Shared internet

campbell · 22 Feb 2019 at 14:20

Hi clever PC people, looking for some networking advice.

I'm due to move to an apartment in the states that has shared internet and i need security advice.

This is going to need to be a long term solution and would be willing to spend around £250

I'll have access to an ethernet and wifi. Can't ever trust it as users can surly see what other users are doing on the network.

So what would you do? Can I set a router router up a fancy way for all my devices and encrypt all my traffic with a VPN?

Thanks

Biz.Kid09 · 22 Feb 2019 at 14:25

Shared internet in that you will be connecting to the same SSID and you just have an ethernet port in your apartment?

Or there is a line coming into the building but then you get your own router etc?

campbell · 22 Feb 2019 at 14:28

Biz.Kid09 said:
Shared internet in that you will be connecting to the same SSID and you just have an ethernet port in your apartment?

Yup, I will have no access to the router and I will have no option for my own independent internet connection install.

Hyburnate · 22 Feb 2019 at 14:41

Do you have a wired connection at all?

I'd be noping out of there...

edscdk · 22 Feb 2019 at 14:50

put a firewall on your laptop job done, unless you are doing something illegal, are someone who might be targeted for an attack (government official)

chroniclard · 22 Feb 2019 at 14:56

GGizmo · 22 Feb 2019 at 15:25

If you want security, as in you don't want the other people on the network seeing what you're doing, then a VPN installed on each device you use would be good.

hellarda · 22 Feb 2019 at 15:29

If you've got access to a wired connection, and you want the security, then just put your own router in between theirs and your devices. VPN out of the router. You will be behind a double NAT though

Biz.Kid09 · 22 Feb 2019 at 16:12

Yeah your option is just to use VPN then. Either go for one of the commercial providers or if you want, spin up a VM in the cloud and use that.

Armageus · 22 Feb 2019 at 16:42

hellarda said:
If you've got access to a wired connection, and you want the security, then just put your own router in between theirs and your devices. VPN out of the router. You will be behind a double NAT though

Could ask them to put his new router in the DMZ on their router, if it's not being used for anything

#Chri5# · 22 Feb 2019 at 16:52

hellarda said:
If you've got access to a wired connection, and you want the security, then just put your own router in between theirs and your devices. VPN out of the router. You will be behind a double NAT though

That would be my choice as whilst double NAT is a pain, it doesn't involve building management or their IT provider / ISP. OP can then have his/her own network segmented from the rest of the building and their own WiFi off that.

bremen1874 · 22 Feb 2019 at 17:09

Who in their right mind would configure the broadband coming in not to be isolated (both on the wireless and the Ethernet)? It's not like it's difficult to do.

The OP may just be making assumptions based on nothing.

If you connect a device directly to the Ethernet can you actually see other devices on the network?

campbell · 22 Feb 2019 at 19:18

Sorry for late reply, been working.
The reason I'm interested in this is because one time I had a buddy round, logged into the wifi and was able to monitor everything I was doing on my own machine. He sure taught me a lesson and will never happen again.

edscdk said:
put a firewall on your laptop

Firewall I don't think will work. I want to be completely anonymous on their network. And of course nothing illegal, I just don't want anyone violating my privacy.

BowdonUK said:
If you want security, as in you don't want the other people on the network seeing what you're doing, then a VPN installed on each device you use would be good.

Ideally I don't want to use a VPN on every device. I'd rather setup my own access/router and have all my traffic together.

hellarda said:
If you've got access to a wired connection, and you want the security, then just put your own router in between theirs and your devices. VPN out of the router. You will be behind a double NAT though

See I though something like that, but I did'nt think connecting a router to a router will work.

Biz.Kid09 said:
Yeah your option is just to use VPN then. Either go for one of the commercial providers or if you want, spin up a VM in the cloud and use that.

Looks like it, I'm already subscribed to ExpressVPN. Was with torguard but the reduced the speed after 6 months.

Armageus said:
Could ask them to put his new router in the DMZ on their router, if it's not being used for anything

I don't have access to the router and I won't question it further than 'can I have my own connection - no'. It's a 6 apartment block that it serves.

bremen1874 said:
Who in their right mind would configure the broadband coming in not to be isolated (both on the wireless and the Ethernet)? It's not like it's difficult to do.
The OP may just be making assumptions based on nothing.
If you connect a device directly to the Ethernet can you actually see other devices on the network?

Listen internet is a big issue, yes I'm making assumptions but I do want to be prepared. I will need to connect to the network, I'm still in the UK. So if the I cannot see any other devices on the network my connection is isolated? How else would I confirm that?

Thanks

Avalon · 23 Feb 2019 at 20:03

You'd scan the network... either way a lot easier if you establish actual facts and post back, other than that all people can really do is speculate that your future includes a lot of double NAT and people asking you stupid questions/to say certain things because they find them funny, neither is particularly useful or insightful.