Can I block neighbour's unsecured WiFi so my kids can't use it?

[EatsFartsAndLeaves]

Not a problem right now because of the age of my kids, but there are two different unsecured WiFi networks often in range from my house and I'm wondering WTF to do about them when I need to restrict my kid's internet access.

One is called "EE Brightbox" and the other is "BTwifi-with-FON". Maybe the BT one is a device like a Chromecast that can't actually be used for a neighbour to access the internet with, does anyone know? But the EE one I've successfully used to do so, so I know that works.

Loads of houses it could be from, and while some neighbours are lovely, others really aren't. Is there a way of blocking unsecured networks so my kids can't get on them?

The BT WiFi is public WiFi that you have to pay to use. You can pay for an hour, two hours or a day etc

I think the bt one is a hot spot?

BT WiFi with FON is like a hot spot I think, where you need an account with BT or can pay as you go. I used to use it in Greece for 40 euros a month No idea about the other one.

You can blacklist WiFi networks on a a pc / mac so they don't show up, not sure about phones or tablets . Pehaps try googling "blacklist WiFi network on x device"

Thanks all, "blacklist" is giving me some decent search results.

4 year old doesn't have a device yet and DSD has data anyway so not an issue for a while here, but it's a bit worrying that I could have parental controls on mine and change the password until they've done their chores or whatever, and they could just get on the neighbours WiFi and do whatever they want .

Can you actually use them? I would try.

They'd have no chance doing anything on the BT network, since it's a hotspot you have to pay to use.

EE bright box is a router, so you may need to blacklist that one.

You may be able to set up parental locks on any future devices that will require a password before logging on to a WiFi network.

I can't use the BT one, but can use the EE one. Would there be any point trying to contact EE? Of course if I could work out which neighbour owns it then I could ask them to sort it out, I'll maybe have a walk around outside and see if I can tell where the signal is strongest, that might narrow it down.

No there's no point in contacting EE.
It's down to the person who owns the router to set their security settings.

You could find out who it is (I don't know how?) and ask them, but they're still under no obligation to put a password on their network - although I don't understand why they wouldn't.

You're best bet is to just keep an eye on the kids devices.
Am I right in thinking that this problem is currently non-existent?

If you find out who your neighbours are, just tell them that your kids are planning to live streak HD movies and cartoons, thus using all their bandwidth. Suggest they password protect their wifi if they want to carry on using it themselves!

streak=stream !

I've just tried to use my neighbours BT with FON and it wants me to pay to access it.
Luckily all the other nearby networks are private.

Youngest is 4 so doesn't use the Internet at all yet, and DSD is 14 and not here very often. I'd like to stop her having completely unfiltered internet so this is a current but not a very frequent issue yet.

My friend's kid stays over occasionally and is 9, but doesn't have unsupervised access to a device yet. It'll be more of an issue when they do, or when my DS gets a device.

@EatsFartsAndLeaves you can't make your neighbour secure their wifi, it is entirely up to them if the are silly enough to not have done so.

The BT with fon one can only be accessed free if you are with BT for your broadband otherwise there are charges.

I think you need to not worry about this and just make sure that you have appropriate settings on your own wifi.

I'm afraid as with all aspects of parenting it is down to you to set rules and boundaries with your children, you can't go about telling other people to put passwords on their wifi in case your kids break a rule in your house.