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AIBU?

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Original poster

To ask if you know this reason why strangers may be hanging about outside your home?

107 replies

ATadShocked · 21/02/2024 21:40

NC as I have spoken to people about this IRL.

I didn't know until very recently that our home broadband hub in our hallway is also being used as a public wi-fi hotspot by other passing BT/EE customers - did you?!

If, like me, you didn't know that and have noticed strangers hanging about outside your home with their phones then this may be the reason. I had assumed all the hotspots were in businesses or via masts, so I was a bit perturbed when I found out by accident that our hub was a hotspot. I would have liked to have been asked first. You can opt out, but only if you don't want to use other BT/EE hotspots yourself.

YABU: Yes, I knew my hub was also a public wi-fi hotspot and I don't mind

YANBU: No, I didn't know and I don't like the idea or I should at least have been asked to opt in

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 22/02/2024 21:46

It does not affect your security
What happens if someone uses my BT Wi-fi connection to access an illegal site?You can prove it wasn't you because the visitor's access to the internet will be through a separate channel. This means we can tell the difference between the home user's internet activity and visitor internet activity.
Can people using my BT Hub see what I'm doing on the internet?No, their access is through a separate, secure channel on the BT Hub
this is taken from the FAQ on the BT website

Original poster
ATadShocked · 22/02/2024 21:47

No it's not, because you don't have to provide any identifying details if you use a café free WiFi. But you do have to use your own BT login details to use a hotspot like yours.

I was thinking more that, in the car as opposed to in a business or at home, nobody is looking over their shoulder or listening in to what they are doing, KrisAkabusi.

OP posts:
HiveSentinelApis · 22/02/2024 21:48

ATadShocked · 22/02/2024 21:47

No it's not, because you don't have to provide any identifying details if you use a café free WiFi. But you do have to use your own BT login details to use a hotspot like yours.

I was thinking more that, in the car as opposed to in a business or at home, nobody is looking over their shoulder or listening in to what they are doing, KrisAkabusi.

Gchq, The NSA, The five eyes agreement etc they are always watching and listening

Original poster
ATadShocked · 22/02/2024 21:59

Gchq, The NSA, The five eyes agreement etc they are always watching and listening

Although they are all more concerned with picking up intelligence on national and global security* issues, HiveSentinelApis*?

OP posts:
HiveSentinelApis · 22/02/2024 22:03

ATadShocked · 22/02/2024 21:59

Gchq, The NSA, The five eyes agreement etc they are always watching and listening

Although they are all more concerned with picking up intelligence on national and global security* issues, HiveSentinelApis*?

True,

HappiestSleeping · 22/02/2024 22:30

HiveSentinelApis · 22/02/2024 21:41

Your concerns are completely valid. Allowing strangers to connect to your router can indeed pose security risks. While it's true that the majority of people using your hub as a hotspot might be decent, there's always the possibility of malicious actors trying to exploit vulnerabilities.

When strangers connect to your router, they essentially become part of your network. This means they could potentially access shared files, devices, or even launch attacks against your network. Additionally, if someone with malicious intent gains access to your network through the public hotspot feature, they could potentially compromise your personal information or launch attacks on other devices connected to your network.

In terms of the likelihood of your hub and devices being hacked, enabling the public hotspot feature does increase the potential attack surface. It's essential to ensure that your router's firmware is up to date, use strong and unique passwords for your network, and consider implementing additional security measures such as firewall rules or network segmentation to protect your devices.

If you're uncomfortable with the idea of strangers connecting to your router, you may want to consider disabling the public hotspot feature or adjusting its settings to limit access. Your privacy and security should always come first.

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The public wifi is separated from the owner's wifi though, so the owner isn't allowing strangers to connect tho their network. To all intents and purposed, they are isolated from each other.

HiveSentinelApis · 22/02/2024 22:32

HappiestSleeping · 22/02/2024 22:30

The public wifi is separated from the owner's wifi though, so the owner isn't allowing strangers to connect tho their network. To all intents and purposed, they are isolated from each other.

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Ah i see, Much apricated for the correction.

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