Question about sharing a router with another tenant

Hello there,

Not sure this is the place for my question but I'll give it a try.

I just rented out this appartment with WIFI included in the rental price. Then I found out that the router is inside an adjacent appartment (because the landlord is also renting out a second appartment).

So, I'm wondering what the implications are here. Can the neighbor intercept the stuff I'm sending/viewing? And could he hack into my PC? How easy would it be for a non-hacker?

My PC has Windows XP Home.

Thanks for any advice.

From:

Hello there,

Not sure this is the place for my question but I'll give it a try.

I just rented out this appartment with WIFI included in the rental price.
Then I found out
that the router is inside an adjacent appartment (because the landlord is
also renting out
a second appartment).

So, I'm wondering what the implications are here. Can the neighbor
intercept the stuff I'm
sending/viewing? And could he hack into my PC? How easy would it be for a
non-hacker?

My PC has Windows XP Home.

Thanks for any advice.

It all depends on HOW the system is setup.

For example an apartment complex could be setup with Fibre to the Premises
(FTTP) and then each apratment uses POTS wiring an VDSL. That's is safe,
private and legal.

A landlord with say a multifamiliy dwelling that is sharing Cable Internet
(Cox, Comcast, Optimum, etc) via WiFi may not be safe nor legal.


--
Dave
Multi-AV Scanning Tool - http://multi-av.thespykiller.co.uk
http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp

| A landlord with say a multifamiliy dwelling that is sharing Cable Internet
| (Cox, Comcast, Optimum, etc) via WiFi may not be safe nor legal.
|

I haven't heard of any legal issues like that. When
a former landlord had cable I checked into that and
found that the TOS used the term "premises", which
refers to a piece of property or building. It's easy
enough to check that out with the provider.

Personally I avoid wireless. There are inherent risks
there. I'm not an expert on the details, but I do know
that at least some of the encryption methods have
been found to have vulnerabilities. On the other hand,
many people allow file sharing, remote desktop software
and various other similar functions that are also unsafe.
I would think that if those things are disabled and
the router is set up with the latest encryption it should
be reasonably safe, but many people don't know enough
to adjust those settings or even set up a password for
wireless access.
It would be interesting to hear an analysis from an expert.

wrote:
Hello there,

Not sure this is the place for my question but I'll give it a try.

I just rented out this appartment with WIFI included in the rental
price. Then I found out that the router is inside an adjacent
appartment (because the landlord is also renting out a second
appartment).

So, I'm wondering what the implications are here. Can the neighbor
intercept the stuff I'm sending/viewing? And could he hack into my
PC? How easy would it be for a non-hacker?

My PC has Windows XP Home.

Thanks for any advice.

It sounds similar to a motel or wifi hot spot.
Make sure your firewall is on, admin account is off,
computer is password protected, and it should be just fine.
Yes, your neighbor can intercept your signal and so can someone
out on the street or next door. It's unlikely they will be
able to do anything with the data though.
Yes, he could hack into your computer given enough time
and knowledge. How easy cannot be answered.
The Gov could probably do it in seconds.
My aged aunt would never be able to do it.

From: "Mayayana"

| A landlord with say a multifamiliy dwelling that is sharing Cable
Internet
| (Cox, Comcast, Optimum, etc) via WiFi may not be safe nor legal.
|

I haven't heard of any legal issues like that. When
a former landlord had cable I checked into that and
found that the TOS used the term "premises", which
refers to a piece of property or building. It's easy
enough to check that out with the provider.

Personally I avoid wireless. There are inherent risks
there. I'm not an expert on the details, but I do know
that at least some of the encryption methods have
been found to have vulnerabilities. On the other hand,
many people allow file sharing, remote desktop software
and various other similar functions that are also unsafe.
I would think that if those things are disabled and
the router is set up with the latest encryption it should
be reasonably safe, but many people don't know enough
to adjust those settings or even set up a password for
wireless access.
It would be interesting to hear an analysis from an expert.


The OP has a Canadian email address using a Polish IP. Thus the qualifying
term "may" has been used as jurisdiction, ToS and AUP is diversified
greatly.


--
Dave
Multi-AV Scanning Tool - http://multi-av.thespykiller.co.uk
http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp

| The OP has a Canadian email address using a Polish IP. Thus the
qualifying
| term "may" has been used as jurisdiction, ToS and AUP is diversified
| greatly.
|

Ah! Good sleuthing. That possibility never occurred
to me.