Comments on: Need a Connection? Sorry, This Is MyFi

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 14:06:20 +0000

You pay for it, you decide who can use it. I don’t take mine out of my pocket to avoid this very situation.

By: Lee

Lee — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 20:22:19 +0000

Agree with Deb. Padlock Means No. Being in a busy place full of strangers I would expect more people to try hack it than actually ask for it. I like the idea of sharing with friendly colleagues, but exactly how much do you trust them? Once you give them your password, would you feel comfortable with them being able to use it again, behind your back, so to speak? Thought not ;-)

By: Deb

Deb — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 18:26:05 +0000

I am with you on this one. I agree that there are risks and I am not inclined to share something that would give a stranger usernames and passwords to connect. It was almost rude for that person to ask.

By: Krishna

Krishna — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 06:15:52 +0000

you did the right thing Stacey. one should never allow strangers to access his/her wifi (or myfi :P). That is a potential security risk. If i were asked to share my mifi, i would tell that person to buzz off. Never share your personal network with any stranger.

By: Carl Williams

Carl Williams — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:04:24 +0000

Hmm. Y’see all those terrified and pointlessly aggressive “no way, you moron!” type responses. They’re the reason you shouldn’t share. Y’see the ones who feel it’s a judgment call and that by and large your fellow man ain’t so bad? They’re the reason it could well be OK to share.

I’d share, if I trusted the other person. If you believe everyone’s out to get you, and/or you’re a lousy judge of character, then you probably shouldn’t, for all the technical reasons outlined.

On the other side of the coin, those of you who do “borrow” open WiFi, or use free internet proxies, presumably you’re all aware that this thing cuts two ways – the person providing these free services could, of course, be logging everything you do.

By: surly

surly — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 03:29:38 +0000

Letting other’s especially a stranger leech your wifi is very risky. Your putting yourself at risk of man in the middle attacks that allow the other user to monitor your internet usage and harvest your passwords and even bank details. The assumption that it’s ok because you’ll probably never see them again is erroneous too if they get your IP address you could be on the other side of the planet and they can still attack your machine. Give any half decent hacker enough time and access and you will get OWNED!

By: Vicki

Vicki — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 23:41:27 +0000

It's a simple equation:

If you didn't pay for it, it's not yours. If you share with others that don't pay it drives the cost up for everyone else.

By: Steven

Steven — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 20:33:13 +0000

I would of declined as well. Personally I’m not interested in sharing my access passwords with a stranger even if the odds say we’ll never pass within 30 ft of each other again.
I probably would of “white lied” an explanation such as “I’m sorry this is a business account and they monitor my use.”

By: Lost Sheep

Lost Sheep — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 11:34:41 +0000

With all due respect. Granted all the security, bandwith, other issues that MAY crop up... But, is it that hard to help another fella?

It would take just a couple of minutes to chat with the guy to confirm his needs and reasons to piggyback on your mifi.

If you are that concerned.. ask him to pay and watch him over his shoulder if you must.

Sorry to disagree. Just believe that no good deeds are unrewarded. Thank you.

By: Gerry D

Gerry D — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 02:46:30 +0000

As we say in Philly, ya done good.
Chances are he wasn’t a hacker or he’d be using it already.
But you still did good.

By: jebbyleans

jebbyleans — Fri, 14 May 2010 06:53:40 +0000

The potential piggybacker had every right to ask and you had every right to say either yes or no. No biggie.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 01 May 2010 12:39:02 +0000

Because the MiFi only connects to your computer/other device via WiFi. Look at the name for Heaven's sake.

By: ST

ST — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 15:54:53 +0000

This isnt about money….are you retarded or maybe still in kindergarten? There were a lot of things in kindergarten that aren’t applicable as adults with responsibilities. Do you still hold hands with classmates when you cross the street? That logic is like saying you should share your toothbrush w someone because its unlikely you will get whatever germs they have and besides they could just steal your toothbrush anyway… would you share a soda with a stranger? its not about money, its not about “making everyone pay their fair share” Its just not something you share. period. Idiots like you are the ones who end up trusting things they shouldn’t with strangers, and then cry when something bad happens that the government should have protected them. Congrats you picked the oldest scapegoat in the book. the rich. Way to really challenge yourself in this debate. You noble fool.

By: PF

PF — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 02:41:52 +0000

You absolutely did the right thing - I think the guy had a lot of nerve asking to piggyback on your network. You don't know who people really are anywhere so I would have done exactly what you did. Bravo for you for saying no.

By: eden

eden — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 18:26:57 +0000

I am surprised that nobody (including Bruce SCHNEIER in his article, mentioned above) seems to have mentioned actually being burned by sharing. I had a naive housemate with whom i shared my network. When her computer got a worm, which was using all the bandwidth in the house, 24/7, spreading virus-laden emails to the world, she got mad at me for telling her to clean up her machine! My ISP shut us down, which meant MY business was off-the-air!

No, it wasn't rude to ask, and no, it wasn't rude to turn him down. I have bought food for strangers on the street. A computer wielding stranger at an airport is not in need of anyone's charity.

ps Ignoring the assumptions, i also enjoyed the humour in the posting with double entendres.

By: Danni

Danni — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 07:11:39 +0000

Well, I would share...BUT I would make sure that its logged and I would let the person know that beforehand. Then he/she could decide if they still liked to 'borrow' the connection.

Again, of course Im pretty good at evaluating people if they can be trusted or not. So of course if someone looks or sounds like one of a less reputable 'species'...I would say NO.

So its something I would decide from case to case. Logging is a must though...