IC3

Can two people use the same ISP account that live in different city's?

One of my friends wants me to give him my password so he can use the internet for free...I didn't even have to think about it..The answer was no.

I know I would get caught somehow..I am sure they track stuff like that.

Everything I have tried to explain to him he simply denies and says that it would work and I would not get caught. This is coming from a guy who knows absolutly nothing about computers...Not to mention his computer looks like a freakin commodore 64...It's not, but it's very old.

I am hoping that one of you could (In english not computer terms) tell me why exactly it wouldn't work so I could tell my friend so he will stop bothering me.

He sometimes annoys me because he says that i won't get caught no matter what...But he also has no clue about computers or anything. He thinks that once he has my password he just turns his computer on and everything is good to go.

I have told him that it doesn't work like that but he thinks differently. He is not into computers very much..as you can tell.

Thanks.

Cynthetiq

it's simple... the login and the IP/mac address for the computer will not match or will be logged on at the same time.

If you violate your tems of service, they could deny you more service and you'll have to go elsewhere.

Tell your friend to stop being a cheap bastard and get his own access. There's netzero still....

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Vanquish

The only kind of ISP service I have heard of that allows you to connect from other places is a Business DSL line (I think its from Bell) anyway, my Friend bought a DSL router and now he is able to connect to a PPPoE account that a friend of his fathers has. Both of them live fairly close to each other, but I dont think its the same city.

JStrider

tell him to find someone with an aol account... and to add him to their account... then they should all be able to connect fine...

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Boner

If its just a plain dialup (no AOL, CompuServ crap), they are likely using RADIUS for their authentication.

Here's how it works:

User dials a phone number for their ISP. The call is routed to a NAS, or network access server. The NAS is just a bank of modems with a router built in. It handles the call, hands you an IP, etc. As soon as you connect, your machine sends a username and password. That username/password pair is sent along to the RADIUS server. The RADIUS server then says to allow the user, or deny the user. The RADIUS server can also do accounting, keeping track of how much data was transferred, how long the user was on, the caller ID of the caller, IP address, etc.

It depends on the RADIUS server being used, but most can tell if a particular ID is in use and can deny further logons.

Even if their RADIUS server can't deny multiple logins (which is probably unlikely), they will most likely be collecting accounting data for each session. If they closely audit those records, they will detect multiple sessions for the same account and shut it down if in violation of their TOS.

I used to admin the RADIUS server for a moderate sized ISP in Oklahoma that served 15 or so cities. When I came on board, our configuration didn't allow for us to limit concurrent sessions in some of the smaller cities, but we could see the multiple connections in logs. We had an timed job that went around every 10 minutes looking for "sharers". The script would then kick ALL users using that ID. Tech support would get an email notice and would call the registered account holder and tell them that we have detected that someone may have compromised their password (yeah, right). They'd change it, and usually the problem would go away because they'd tell their buddy that we caught on.

Your friend would probably be suprised at the information ISPs can collect. I kept detailed records for dialup sessions that contained the date/time, IP, caller ID, time online. Almost all ISPs have caching web proxy servers, and those caching proxies can log where client IPs go on the web. Just cross reference the log on the proxy with the RADIUS log, then go look at accounting, and you know Joe Blow likes gay porn. Scary, huh? Our proxies were configured to not log because of these privacy concerns, but do you know if your ISP does the same?

Lastly, if your buddy just wants cheap access, go use 550access.com. $5.50/month, 150 hours. No frills.

Neato

I used to have Century Tel internet, and I'm fairly sure they allowed multiple users in one account. Check your TOS - Terms Of Service - and see what it says about it.
Screw giving him free internet! Make him pay half. LOL.

tekaweni

Yes its most likely the multiple simultaneous sessions in your ISP's logs that would be your problem. Also by law ISP's have to keep those logs for an awful long time. And they have the phone number all connects to your account were made from.

Tell your buddy not to be such a leech!

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MontanaXVI

about the AOL thing could you use a diff screen name at the same time someone is online with one of the others?

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krazykemist

The company I work for is setup to handle things almost like Boner stated. If you are connected and someone else tries to dialup using the same user/pass then they are simply given a 691 Authentication error. A company that we bought out however allowed as many people to use the same user/pass that you wanted but you had a seperate charge for each concurrent usage.

Just start telling him about the "Joys" of AOL how its cheap and easy and Even comes with its own nifty browser

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yotta

If you have a DSL line that includes dialup, he may be able to use dialup. But DO NOT DO THIS. Guess what happens when he does something naughty. You get blamed.

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IC3

Thanks guys..I do have a DSL connection.

I am gonna see him this weekend, I am gonna tell him everything if he asks and if he still pushes about it...I am just gonna tell him "Fuck Off"

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Moskie

I think that's the best (and safest) idea in this thread.

Reese

On my earthlink I cant be logged in at home, and go to a neighbors and connect with same user/pass. I do believe it says somewhere in my TOS that you can log on anywhere but I'd have to recheck... the reason I wouldnt do it is because you wont be able to get on when you want to because he could be using the account. Whatever the reason dont do it.

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