I'm not tech savvy AT ALL. This is OK, right?

[orangeblossom]

I would be uncomfortable, and if you felt like being neighborly, your DH could set up a guest account vs. the main one you use. Then I'd change the main one, and give him the guest one, and change it later. I'm not positive, but that may keep him from doing anything.

The more I think about it, the more trouble all of that would be. What's done is done, but I would not do it in the future.

[konapoppy]

You know where he lives it does suck when you move to not have Internet.

I am not tech savvy and would have done the same thing. I have also learned recently that I assume that my neighbors are honest people, which isn't everyone's first instinct.

H is a tech guy, and my guess is he would have said no.

Do you use the password for anything else? That would be my only concern.

[konapoppy]

Also, is this the new "borrowing a cup of sugar" neighborly thing?

[gibbinator]

I mean, he could look up a bunch of child porn tonight, but then you turn him in if you get busted. Probably he is a normal person, but yeah, I'd change that password tomorrow.

[Deleted]

I think you're fine.

If someone is going to hack you, they wouldn't need your Internet to do it.

Congrats on being a fantastic neighbor that isn't overly paranoid.

[hamster]

Jun 30, 2015 19:01:06 GMT -5 gibbinator said:

I mean, he could look up a bunch of child porn tonight, but then you turn him in if you get busted. Probably he is a normal person, but yeah, I'd change that password tomorrow.

This was totally my first thought.

If I was feeling generous I'd turn off the password for the night, and reset it tomorrow. 

[raangoli]

Why couldn't he go to the nearest Starbucks or panera?

Apparently I'm the worst neighbor.

[krystee]

I would have given it to him without a second thought. I would change the PW in a few days, though.

[Deleted]

Yeah technically I'm sure he could hack in to something important. But I'm not a paranoid person so I would've given the password also. If you're worried, change it in a few days.

[Deleted]

Seriously, if he was a hacker, he wouldn't need your password.

Sounds like he just relocated, doesn't know the area, and asked a neighbor for help.


Sometimes this board is too much. Lol.

[anonymoose]

I think I would have done it, too. BUT I would change the password the next day.

[Mushe]

Yes, he can likely "see" your computers on the network and your files, etc., so I'd at least make sure you're locked down there, but honestly, it's a neighborly thing to do, and I'd do it myself, given my neighborhood, etc. Don't beat yourself up for being nice!

[Deleted]

I would have absolutely done this, unless I got a "creeper" vibe from the neighbor.

Absolutely appreciate being cautious, but being empathetic is good too!

[fbf2006]

I'd have done the same thing. Yes it's good to be cautious but also to be helpful if you didn't get any negative vibe from him.

[kcr1972]

BF recently did the same for a young neighbor. Kid always has people in and out of his apartment but is very polite and friendly. A week or so later the internet was running really crappy. I logged into the router and discovered he was letting everyone who came over log on to the wifi. There were 14 connections. I was PISSED and changed the password immediately. He never asked what happened as I suspect he knows he figured it out.

[gibbinator]

Also I'll freely admit we used to leave our WiFi open at our old apartment and our annoyingly loud neighbours downstairs would use it - we'd see her pc on the network. When they annoyed us we'd unplug the router every 5 minutes to mess with them. Oh to be 22 again

[M]

Jun 30, 2015 19:01:16 GMT -5 @blissoff said:

I think you're fine.

If someone is going to hack you, they wouldn't need your Internet to do it.

Congrats on being a fantastic neighbor that isn't overly paranoid.

I agree.

Before the days of guest accounts, we set up a funny password that people can laugh at. It has to do with our last name so people always get a kick out of it.

I think it was very nice of you to let him have it.

[sunshineluv]

You are being a nice neighbor, I would have done the same.

I mean if he is going to try and steal your info or try to get you implicated in a crime, I am doubting he would ask your password and make you know who did it.

Just like a person who steals your money isn't going to ask you for your ATM pin code.

This board has very active imaginations!

Sure, I would change the password when I thought about it so he doesn't get free wifi forever and slow your connection.

