Hi

I'm not very 'techie' (no facebook, twitter, downloads etc etc) but have to admit that the internet has become so pervasive that I need to have access at home. I use it for email, the web for info and buying stuff, Skype and now for streaming TV. Hardly anything else.

I finally succumbed and bought a smartphone last month, but haven't put my email on it, as frankly I personally don't need to answer mails immediately, don't need immediate access to them and hate typing on the tiny screen keyboard.! Its OK but I don't rave about it either. Clearly a dinosaur!

So whats all this about? Even I need internet at home. But no need to access it all the time.

Many do (apparently) however. I have started taking surreptitious photos of families on holiday spending hours poring over tablets, smartphones etc. Beer/wine on the bar table. Not talking - even headphones on.

I have wifi at my flat in Spain. My neighbours can all see the router, and one asked for my password. They are nice people - but once they have the PW they will probably save it and tell their friends visiting. I found it difficult to say no and gave it to them. I was told that one guy was expecting an important email from his son. (So why were they at home having a drink, sunbathing on the terrace, with no internet? - you could ask). Also they are hardly there, we hardly cross. When away I switch off all power (water, gas etc)

My internet is unlimited so I don't pay any more if they use it. I hope they wont tell other neighbours that I gave it to them.

Should I change the PW..... ?
Should I not give it out again.... ?

Am I being a fuddy duddy - and just give out the PW ? Or should I grow a pair?

Jon

I would NEVER in any circumstances give out ANY password to anyone else, you are asking to be hacked. If they have your router password, then they can also access any other passwords saved on your system. There have been many programmes on UK TV where people have sat outside blocks of apartments, and found WiFis being used with no password, they have then hacked straight into the persons account and printed out all the sensitive info they found, they then confronted the person, and showed them that they had thier bank account details, passport numbers, etc. they then destroyed all the info they had, and helped the person set up their WiFi securely. You have made it so much easier by giving them your 'secure' password. I would be changing it IMMEDIATELY.

I'm not very techy <LOL> Would you give them the PIN number for your bank account or keys to your home?

Giving access to your system is very dangerous. If they use your connection for streaming videos etc you will find you don't have enough bandwidth for you to use.

More worrying if they use it to download illegal stuff it is you who will held responsible.

Now they have access they could give it to others or even change your password and lock you out.

Change your password asap.

As others have said, change your password ASAP

Or get your neighbour to change it for you.

As has been said this leaves you open to all sorts of invasive attacks, the least of which your neighbours could change the password and lock you out of your own internet router. This would give them exclusive use of your system!

Change it as soon as possible, the only bright side of this is you mention turning off all power when not there, this means your router should also be powered down and useless to them as well.

That's not necessarily true. Giving someone access to your WiFi does not necessarily give them access to your router if you change the router password.

It doesn't give them access to other devices on your WiFi network unless you have been foolish enough to allow access.

That said, unless you know exactly what you are doing and can lock down any access then do not share your WiFi. They could be accessing child porn for all you know and that could prove very embarrassing!

Just switch it off (unplug the router) when you are not using it. It will be too difficult for them to know when it is on and they will give up on it.

Yes. immediately.

Absolutely.

No. Be sensible.

change it and still switch it off when you leave

Thanks for all the advice.. its clear what I should do.

I never realised giving the wifi password could open me up to all this. Comes from being a techie dinosaur.... I am certain that my neighbours wont do anything 'bad' with it.. but still I will definitly change it, and when asked will just say no. It is interesting when people ask for a favour - sometimes one feels that giving an explanation why not is necessary. That explanation opens you up to more trouble.. e.g 'Come on - you don't think I would do THAT do you, what sort of person do you think I am?' etc

Do you guys just say no, or do you give an explanation ?

I still don't equate it with giving out my bank PIN, though, but its clear that I could be setting myself up for trouble.

Electricity is always off when we aren't there. So there is no router visible.

Thanks again for all the advice...

Jon

When my neighbour asked if he could tap into my Sky dish I told him he could if he paid half the cost. Surprisingly ........... he lost interest.

Good one