What Problems Would there Be Using A Neighbours Wireless Broadband Connection

fleetingmind

I'm soon to get a lap top to enable me to work from home. I log onto my work desktop using 'remote desktop' using an IP address and then logging in as usual.

My neighbour who is self employed in IT has wireless broadband and is super super fast (So he tells me) he said I could use it if I wanted to.

My worry is can he: -

1. tell when I am using it
2. how safe (Could he access my work desktop)
3. Can he see or access stuff on my computer and the stuff I look at on the internet

Many thanks for any help.

superscaper

If it's with his permission (illegal without) then I'd be worried about security. If it is unencrypted then ANYONE can intercept the infomation being transmitted as well as your neighbour. And yes he'll easily see when you are connected.

irnbru_2

fleetingmind wrote: »

1. tell when I am using it

Yes.

fleetingmind wrote: »

2. how safe (Could he access my work desktop)

In theory, yes. You would be subject to a Man In the Middle attack.

fleetingmind wrote: »

3. Can he see or access stuff on my computer and the stuff I look at on the internet

WinXP is not my area of expertise but unless you open shares or run servers then no.

This might be of interest if you want to secure the connection.

I'd get written authorisation to use your neighbour's wireless network.

Your neighbour should limit you to accessing certain ports and check they're not breaching their ISP's terms.

Sharifa_2

If you're doing this on behalf of an employer, aren't they going to pay for your broadband?

thebroker1980

What type of VPN are you using......?
why don't you purchase a broadband package, they range from around £10 - £30 nowadays so not very much to pay for something that will be used regular, and will also minimise the amount of data that is centrally
Accessible from your home computer..

Yes your neighbour will be able to see your user history..
And it's not very safe

________________________________________________________________

Steve
Don’t forget JK Rowling 7th instalment Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is out on the 21st July……

sco0ter

Depending on software and router he would be able to have logs of everytime you log on as well as everything you have looked at or downloaded from the web. He would also be able to restrict access for certain ports/programmes and monitor your total usage and bandwidth (time on line and download upload limit).

As for speed.. It might be super fast for him but depending on router distance you could be restricted to dial up speeds or frequent loss of connection.

Conor_3

fleetingmind wrote: »

I'm soon to get a lap top to enable me to work from home. I log onto my work desktop using 'remote desktop' using an IP address and then logging in as usual.

My neighbour who is self employed in IT has wireless broadband and is super super fast (So he tells me) he said I could use it if I wanted to.

My worry is can he: -

1. tell when I am using it
2. how safe (Could he access my work desktop)
3. Can he see or access stuff on my computer and the stuff I look at on the internet

Many thanks for any help.

1) Yes. The DHCP table on his router would tell him.
2) If you have File and Printer Sharing enabled, he can access anything shared on there. He "could" hack into it but I doubt he'll be bothered.
3) See 2). Also if he has his router set up to do logging, he could see what you've visited.

miss_not_alotofmoneypenny

If your computer is set-up for network shares and has the defaut workgroup name, he may be able to access any shared folders which you have on share. If he's using WEP or unsecured then it's unsafe. Also depending on the router type/model/ weather or not it has modified firmware. If he knew what he was doing he could technically sniff all your traffic which means he would be able to see EVERYTHING you browsed, downloaded, emails Etc, unless you use special encrypted services, (like hushmail for email for example) Connections on the VPN he might not be able to see what your doing on that depending if it's encrypted login, what type of encrytion is used for login and if it's using very secure tunneling.

He could also change the DNS server on the router to one on the a local machine and poison it.

I would get my own connection , and use wpa2 if using wireless. WEP is like having a unsecured network.

zpacey

oh my God! I didn't know it was illegal, I cancelled my broadband but I realised that could still use my wireless, I think it's from one of my neighbours but didn't know how harmful it could be until I read this thread. I have deleted all my history and will reconnect my own broadband. Many thanks, what a fool I've been!!!