have seen me visiting for over 10 years and when I’ve seen them said hello.
They agreed immediately, invited me in and let me take a pic of the password and also said if there was any thing else they could do, to just let them know.
Just thought I’d let you know……

It would be a no from me plus I think it is a really cheeky thing to ask. Get a dongle.

Fab. I'm really very pleased OP

It's very kind of them but they probably don't realise the risk. And hopefully the risk is virtually zero because you are lovely.

Thanks! I’m so grateful to them. Lovely kind people.

They actually do know the risk but are a good judge of character.
They will come to no harm from me.

I'd let you if you were paying for half of it - where are you based?!!

I'd happy do this in the circumstances you describe, assuming I had a halfway decent relationship with the neighour who was dying. You're not a stranger, you're the relative of the neighbour and the circumstances are such that I would be glad to be able to do a small thing to help them at such a difficult time.

Christ people really are miserable fuckers.

Exactly as it should be due to the situation
I'm pleased it's sorted

You don't know these people, so the answer is no.
Make your own arrangements.

OP in the circumstances you describe I would both ask and share my WiFi. I'm glad you asked and I'm glad the neighbours helped.

Pleased to hear that, very sorry to hear about your relative.
Small kindness help so much at these times.

Incredibly rude to even ask! Come on OP, you know it is CF at its finest.

OP you are clearly dealing with real life people who help each other out, particularly in difficult times, not mumsnetters who must stick to the official Mumsnet rules, one of which is Wi-Fi must not be shared.
I glad to hear you have it sorted.

Gentleness and kindness do matter and even if you disagree with an OP there is a decent way to reply.
Some people are so brittle and rude, lashing out at people instead of “speaking” kindly.
It’s such a shame and the World is not a better place for it.
You should be ashamed…
Do you know what really convinced me to ask the neighbours for help? It was when I saw the replies calling me a CF and realising that the people next door were probably nothing like any of YOU…..
For the polite people and the supportive ones, Thankyou so much, it means a lot, at this time ❤️

Without a doubt, I would give our neighbour's relative our wifi password in a situation like this. I'm really sorry that your relative is so unwell, and I'm glad the neighbours were able to help make the situation a little easier for you.

Sending love to you and your relative