neighors internet down...... asked if I would

[4greatboys]

It's not always as easy as changing a password. We have AT&T uverse and our modem comes with the wireless passcode. It's not something we set up or can change. It is our specific wireless passcode for the house.

 

[pepperw23]

I would do it. No big deal and the kid just got an IPOD. I think people are too touchy these days. Just change the password tomorrow.

 

[Carly_Roach]

She could also go to somewhere that has free wi-fi and use her ipod there. The library, Panera, and even some McDonalds around here have it.

This is what my daughter did last year when she got her itouch and we didn't have wireless internet set up in the house yet.

Exactly. We don't have wifi and won't get it until hard wire becomes obsolete. We've seen too many cases where piggybackers do illegal things on someone else's wifi and it's traced back to the law-abiding citizen who now has to spend time and money proving he didn't (example) order a caseload of pseudoephedrine or watch streaming child pornography.

I'd advise the neighbor to do what coinkc suggested. Go to a public wifi area if she needs to download itunes today and can't wait until her family's internet is back up again.

It's not always as easy as changing a password. We have AT&T uverse and our modem comes with the wireless passcode. It's not something we set up or can change. It is our specific wireless passcode for the house.

Exactly. People would like to believe it's as easy as changing a passcode, but it's not always that easy.

Furthermore, friends and family are one thing because they leave the area of the wifi. Neighbors are always within the reach of your wifi and may piggyback again.

Just say no. It's not worth the risk.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Just say no. It's not worth the risk.

Yep. It defeats the purpose of you purchasing a secure system. It puts all of their inconvenience and hassle of not having an internet connection squarely on you.

 

[Danibelle]

i think it is ballsy for them to ask that. especially since it is just a convenience thing and not something important like a school project. i would be taken aback by the request, and i am not sure what i would do actually...

I wouldn't do it.

 

[My2Cinderellas]

I would say no -unless you are very close to this family. Casual neighbor - nope. I'm sure once they have access to your wifi they will be very very slow to go about getting their own back. why should they? they are getting yours for free.

Besides, there are enough unprotected wifi networks in our neighborhood that you wouldn't need to go to the library or panera or wherever! I think there might be one other than ours that is actually locked.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

When our neighbor's internet went down a couple of years ago, their teenaged daughter called and politely asked if she could come over and check her e-mail. She sat down at our laptop for about 10 minutes and brought her notebook to write down anything she needed to remember. The dad came over later to check his work e-mail before they had theirs fixed. They never asked for access to our connection from their house. They are very good friends of ours but I don't think it ever occurred to them to ask us to unsecure our network for them.

I don't think I'd feel comfortable giving someone our network code. I'd invite them to use our computer if they had anything they really needed to do. Otherwise, they can easily go to McDonald's or Starbucks and get a free connection.

 

[WDWBarb]

A few years ago, our ISP (the local cable company) drove around neighborhoods and shut down anyone who's wireless was able to be picked up outside their property. Unfortunately, this was us.

Just before that, we secured our wireless (DH had left it open for some reason) and when we put the password up, the neighbor knocked on the door asking for us to either remove the password or give it to him. And that was the only time we ever met him!

 

[Freyja]

I would do it. No big deal and the kid just got an IPOD. I think people are too touchy these days. Just change the password tomorrow.

Same here!

 

[Magpie]

We had a neighbour do this for once - he offered, we didn't ask. So I'd be inclined to pay it forward, if it were me. And then I'd change the passcode.

Fortunately changing the passcode isn't difficult for us. We can do it whenever we want. If we couldn't, then I'd probably just invite the family over to use our computer whenever they want, for as long as they need, with coffee and cookies on the side. I like all my neighbours!

And actually, a while back we configured a family friend's laptop so that whenever she's staying with us she can automatically dial in to our wireless network. She doesn't know our passcode, but her computer does!

 

[smb6]

One of my neighbors does not have internet (I actually dont even think they have a computer). Every once in a while they have came over and asked to use my computer or for my to pull up something for them. I have always been glad to do so.... But a while back, they sent their son over and said they had friends over with a laptop and needed my "password". I knew what he meant my network id or whatever is called - I responded saying "I don't have a password for my computer"- and he left. I kinda played dumb with it. I wasn't sure how it all worked and I just wasn't willing to do it. Thankfully, they have not asked again. Now, if I had known they just needed it for a few hours like your neigbor does and I had known for sure they could not access anything of mine- I may have done it and changed the code the next day.....
I agree with those that said it depends on your relationship with the neigbor.

 

[manning]

To those who would, Please post your pass word to your password & bank account number. I'm a little short of money right now.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I would tell my neighbor to go to Panera's. It is only 4 min from my house.

 

[dodukes]

To those who would, Please post your pass word to your password & bank account number. I'm a little short of money right now.

its really not that easy, i could let you on my network and you would never see a darn thing...on the other hand at my home i had it setup to where you could access all computers because i wanted t see my hard drives from my laptop i the living room. I had a friend with my password, no problems with her....and yes i would prob let me neighbor pigyback on my network to download itunes and then quickly change the password.

to the poster who talked about uverse...you can still change your uverse password for your account. thats the first thing i asked the installer at my friends house since im the one that sets up their network, i asked as a just in case scenario.

i prob have about 3 different peoples home network stored on my computer right now so when i visit i can log on no problems. i guess is just comes down to how comfortable you are with your friends (and this neighbor)

 

[bgirldeb]

Just before that, we secured our wireless (DH had left it open for some reason) and when we put the password up, the neighbor knocked on the door asking for us to either remove the password or give it to him. And that was the only time we ever met him!

Holy crap! People never cease to amaze me!

 

[luvmy3]

There are neighbors who are friends who I would do it for, and some that are just neighbors who I wouldn't.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Unless I had worries about the neighbors I would do it and then change the password tomorrow.

This.

 

[Happy Mom2]

Can you offer to download a few songs for her on your computer?

 

[njcarita]

op here..... thanks for all the replies....
very un tech here so turns out I don't even know my passcode.... we set up all our wireless about a year ago and havne't had to add or change anything... so I will have to search and see where I wrote it down....

I let my neighbor know .... totally trust them thats not a problem... i just didn't want to do anything illegal....

I did offer to let her synch ipod here. with our itunes... but my kids say that won't work cause whatever songs she buys wont transfer to her computer... stays with ours

 

[manning]

its really not that easy, i could let you on my network and you would never see a darn thing...on the other hand at my home i had it setup to where you could access all computers because i wanted t see my hard drives from my laptop i the living room. I had a friend with my password, no problems with her....and yes i would prob let me neighbor pigyback on my network to download itunes and then quickly change the password.

to the poster who talked about uverse...you can still change your uverse password for your account. thats the first thing i asked the installer at my friends house since im the one that sets up their network, i asked as a just in case scenario.

i prob have about 3 different peoples home network stored on my computer right now so when i visit i can log on no problems. i guess is just comes down to how comfortable you are with your friends (and this neighbor)

It's more like having access to your system and ability to do illegal things. Not that they would do it, but wouldn't it be a shock to answer a knock at the door and the secret service advising you that a threat on the president came from here.