[yentl]

I have actually done this with neighbors, but they were friends of ours. A couple months later we changed our password for some reason that had nothing to do with them. I got a text from her, wouldn't you know that they were STILL using our wifi and had the balls to ask for the new password with some BS about how their internet still wasn't set up because the company was taking forever? I never responded. I was so annoyed.

Anyway, I would still probably do it, but change it the next day. A hacker would probably not knock on your door and ask for your password.

[msmerymac]

Jun 30, 2015 19:29:52 GMT -5 raangoli said:

Why couldn't he go to the nearest Starbucks or panera?

Apparently I'm the worst neighbor.

Depends where she lives. Not everyone has those things, or convenient access to public wi-fi. 

[raangoli]

Jul 1, 2015 8:23:18 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

Jun 30, 2015 19:29:52 GMT -5 raangoli said:

Why couldn't he go to the nearest Starbucks or panera?

Apparently I'm the worst neighbor.

Depends where she lives. Not everyone has those things, or convenient access to public wi-fi. 

I totally get that, but I would still be hesitant to share. Mostly because it's a complex series of numbers and letters that I don't even know

[sadlebred]

As an IT Consultant, I would never do this. You give them access to your home network & all the devices connected to it--including YOUR computer. My home network is locked down as tightly as my corporate one is.

[msmerymac]

Jul 1, 2015 8:25:38 GMT -5 h said:

I would absolutely do this. It's your neighbor. And honestly, if we just moved in and asked a neighbor to do this and they said no, I would think they were a pretty big asshole. I do think just turning off the password for a couple days would probably be best. Or change the password in a few days.

But I also think I may have a different perspective on neighbors than some. I am always kind of amazed at the number of people on here who don't know or are afraid to talk to their neighbors. In my world, neighbors are the people who bring packages in off your porch and water your plants while you are out of town, call you (not animal control) if your dog accidentally gets out, and bring your kids' ball back when it goes over the fence. I would not want to sour that relationship from the start by refusing to let them use my internet for 24 hours.

True. At least 1/3 of the people on this board won't open their front door if someone knocks, because a scary person could be on the other side.

[IrishBelle]

We have unlimited package so this wouldn't be a worry for us but depending on your package and what the neighbour is using the Internet for, you could easily go over your limit.

[StJess80]

"Penny get your own wifi" no spaces.

[raangoli]

Jul 1, 2015 12:04:18 GMT -5 IrishBelle said:

We have unlimited package so this wouldn't be a worry for us but depending on your package and what the neighbour is using the Internet for, you could easily go over your limit.

I had no idea that you could get a data plan with a set amount for home internet use. 

[hurricanedrunk]

I would have shared too in this situation. Thought little of it and changed the password in the next day or two. Sometimes it goes a long way to be neighborly and establish a friendly relationship.

[audette]

Jul 1, 2015 12:26:13 GMT -5 raangoli said:

Jul 1, 2015 12:04:18 GMT -5 IrishBelle said:

We have unlimited package so this wouldn't be a worry for us but depending on your package and what the neighbour is using the Internet for, you could easily go over your limit.

I had no idea that you could get a data plan with a set amount for home internet use. 

Our provider (Mediacom) apparently does this. We haven't come close to the limit on our account, but we have a mid-to-high internet package from them to get sufficient speed for work.  (I WFH)

[Deleted]

Jul 1, 2015 12:59:33 GMT -5 audette said:

Jul 1, 2015 12:26:13 GMT -5 raangoli said:

I had no idea that you could get a data plan with a set amount for home internet use. 

Our provider (Mediacom) apparently does this. We haven't come close to the limit on our account, but we have a mid-to-high internet package from them to get sufficient speed for work.  (I WFH)

Yup. We have the same and have hit the limit a couple of times. I think if it happens infrequently they give you a credit, otherwise it's like an extra $10 for another large amount of data.

We watch Netflix and use our laptops like it's going out of style, so I think the limit is fairly high.

[peachdragon]

My husband is a network engineer (ETA: and somewhat untrusting in general). There is no way he would ever do this.