Network securtity

[krazykarl]

I recently got into an argument with a roomate of mine over control of the router.

Basically, we all share an internet connection, and split the cost, but the router and all the networking equitpment belongs to me.

The guy thinks that just because he pays an equal share of the internet bill connection (1/4), he should be able to have access to the router and its settings. Basically, I told him he can go to he**, nobody is allowed access to my router but me, and if changes need to be made, only I will make them.

Does anyone else have experiance with sharing thier net connection with roomates?

[Spiff]

Well, you could always just back up your settings incase he breaks anything. I'll likely be in the same situation in a few months and i happen to have a friend who is the "i know best" type when it comes to computers.

What changes does he want to make anyway? It seems a pretty odd issue as to why he would even want access, or is it the principle of having one person being able to dictate access to the internet at will?

[Mímirswell]

I recently got into an argument with a roomate of mine over control of the router.

Basically, we all share an internet connection, and split the cost, but the router and all the networking equitpment belongs to me.

The guy thinks that just because he pays an equal share of the internet bill connection (1/4), he should be able to have access to the router and its settings. Basically, I told him he can go to he**, nobody is allowed access to my router but me, and if changes need to be made, only I will make them.

Does anyone else have experiance with sharing thier net connection with roomates?

What does he want to do exactly?

Setting up a few ports for port forwarding is probably acceptable. Changing it to DMZ I would definately prevent.

[Incinerate_IV]

If I were you I would just let him do his thing, its only a router. The worst that can happen is he messes up and no internet but all you need to do is to reset the thing.

[Otherdude]

If he needs to make a small change to port forwarding or something, log in and do it for him. No need to be a strickler about that kind of stuff for a home network. But he doesn't need to have access to it if it's your equipment.
But like someone else said, in a worst case scenario you just reset the thing to default settings.

[krazykarl]

The main issue, was he wanted to change the routers MAC, in order to get a new IP from the ISP. To me, there is no reason to do this, (personally i think he got banned from somewhere). Changeing the IP is not really a big deal, but changing the MAC is. (Note, my ISP's cable modems lock to a specific MAC address, wherein if you change the MAC, you have to call the ISP to get them to release the MAC lock on the modem)

[Otherdude]

MAC addresses are hardcoded in the hardware and can't be changed like an IP can be changed. The only way to change a MAC is to spoof it, and most routers don't come with that capability by default. There are ways to flash a router with other software, but if it's your hardware and you don't trust it, don't let him do it.

And if I'm not mistaken, your cable modem itself will be the determining hardware factor in what IP you get assigned from your ISP, so changes to the router would accomplish nothing. I always hide my router when having the cable company come out for installs because they like to charge extra if they find more computers. When they leave, I just disconnect everything and hook it up the way it should be.