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

[njcarita]

let them on my secure wireless system for a while..... till they get their fixed...
daughter just got an ipod touch for christmas and is totally bummed she can't download itunes and use it,,,,

shes coming over later with her laptop asked if I'd program sercuritycode
.... is it okay to do?? anything illegal about it? can they see what I am doing on my computer.....etc....

 

[amyy]

I know when I bring my lap top to friends they let me on their network. They have to give me their password. No idea about seeing what is on their computer and all that.

 

[Agri]

Do you know how to change your security code? If not, I would not let her on it - they would be able to use your internet and may not have any intention of getting theirs back anytime soon.

 

[ers26]

There is nothing illegal about letting someone onto your wireless network. You could just do the neighborly thing and give them access to your network for a short time and then afterwards, change your passcode. Once you do this, they won't have access to your wireless network / internet connection anymore.

 

[prncess674]

There is nothing illegal about it. It sounds like a kid who just wants to download some music on her Christmas present, not a menacing hacker trying to hack your system. If you are really worried change your password the next evening.

 

[rockundergirl]

give them the password, just make sure file sharing is turned off. Wait 3 days and change the password. I have an iphone , and when ever I go to any of my friends houses they give me the password for the wireless.. its a common thing..

 

[rkandmjsmommy]

I would totally be OK with that...but I would change my password too!

 

[mistysue]

It's fine as long as they aren't doing something illegal with the internet connection.

We used to have an open network (I didn't mind, as I had used other people's in the past and figured it was my turn to be the paying one) and somebody started downloading copyrighted tv shows. I got a long, very unfriendly letter about how HBO had the right to prosecute and would notify me if they saw any further activity.

I would mention hearing about things like that and verify that she is getting legitimate mp3's.

 

[SILLYANDI]

give them the password, just make sure file sharing is turned off. Wait 3 days and change the password. I have an iphone , and when ever I go to any of my friends houses they give me the password for the wireless.. its a common thing..

I agree with this post from experience. Our neighbor's internet was down and I let her onto our network. Next thing you know my itunes account has uploaded all of her music & content AND I have access to her documents, etc on her computer (started looking after I noticed the itunes thing because I was worried about what she could access on our computers).
I called her up to let her know & changed the password at the end of the day. Won't be doing that again!

 

[karice2]

Maybe I am overly security conscious but I never, never, never share any of my network passwords for the following reasons.

Most people use 1 password for all of their accounts, if you are like 80% of the population then giving her that one password leaves open a lot of your other stuff. Not saying that this is you but it very common.

Most passwords are not secure enough to prevent hacking or even guessing. If I have enough information about one password and I am your neighbor with knowledge of you and your family, I can probably guess what your other password choices would be. Are you using a combination of upper, lower, numbers and special characters with a minimum of 8 characters?

I know we all want to be good neighbors but I would think super,extra hard about this one.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Maybe I am overly security conscious but I never, never, never share any of my network passwords for the following reasons.

Most people use 1 password for all of their accounts, if you are like 80% of the population then giving her that one password leaves open a lot of your other stuff. Not saying that this is you but it very common.

Most passwords are not secure enough to prevent hacking or even guessing. If I have enough information about one password and I am your neighbor with knowledge of you and your family, I can probably guess what your other password choices would be. Are you using a combination of upper, lower, numbers and special characters with a minimum of 8 characters?

I know we all want to be good neighbors but I would think super,extra hard about this one.

I'm with you!

There are other options.

 

[a1tinkfans]

let them on my secure wireless system for a while..... till they get their fixed...
daughter just got an ipod touch for christmas and is totally bummed she can't download itunes and use it,,,,

shes coming over later with her laptop asked if I'd program sercuritycode
.... is it okay to do?? anything illegal about it? can they see what I am doing on my computer.....etc....

UH, NO, but thats me....I am a small business owner and would never allow it!

