Is it safe to share my internet connection with my neighbor?

Note that you might not hove to buy a second router. For example, our wireless router has built-in support for "guest access". This has a separate SSID (along with separate security and keys), and a separate subnet, and the router keeps the guest part of the connections away from your main network. And you can change the guest access password any time you want, without affecting your main network.

You still have the same issues of them using your ISP's connection, but it makes for a much easier setup.

Those aren't very common (yet) but they do make this scenario much easier indeed.

04-Sep-2011

Just bought a Netgear N600 Dual Band router at WalMart for $79 that allows you to create a guest network.

One other little thing, the legality. I don't think that the ISP wants you to be providing a contractually leased connection to people with whom they do not have a contract. Result, the ISP could remove your service and blackball you with other providers.

my boyfriend has my ip address so he used hid laptop in my home, can he get into my computer from his in another location to spy on me?

The trust actually goes both ways. If you allow your neighbor to share your network, each of you is trusting each of the computers in the other's home -- and any casual user of those computers.

Do they trust you -- and anybody who uses your computer? Do you trust them?

Personal boundaries can be hard to maintain. "Uncle Bob, I just want to check my Facebook account."

@Catherine:
If your BF has access to your wifi, he has access to the other computers on the network. What he might actually see, as Leo said, depends on how you have your network and each PC set up.
Also, there is software available to extend your network, world-wide. He could conceivably,while in range of your wifi, set up a web connection, which is accessible from anywhere. Not likely, but possible. I think what it comes down to is, if you don't trust your BF, change your wifi password.

Hi, I have a need for a similar setup as Leo describes in his reply. You state that "it can be a bit of work to set up correctly" can you elaborate? Your solution would fit my needs, but I am having trouble with the specifics of setting up two Linksys WAG200's. I can either post a new question or supply further info.

Unfortunately "I'm having trouble" doesn't give me any details to go on. Try posting a complete description here. Thanks.

08-Sep-2011

If the neighbors ISP goes down, she should contact them, not ask someone to use their passwords. I would never do that, either ask or let it happen. Maybe she needs to get a better ISP. IMHO

If possible, you should set your router to restrict use to specific macids (specific computers). That would prevent your neighbour from giving access to others. You may also have the option, depending on your router, of restricting internet access to specific times of the day.

I'd encourage you to read this article: Is MAC address filtering a viable wireless security option?

14-Sep-2011

This concerns how to set up a pair of routers, in serial, as described in "is it safe to share my internet connection . .".

I have tried to do this with two Linksys routers (different vintages) to provide an open connection for visitors/parents to a small non-profit school. There is some bit of knowledge I don't have in how to set up the addressing-subnets-address ranges.

Is there a reference somewhere on how to do this? Serial connection of 2 WiFi routers is an elegant solution, except when you can't find a configuration that works.