Protecting Your WiFi: A Cautionary Tale

Recently, I made a decision that seemed simple at first but soon left me feeling uneasy. I allowed the neighbor’s teenage son to use our WiFi connection, and after some reflection, I began to question whether this was the wisest choice.

The Situation

A few days ago, a new family moved in next door. The young boy, probably around 15, lives with his grandparents who, unfortunately, opted for a more frugal lifestyle, leaving him without internet access. Given that we recently installed a fiber optic connection with unlimited 50 Mbps upload and download speeds, I thought it would be kind to share our WiFi.

Initially, he offered to compensate me for access, but instead, I requested that he use it responsibly—keeping it clean and abiding by the rules. However, I didn’t fully consider the implications of allowing him access to our network. It occurred to me that giving him the keys to my WiFi is akin to letting him access all the devices connected to it. Reflecting on my own teenage years, I remembered the mischief my friends and I could get up to online, including games like “Wack a Mole,” which thankfully don’t apply to the current situation!

Addressing Security Concerns

Now, I’m left with a dilemma. How can I maintain my network security while being accommodating to the young neighbor? One potential solution that I’ve come across is wireless isolation. This feature could keep his device separate from the rest of my connected equipment, but I need to do more research to understand its effectiveness.

Another idea I had was using a spare router I have lying around. If I set it up specifically for him, connecting it through a wired connection to my main system, I could place it in the window for his convenience. This approach would allow me to create a distinct subnet for his access, potentially limiting his ability to access my other devices, though I’m uncertain about how secure this would make my network overall.

My Equipment Setup

To provide some context, my current setup features a Bell HomeHub 3000 that connects to a Netgear Nighthawk R7000 router, which I’ve flashed with DD-WRT version 3.0. With this configuration, it seems wise to take additional steps to safeguard my home network.

Seeking Solutions

If you’ve had experience managing similar situations or understand the intricacies of network security, I would greatly appreciate any insights you