Is it safe when your ISP uses a router as a hotspot?

You must also allow other ISP users to use your router as a hotspot. But can people slow down the Internet while using it or worse, use it for malicious purposes?

Over the years, Internet service providers (ISPs) have implemented a special service for their customers. If you use a router provided by your ISP, it will also act as a hotspot (access point) that other customers can use for free.

Non-customers can purchase Internet time and use the router as a regular hotspot.

In return, you must also allow other ISP users to use your router as a hotspot. But can people slow down the Internet while using it or worse, use it for malicious purposes?

Can people snoop on your WiFi?

With strangers connected to the router, are you sure they won't pry your traffic? While it is true that people are connecting to the router via a hotspot, that doesn't mean they are using your personal network.

Advanced routers are capable of broadcasting more than one network. When the router is in hotspot mode, it broadcasts two networks at the same time: Private network and hotspot network. When scanning WiFi signals, you will see two SSIDs: Your personal name and the common hotspot name.

Despite being two separate networks, both come from your router. Only your private network has separated from the hotspot traffic. Thus, when people use hotspots on routers, they will not share the same network with your private network. They will not be able to access computers and devices on the private network, so no need to worry.

Can people use up your bandwidth?

Even if other users are using a different network from you, it is true that all connections are on the same path from your home to the ISP. This not only means that other users share your bandwidth, but also that those users use whatever data limits you have.

Is it safe when your ISP uses a router as a hotspot? Picture 1 — The ISP can separate traffic you create from traffic created by others

First of all, the ISP can separate the traffic you generate from traffic created by others. Thus, even if someone uses hotspot to download files, it does not count towards your data limit.

However, bandwidth is a different story. The connection between the router and the ISP doesn't magically double the bandwidth just because the router has two networks!

ISPs acknowledge this and they think your own traffic will take precedence over hotspot traffic. Basically, if someone is downloading files using a hotspot and you start watching movies on Netflix, the ISP will prioritize your movie and reduce the download speed of the hotspot user.

As such, technically, you won't feel any difference while using your own network. However, if you are not sure, you should turn off this feature to get enough bandwidth for yourself.

What about downloading illegal content?

Is it safe when your ISP uses a router as a hotspot? Picture 2 — People who connect to hotspots require an account to use it

People who connect to hotspots require an account to use it. This is an account that is associated with the ISP for free use or created so that users can load the Internet usage time purchased on it. As such, all traffic from that account is tied to that person's personal data.

Therefore, if someone uses your hotspot with an illegal intent, their traffic will not be assigned to you. Instead, the survey will lead to the account where the user used the hotspot in the first place.