I just moved into a student dorm for a semester abroad, and beforehand I emailed them asking whether they had ethernet ports to plug my router into (I use it to connect all my devices, and for WiVRn VR streaming). They confirmed that I could, but now that I’m here the wifi login portal is asking me to accept these terms from the ISP, which forbid plugging in a router. There’s another clause that forbids “Disruptive Devices” entirely, defined as:

“Disruptive Device” means any device that prevents or interferes with our provision of the 4Wireless to other customers (such as a wireless access point such as wireless routers) or any other device used by you in breach of the Acceptable Use Policy;

So what are my options? I don’t think I can use this service without accepting the terms, but also I was told by the student dorm support that I could bring a router, which contradicts this.

  • pivot_root@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    14
    ·
    28 days ago

    Turn off SSID broadcasting entirely. Hidden networks require more technical expertise to discover than most people have.

    The ISP techs will still be able to find it, but there’s little reason for them to go looking when nothing seems out of the ordinary.

    • DannyBoy@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      28 days ago

      This is what I was going to recommend. Worse case scenario the internet gets shut off and he has to email somebody and say he won’t do it again. Most likely that nobody will notice or care.