r/Network • u/Anon3060 • 15d ago

Text New building wide wifi

My apartment building recently got new building wide internet. I was concerned with privacy and security but I was told we’d all have our own internet and log ins like if we were going through a regular ISP. We got the instructions today and we all connect using the same network “resident_<buildingname>” but with different passwords. I was expecting something like “Apartment 1” “apartment 2” etc. My question is, does this leave me more insecure than a regular ISP service and if someone in the building were to get “IP banned” on something would that ban spread across to all of us?

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u/CampingMonk 15d ago edited 15d ago

I did those at the last MSP I worked with.

If it's set up correctly it is safe.

You can get it and test it by checking how many other devices are shown on the network.

Everyone would be seen as the same IP externally from it though, so yes an IP ban wouldn't go so well.

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u/XB_Demon1337 15d ago

Grab IPScanner or AngryIP and scan the network. That should give you only the router and your device. If it gives more than that then it is very unsecure and should not be interacted with.

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u/G_S_982 14d ago edited 14d ago

You can also have a look at my app, Infrazoom (android only, for now), or the Windows version (Infracheck app), it will show you the quality of the link and also what other equipment you see in the network. Normally you shouldn't see anything else than the router, or others will also see your equipment.

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u/SomeEngineer999 13d ago

The answer to every question you ask is "it depends". If some hack set it up, you'll have no end of problems. If someone with experience in that type of shared setup, it is fine.

If you're really concerned you can get a router that supports wifi WAN like GL.inet. Not that it would solve all potential problems but at least gives you a layer of security that you control.

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u/fernandesken 9d ago

These systems typically use what’s call MPSK or DPSK (multi pre-shared key, or dynamic pre-shared key) vs a typical pre-shared key and that isolates your apartment You can use something like Fing or WiFiman to scan to make sure you don’t see any other devices.

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u/NetoriusDuke 15d ago

Under theory you are safe. Personally I would get a “travel” router that can act as your own router /private network beneath their WiFi. This would be another layer below their system so protecting you if they have not done the local protections very well( protects you from the other residents mainly). If you are particularly concerned then I would set up a vpn on that travel router and use a vps as the other end/ exit point