My neighbor keeps pestering me for my wireless key...(so she can "brouse the internet") security risk???

Question

There are many signals available around us...Why would she insist on getting mine?

Answer 1

Don't let her have it. Just say that you've read too much online about it being a security risk, and if something happened, you wouldn't want to have to blame her first.

Answer 2

2

Answer 3

Are they good neighbors with you? Do you trust them like you trust your own family? If so, then you may want to mention that you pay a pretty steep price for the internet service, and that if she wants to share the cost with you, then perhaps you can arrange to share the service.

Otherwise, you can change your wireless service at home so that it is NOT visible to your neighbors. You can do this by telling the router not to broadcast your SID to the neighborhood.

And I like what another responder indicated. You should mention that with all the dangers that are on the internet and security issues, that you would not feel comfortable having someone that is not your family sharing the service, since any viruses, spyware, and hacking is solely your responsibility right now and you would not want to suspect the neighbor as being the cause of these problems if they ever occurred in the future.

Answer 4

It's not easier to hack into your pc; in theory, it's easier to get hold of the info you're sending to and receiving from the internet by intercepting the communication between you and your router. You can protect yourself by encrypting this stuff with wpa or wep. Your router setup will explain this. In practice, it's unlikely that someone is driving around trying to get hold of your transmitted info. That usually happens to businesses, not people. You don't have much that's profitable. Most commonly, if you don't secure your new network, someone in your neighborhood will leech onto your signal for free. Again, that doesn't usually affect your ability to use the internet, and is preventable. And when you get ready to set up your wireless network, do a search on yahoo answers or google or just read your doc on how to set it up. There is already a ton of info out there.

Answer 5

Never provide the access key (WEP key) to anyone unless you wnat to share your conneciton with someone. For more security, I woudl like to suggest you to set a 128 bit custom WEP key. You can set up that using the wireless router's/modem's set up page or so called GUI page. That woudl protect your wireless conenction from any intrusion even if the person have access to your wireless device.
Thank you.

Answer 6

Yours is probably the strongest signal. Tell her to spend her own money for the service. If you give her the key she could change settings in your system.

Answer 7

Not if you aren't set up to allow sharing, but why are you going to allow her to use yoru bandwidth? Unless she is going to pay you. Also there is always the risk that her antics could get your external IP banned from sites and services. Tell her to buy her own service. Official reply:
"I have been advised not to do that because it violates my TERMS OF SERVICE with my ISP, and I could be cancelled"

No way for her to argue that

Answer 8

Don't let her. All the surfing will be done under your name. You wont have any control. Let her hook up to someone else or buy her own service.

If something happens to your system, ISP you will still be responsible.

Answer 9

because yours may be the strongest or none of the other neighbors has caved and given him their key do not do it why should he surf for free off an account your paying for

Answer 10

Tell your neighbor to buy their own internet service.