 

[n2mm]

Depends on your relationship too! First as others have mentioned, be prepared to change your password or your neighbor will have access to your wireless forever. Also I always ask myself, would this neighbor do this for me if the roles were reversed? I've known my neighbors for over 25 years and while I would do this for several neighbors, I wouldn't for a few others. Just recently I realized that a neighbor who would not give us the time of day was using my wireless because I was just too busy to assign a password to it, so it was unsecured. After it appeared that they were using it on a continuing basis (about 2 weeks) and never even asked, I sat down and figured out how to password protect it and took care of that. It appears that once you put your password into their laptop, it will remember it. I'm not the most savy computer person by no means.

 

[SandrA9810]

If it's a friend, I'd do it. Nothing wrong with being nice about it. Although if she got a lot money in Itune cards, and is downloading heavily, it might affect your speed in what you're doing. Like watching netflix, youtube, or playing video games on the net. If you just set aside that time for just a few hours tonight, and just web browse you shouldn't have any problems.

Is this an ongoing problem with the neighbors connection?? Or did it just poop out at the best time of the year? Or is their connection speed so slow, they want to use yours?

 

[njcarita]

Is this an ongoing problem with the neighbors connection?? Or did it just poop out at the best time of the year? Or is their connection speed so slow, they want to use yours?

no I know she had a problem with her internet company a few months ago... and got upset and cancelled it....
she has been using others unsecured wireless since.... and has mentioned a few times that our shows up secure...

I am 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.... or if i even can change it or will need to contact internet provider???

I let my neighbor know that it was a no go for 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....

 

[msmayor]

no I know she had a problem with her internet company a few months ago... and got upset and cancelled it....
she has been using others unsecured wireless since.... and has mentioned a few times that our shows up secure...

I am 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.... or if i even can change it or will need to contact internet provider???

I let my neighbor know that it was a no go for 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....

That's pretty different than just 'my neighbor's internet is down'.

That's really "My neighbor doesn't want to pay to get hers back up and running and wants to mooch mine."

I would decline. You have no idea what the child, or anyone else in that house that will now have access to your signal, is downloading. YOUR IP address will show up as the user, and heaven forbid its anything that causes a problem.

I'd politely decline and say "I'm sorry, but our router simply isn't strong enough to handle a good signal at that distance."

 

[karice2]

no I know she had a problem with her internet company a few months ago... and got upset and cancelled it....
she has been using others unsecured wireless since.... and has mentioned a few times that our shows up secure...

Maybe it is the cynic in me but it sounds like this would not just be a short term, can I use your network. It sounds like she wants to use your wireless service for her personal use. If she doesn't have service and have been relying on others unsecure network, then it will not be fixed unless she gets internet herself or someone else's network opens again. This gives me a little bit more heartburn. Since you are not a tech person, it sounds like neighbor may be trying to take advantage.

there are ways that you could protect your network but you would have to change administration privileges and a host of other stuff. Not really worth it to me.

I am 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.... or if i even can change it or will need to contact internet provider???

Your password for your wireless network is set up with your router. Did your Internet provider set it up or did you do it yourself? If you did it yourself then they probably don't have your password.

 

[21yankees]

no I know she had a problem with her internet company a few months ago... and got upset and cancelled it....
she has been using others unsecured wireless since.... and has mentioned a few times that our shows up secure...

I am 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.... or if i even can change it or will need to contact internet provider???

I let my neighbor know that it was a no go for 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....

Sounds like to me they've been 'leeching' from other neighbors maybe they were caught. Also looks like they have no intention on getting internet if they cancelled a few months ago.

I'd keep it at no go.

 

[torinsmom]

Can't she sign into HER Itunes account on your computer and download the songs that way? I would not give out the password. Like someone said, anything they do that is illegal(like illegal sharing of music) would show up as linked to your network. They just need to buck up and get their own service.

 

[dodukes]

iknow you posted on the other board and i was all for it but after reading your update here, i would decline as well. thats not just the internet is down, thats more like i want free internet!...forget it. tell them you dont know it or cant find it.