Could I just plug my old router into our modem without my roommate's Eero notifying him?

VPN
1

So, my roommate controls the Wi-Fi in our apartment, and he recently got an Eero. It sounded like a good idea at first since it can provide notifications when devices connect to the network, etc.

However, I do enjoy my daily dose of adult online content, and he said that it does provide statistics on what kinds of websites are visited, including adult sites. I really don’t like the idea of him knowing when I’m having some “me” time, so I’m exploring options. There are obviously a lot of actions I could take, but my preference is for him to not know why I don’t like the Eero in the system here.

My question for you tech-savvy folks out there is this: can I just plug my old router into the unused port on the modem and log into that router for my personal browsing without him knowing?

2

Where do you find this “reporting”? I’ve never seen a report on what kind of sites were visited by devices.

3

Anything that is between the modem and the gateway eero won’t show up in the eero app.

But won’t he notice another router is plugged into the modem and ask you why?

4

Rather than fooling around with the hardware, which Roomie is likely to notice one way or the other, just use a VPN and there won’t be any thing for Roomie’s eero to track other than you visiting a mysterious IP address, the VPN server. Use the VPN all the time and you can just say “I’m worried about internet security.”

I use Mulvad VPN all the time - inexpensive, fast, no frills, and they keep no logs.

Others suggested setting your devices to use DNS other than the router’s default - that is just generally good advice - do that too.

5

Plug in a router to the open port on the eero. Have the router use Google DNS (8.8.8.8) and that will essentially block all snooping.

6

I think it may be time to move if that’s the type of scrutiny you are under.

7

I’d be on the safest side and use a VPN. The client can be installed on many different products, phones, tablets, computer, and even your TV. Then you don’t need to worry about plugging another router into his eero. Turn on the VPN when needed and surf away.

8

I’d ask your roommate why he wants to track that information. We have eeros and I don’t track that information. Infact, I intentionally turn it off for everyone but my children on my firewall. Because tracking someone you’re with is wierd, tracking a roommate? Psycho wierd.

9

Your simplest solution is to use a vpn. The eero will not be able to gather statistics on any device using a vpn

Edit: what you’re room mate has said is an oversimplification of the analytics it connects. The only way he would know you’re visiting adult sites is if he put content filtering on to prevent access to adult sites. This you would be aware of because the page itself would display an error saying you’ve been blocked from accessing and then your room mate would see how many times a specific kind of content has been blocked but not the website or link itself.

10

Use nextdns and install a profile on your phone it will bypass the eeros DNS and he won’t be able to see what you’re doing.

Source: I had eero for the last few years just moved to unifi.

11

Change the DNS provider on your devices to 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8 and he won’t be able to see anything about what sites you use.

12

If you turn on eero plus you can use content filtering and it will tell you about how many times it blocks it.

13

Yeah I could be missing something but my first thought is the roommate is bluffing.

14

Thanks! That answers my questions.

I’d just plug it in while he’s away for work or whatever.

15

change your phone/pc to use Google DNS. No need for a separate router.

16

The flatmate in charge of eero will see the connected device though. If the OP wants to use stealth then directly into the router would be the best option. Just need to make sure that some form of ‘modem mode’ hasn’t been enabled and only the port connected to the eero is active. Also make sure different SSID’s are being used etc.

17

WTF? Changing DNS does not help with that, AT ALL. OP needs to use a VPN to avoid Eero reporting on their browsing.

18

He would know though. Because it would come up with the content block page.

Btw, running content blocking on your roommates device would be wild :joy:

19

That involves changing every device and can actually cause problems down the road. Also any time someone tells you to reset network settings that goes away. Really not a great solution.

20

Likely is bypassed, which will break something. That also means both of them are dual NAT so nobody wins.