Would my neighbour sharing my internet use intefere with my useage?

Conor_3

It'll work but if you're both using it at the same time, you'll get up to a 50% performance hit or if they're doing a download/streaming video and using most of the bandwidth it could result in it being barely usable for you.

Also as she's on the same network, if she gets a virus that propogates over a network, you could potentially end up with it as well.

It's not good money saving as tomstickland has suggested because it opens you up to a lot of risk and also ending up paying for it but getting the bum end of the deal.

tomstickland

It's good moneysaving for the neighbour!
I don't use wireless myself.
If I had a neighbour who seems OK then I'd be prepared for a 50-50 cost share on a connection. I run a decent firewall, anti virus etc.

The main problem I'd forsee was if they became a keen downloader of big files or file sharing. If they're just looking at webpages then can't see a problem.

Regarding legal issues, I can't see the problem if it's not you. You just explain that other people have access to the connection. Do the ISP tell you that you have to enable encryption.

Anyway, it's up the OP to decide, but I do think that being scared of every possible problem is maybe a bit too pessimistic.

DatabaseError

ignore the virus warning, you seem to have no intention of networking the pcs, just sharing a modem, so long as you have antivirus and firewall (you have?) everything should be ok so long as you don't have a low capped service, even streaming video etc should be fine, i have a home network with a teen daughter and 3 other pcs and can stream whenever..
my biggest worry would be liability if your neighbour does something dodgy...

DrFluffy

Don't do it - who knows what your neighbour will do under your name...

tomstickland

OK, check the T&C and see if it holds the account holder responsible. There are 1000s of unencrypted connections out there.
I might go and see if I can find any media reports concerning someone downloading illegally on someone elses connection.

Personally I think too many people are too worried about every possibility. If it was me I'd work on the principle that the neighbour is going to be alright, and if anything did happen, sort it out then.

Lakeuk

I personally wouldn't no matter how ok the neighbour was - too much risk:-

• Very likely to be against your providers T&C's
• You could incure extra costs if your bandwidth is excided - even if you have a unlimited account, most providers have a unwritten fair use policy - if you go over who is going to pay, how do you prove whos used the extra, your provider may cripple your service or cut you off
• Any calls from the boys in blue because of something illegal downloaded from internet will be down to you to prove, just saying it must be the neighbour as they have access if not going to cut the mustard at least to start with. (watch the bbc programme on identify theft for a really case example - it was hell for these victims)
• I expect you'd secure the access, what is to stop the neighbour passing the secure access details to someone else - family member, another neighbour.
• You'll need to keep you connection on all day, not good for electicity and maintaining the life of your modem

totalsolutions

Its ok. BT allow it, if you are with BT of course.
Let them use it, try it for a week or two, then you will forget about it.

>You could incure extra costs if your bandwidth is excided.
Nah they will inform you first

>You'll need to keep you connection on all day, not good for electicity and maintaining the life of your modem
What rot leave it on!

gardner1

no no no no no no no no no no no

jaydeeuk1

If your main concern is impact on speed, you can actually limit the speed that your neighbour downloads at (useful when you need speed for certain applications), and you can even block access to certain programmes but allow yourself access.
If your neighbour uses bittorrent or similar, or even programmes like sky on demand, iplayer, it will cause slowdown in your connection.
I doubt the free router you get from isps give you the options to do this, but for less than £40 you can get routers that can block certain websites/applications, restrict traffic, and generally give you protection...

BexTech

I wouldn't do it.

I'd make sure you set up security on your connection, so only you can access wirelessly.