Should I Have Shared My Wi-Fi? A Cautionary Tale of Neighborly Generosity

Recently, I found myself in a bit of a predicament that I believe serves as a cautionary tale for others. In a moment of neighborly kindness, I allowed a teenager who recently moved in next door to connect to my home Wi-Fi. At the time, it felt like a generous act of goodwill; however, upon further reflection, I have begun to question whether I made the right decision.

The Backstory

A bit of context: A 15-year-old boy moved in with his grandparents just a few days ago. It seems his grandfather didn’t hold internet access in high regard, opting instead for the most budget-friendly options. Last year, I had the good fortune of having fiber internet installed, which provides an unlimited 50 Mbps connection. The teenager expressed a desire to offer me compensation for using the Wi-Fi, but I declined and simply requested that he use it responsibly and refrain from any unlawful activities.

While my intentions were noble, I quickly realized that I inadvertently granted him access to all the devices linked to my home network. Reflecting on my own teenage years, when mischievous antics facilitated by various Software often led to technological chaos—like the infamous “wack a mole” program—I began to feel a wave of anxiety. What might he do now with this access?

Addressing the Dilemma

Given that the situation seemed a bit precarious, I knew I had to take steps to isolate his online activities from my own. I’ve heard about a method called wireless isolation but didn’t grasp its full implications. Then it struck me: why not create a separate, secure network just for him?

A Proposed Solution

One potential solution I considered was utilizing a spare router I have lying around. By hardwiring it to my existing network and placing it strategically in my window for optimal signal, I could establish a distinct subnet. This would segment his internet access from my home network. Having full control over the configuration means I can manage what he can and cannot access.

Currently, my setup runs off a Bell Home hub 3000, which connects to a Netgear Nighthawk R7000 router that’s been flashed with DD-WRT. This setup gives me advanced configuration options, but I am still unsure how robust this isolation would be against potential vulnerabilities.

Seeking Guidance

Now, I’m reaching out to the tech-savvy community for advice. What