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

[MSSANDRA]

You update changes my answer. I was going to say let them IF you know them very well and totally trust them but it sounds like this is something they knew about before getting their daughter an i-pod for Christmas. I would feel used and would just not start it.

 

[cm8]

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.

I so agree

 

[SandrA9810]

Well if the kid has a laptop, there's Starbucks, mcD's, Borders, Barnes and Noble, Panera Bread, and the list can go on and on of free hot spots.

When my aunt moved, she had AT&T for coverage on everything, but the neighborhood she moved to, only had verizon lines. AT&T was able to lease the lines from Verizon for phone, but not internet. So she had to wait over a month till AT&T finished installing their lines. There were a few secured connections, but I didn't want to ask new neighbors, so I wound up at hot spots.

 

[Kat77]

Well if the kid has a laptop, there's Starbucks, mcD's, Borders, Barnes and Noble, Panera Bread, and the list can go on and on of free hot spots.

When my aunt moved, she had AT&T for coverage on everything, but the neighborhood she moved to, only had verizon lines. AT&T was able to lease the lines from Verizon for phone, but not internet. So she had to wait over a month till AT&T finished installing their lines. There were a few secured connections, but I didn't want to ask new neighbors, so I wound up at hot spots.

There's an app for that! It lists local hotspots.

 

[n2mm]

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.

Yep, it sounds like my neighbor too. Glad I locked her out. I'm sure she's leeching off of others now. OP, now that we know a little more info, it does not sound like a temportary situation, this sounds like long term.

 

[snowy76]

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...

From my laptop I can see all the wireless networks in the neighborhood. That being said, I have no idea which network belongs to which neighbor, so I'd be bothered that neighbor knows which network is yours to begin with. Your network should have a very generic name to it that can't be tied to you personally (ie, you should never have your name on the network).

I'm thinking she's already been through this song and dance with everyone else in the neighborhood and now you're the only one that's left, so she knows the secure network is yours.

Agree with the PPs... Panera's a great place to hang out and download music!

 

[momxx5]

Not sure if suggested already yet but,

I would have her bring over device that she wants to use your internet for. You can add her to your network, without givig away your password and even put blocks on what she can/cannot do. Its just like DH turning the internet on for the boys xBox but has it set to turn off at a certain time each night....black out hours, etc.

It may make you feel better than letting her have your password and next thing you know she SIL is visiting using her laptop. LOL!

 

[WeekdayDisneyland]

Another NO vote here! There are plenty of other places that offer a free internet connection.

 

[disneychrista]

Are you close friends with your neighbors? Or just friendly neighbors?

I would have no problem letting my BFF or parents on my network but I would never let my neighbors. I have access to my parents network, heck I set it up for them.

 

[pigletto]

Yep, it sounds like my neighbor too. Glad I locked her out. I'm sure she's leeching off of others now. OP, now that we know a little more info, it does not sound like a temportary situation, this sounds like long term.

My neighbors daughter said to me once, "We can get your internet so Mom cancelled ours."
Not only that, but when we went to Disney the friend that was coming by to feed my cat said she saw her using the hose at the side of my house to water her front garden

She is a total mooch. We also have lower internet caps here in Canada and with her 3 kids, their 3 computers, and their son who sits on the Xbox all day.. well no wonder I was hitting my limits and my internet was so slow.
I was LIVID.
I bought a new modem and passworded it right away (we had forgotten how to set a password on the old one when we moved here).

Still not sure what to do about the hose other than not leave it out there which is a pain in the butt for us.

Bottom line, after that if they ever asked the answer would be absolutely not.

 

[bwilcox]

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.

You are lucky they weren't downloading something worse, like child porn!
Leaving your network unlocked or letting someone else use it is never a good idea, in my opinion. There are too many things that could go wrong. The teen may do nothing wrong, but there may be people you don't even know about who use your neighbor's computer. I wouldn't do it even if I thought they were completely trustworthy, which in your case, it doesn't seem like they are. Sounds like they only want to get something that you have to pay for, for free.
ETA: I would let her come over and use my computer, but would not let her access my network with her laptop.

 

[cheshireqt]

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....

From an outsider perspective- sounds like a good move, the no go. The fact that she willingly canceled hers some time ago, has been using others wireless for free, yours shows up as secure and wants to use yours...HUGE RED FLAGS popping up all over that! Why can't she continue to use whatever she has been using, or here is a thought, pay for her own service? Why does she need access to your secure internet? I know you state you trust them and are friends but what if something happens that you don't like? Always remember, friends are made by many acts and lost by only one!

 

[seashoreCM]

... when we went to Disney the friend that was coming by to feed my cat said she saw her using the hose at the side of my house to water her front garden .

OT: Turn off the water to the outside spigot by using the valve in the basement just inside the foundation on that pipe line. (Also, if you don't use this spigot in winter, turn off this inside valve in winter and open the outside spigot to keep the latter from freezing.)

I would not share the wireless internet with the neighborhood.

 

[dfchelbay]

Internet is free to patrons at your local public library. Perhaps they should go there to get their freebies.

 

[Mary•Poppins]

Internet is free to patrons at your local public library. Perhaps they should go there to get their freebies.

I agree with this ... or some food/coffee chains. I wouldn't let my neighbor on my internet either. If they were "borrowing" it from another neighbor, I don't think they are planning on getting their own service anymore.

 

[anna08]

Just to add to everyone's awareness about computers - we've had both babysitters and construction/renovators get on OUR computers when we weren't around and surf all kinds of bad stuff. Don't forget to password your computers too for just turning them on. It's unbelievable what people will do...

 

[pandora174]

This is our experience. When we moved to our house the next door neighbors were very friendly. My husband helped them set up their internet & she would bring over baked goods etc.

Well their internet went down & they asked if they could use ours. We have the highspeed DSL. Just until they could get theirs up. Then we started getting complaints, coming over & asking my DH to fix their internet b/c they couldn't get on

Finally after 6 months & a comment that our DSL was too slow. Mind you "we are paying for the DSL" DH cut them off. Oh this is also after they borrowed our hedge trimmer & returned it broken wihout a sorry.

Now we smile & wave hello but no more favors. Lesson learned.

 

[rparmfamily]

We keep ours secure and I have no problem letting good friends use ours in our home but no way I'd let the neighbors, especially in this case!

 

[farmermr]

We have a router that provides for 2 networks, the home network and a "guest" network. I have allowed my family memebers who visit to use the primary network, and have not yet used my guest network. The passcode for the guest network is easily changable (based on the instructions) from only my machine.

 

[talulabelle]

My neighbors connection was down for a few days and I gave them the password to my wireless. They live close enough that they were able to use it from their house. I never even bothered to change the password after...of course I trust these people with anything and everything I own, they have a key to my house for goodness sake. Guess it just depends on the neighbors.