My neighbors kid is getting onto the internet through my router to play his ps3. should i do anything?

Question

is he slowing our connection down? could i block him from connecting? (my son also has a ps3)

Answer 1

Yes he is slowing your internet connection down. Encrypt your wireless router. I own a xbox360, and I have it networked to my computer and the internet through the WIFI.

1. Dig up your owner's manual of your internet router and it should have instructions on how to encrypt (Password protected access) your network. If not, call the customer service or tech support, it is usually free 1-800 number and they will lead you through the process. I also found this website that may help. You want to either WEP (standard protect) or WPA (uber protect) your network.
http://www.lifehacker.com/software/wifi/geek-to-live-set-up-a-home-wireless-network-162754.php

2. The only other option (inconvenient) is to remove the wifi antenna, and wire your network, PS3 and all via ethernet cable. (Like I said not very good, but now in order for the brat next door to get it, he has to physically hook a cable into your router).

3. Actually I lied there is one other option. Go next door with a baseball bat and go "TONY SOPRANO" on the kid. (Jusk kidding, don't do that, they'll blame it as another bad "video game violence" thing.)http://bojack.org/images/tonysoprano07.jpg

Lastly please remember your password or access code. I just saw a question posted by some poor soul who wants to know how to unlock his router because he forgot the WEP or WPA codes.

Good luck and happy gaming!

Answer 2

You probably should block access to your wireless router before someone does something illegal (copyright infringement, illegal threats, hacking, etc...) over your connection. I haven't messed with a PS3 but it has to have a MAC (hardware address for the network card) address, which is unique to each card. You can configure your router to only allow access by certain MAC addresses (i.e. your laptop, son's PS3, desktop that uses a wireless adapter, etc...). You could also change the security configuration to not broadcast the ID of your router, change it from the default, and change the encryption level. I don't know though how this affects the PS3 connection but I'm sure you could search Google for assistance in configuring it to use a secured connection.

Your neighbors kid playing online can affect your network speed. Anything he is transferring takes up bandwidth. Whether or not you notice depends on how heavily you are using the network too. If you aren't hitting the max bandwidth, you could certainly share. It really just comes down to whether or not you want to share and take on the risk of the neighbors actions.

Answer 3

The neighbor just needs to get a wireless router and the friend needs a wireless card for his desktop. Range is an issue, he needs to study the range of the wireless router he purchases. Netgear makes some good wireless routers the wireless-N routers likely have the best range when setup to function on wireless-N only. I would recommend getting a Netgear PCI wireless-N card for the desktop, with an antenna cable so the antenna can be moved away from the desktop for best signal. Alternatively, if the neighbor already has a router research to see if it has a repeater feature if so he can buy the same router set it up as a repeater and plug his desktop into the router via Ethernet.

Answer 4

You should definitely do something about this. You are the registered owner of the IP on your router. If you neighbor's kid can get on the router so can anyone else close enough to pick up the signal. If anyone uses your connection for illegal downloading (i.e. music, child porn) your will be the person held accountable. Lock your router down with encryption.

Answer 5

Yes, he's slowing your connection down because he's using part of your bandwidth. You can block him by implementing security on your wireless network. WPA or WEP would be the way to go. Instructions for how to do this will be in your router's manual.

Answer 6

Now that you know, it's a bad idea to not block it. If the neighbor does something illegal, you are mildly responsible. Set up WPA encryption, it is the most secure form of wireless encryption and will keep freeloaders from freeloading.

Don't tell the kids parents, that's lame. What do you expect his parents to do? Technically, it's not stealing or hacking.

Answer 7

First of all, "zachd" must be a kid who is either doing the same thing, or would like to be! ;)

Yes, use a password on your wireless router. That way, without the password, he can't use your router anymore...

There's probably no need to tell his parents unless he goes to further extremes to hack into your router to use it again.

Good luck!

Answer 8

I've heard a lot of good suggestions here like encryption and such, which I think you should definitely do.


But most importantly, you should talk to the kids parents and let them know what's going on. It would be a good way to see what kind of neighbors you've got.

Answer 9

YES he is slowing you down man just secure your network w/ a wep key

Answer 10

Put a WEP key (password) on your wireless connection.