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The thought of saying “no” when someone innocently asks to connect to your router may seem rude… but it can have consequences.
Lending your Wi-Fi password to a friend or neighbor is relatively common, but there are some risks you should be aware of before doing so.
Potential dangers range from the individual accessing illegal websites under your IP address to spreading malware to your devices.
Here are 10 reasons why you’ll think twice about sharing your Wi-Fi password with friends.
A friend may choose to illegally download a movie or TV series into your home so as not to put themselves in danger
Illegal downloads
One of the more likely events is that someone you give your Wi-Fi password to will use it for nefarious purposes.
If someone else uses your internet connection to download illegal content, it will leave an online trail to your router.
A friend may choose to illegally download a movie or TV series into your home so as not to put themselves in danger.
You may receive a large fine in the mail or the authorities may visit you.
Malware can spread
You may share your password with someone you trust completely and who you know will never take advantage of your kindness.
But even a trusted friend or family member connecting to your network can still spell disaster.
Malware often runs in the background, meaning the person may be completely unaware of the infection when they connect.
If a device, such as a smartphone, is infected with malware and connects to your Wi-Fi, it can attack your own device computers, phones and tablets as it spreads.
Malware often works in the background, meaning the person may not be aware of the infection at all when they connect
They can use all your data
Almost all broadband providers offer unlimited downloads and no data caps, so you may not think this will affect you.
However, most unlimited packages are known as ‘standard unlimited’ or ‘true unlimited’.
Standard unlimited packages may have restrictions such as traffic management and fair use policies.
If you hand out your password to someone who makes very large and regular downloads, your ISP may say you’re violating the fair use policy. They can slow down your connection speed and, in severe cases, terminate your connection.
Users can see connections
By letting someone connect to your Wi-Fi network, you are essentially giving someone access to a system where data comes in and goes out.
A tech-savvy person could use free computer programs to scan your network, which will provide a list of every device currently connected.
Can cause your IP to be blocked from websites
Internet users on your Wi-Fi still can’t give you a hard time, even if they don’t engage in illegal activities.
Certain websites, including social media and online games, may issue IP bans to users who have violated their terms of service or cheated.
This means that access to the specific website will be blocked for anyone on the same Wi-Fi – not just their specific account.
The bans are not always permanent and you can change your IP address.
Certain websites, including social media and online games, may issue IP bans to users who have violated their terms of service or cheated.
They can use your password
Wi-Fi passwords are notoriously hard to remember, full of random numbers and odd capital letters.
Many people stick the password on their refrigerator or save it as a photo on their phone.
But some choose to rename their password to something they can remember – another password they already use. As a result, there is a risk that someone will gain access to your accounts.
They can eat up all the bandwidth
Bandwidth is the amount of data that can be transferred from your router to your devices at any given time – or the speed of your internet.
The median average internet speed in the UK is around 50 Mbps, which can handle around two to three normal quality video streams and some additional online browsing.
If you’re watching a movie in 4K, but your friend or neighbor is downloading large files and playing an online game, things may be slow.
Perform illegal activities online
Online activity on your Wi-Fi can be traced back to you, including actions that break the law without visiting illegal websites.
Bullying, trolling and hate speech are common online and authorities are responding to reports.
When trolling is done through an anonymous account, the profile can be traced back to the IP address.
If your friend engages in online activities on your Wi-Fi that affect the real world, you may find yourself being visited by the police.
If you live in an apartment building or an area with a high number of possible Wi-Fi connections, handing out your password can cause problems.
They can use other devices on the network
While less serious than some of the other potential actions, someone using your devices over your Wi-Fi can be frustrating.
Many people have devices such as printers, an Amazon Alexa, speakers, and even hard drives connected to their internet.
It allows users to control aspects of their home from their phone, but by sharing your Wi-Fi password you may be letting others use these devices.
It may be accidental, but you’d probably get annoyed if a song you were listening to over a Wi-Fi speaker was interrupted by your neighbors’ tunes.
They can share your password
If you live in an apartment building or an area with a high number of possible Wi-Fi connections, handing out your password can cause problems.
If you share the password with one person, they can then share it with multiple others, increasing the likelihood of illegal activity through your IP address.
A trusted neighbor might not be abusing your Wi-Fi, but a person you don’t know might see it as an opportunity.