How Can You Prevent People from Using Your Wireless Network

Do you suspect your neighbor to use your wireless network? The reasons behind can be slow internet connection or that the devices keep disconnecting from the router. People connected to the wireless router may also access the shared folders on the network and thus, data theft is a threat here. Luckily enough, there are various ways to detect unknown connections to the network as well as stop them of getting connected.

Signs You Need to Look Out For

You need to remain on the lookout for a few signs to detect whether someone is using your internet. Here are some of these signs.

• Slow internet connection
• You are frequently being charged extra for going over the download limit though you know you have not downloaded so much
• The shared computer files are being modified
• The router log shows other computers are accessing your network

Why Would Someone Steal My Internet?

The reasons behind are simple. Let us take a look at them.

• They don’t have access to internet
• They need to download something that will go over their limit
• They need to download movies or music illegally
• They need to access your computer and steal your information and data

There are plenty of other causes behind, but these are some of the most common ones.

How to See Who Is Connected to Your Wireless Network?

There are several reasons you should learn the ways to check if someone is using your wireless network. All of us are well aware of the fact that security risks are attached in case a wireless network is used by the outsiders. The risks include your PC getting hacked or your personal information getting stolen. Your neighbor may also be doing something illegal and the authorities accidentally trace activities back to the equipment.

Even if you are not guilty, it may be difficult and frustrating to prove this. It is good to know the ways to check if someone is using your wireless network. To find people using your wireless network, the process will be different based on the manufacturer of the router but the basic idea behind is similar.

Here are a few ways to find the wireless intruders.

Use the Web Interface of the Router

One of the best ways to find the information is to check out on the web interface of the router. Since your router hosts the wireless network, it has accurate data about the devices it is connected to. Most routers offer a way to check out on the list of connected devices though some may not have them.

Follow the standard tips to access the web interface of the router. If you are not certain of the IP address, you can check on it through the Control Panel. Plug this address into the address bar of the web browser and press enter. This usually brings up the interface of the router. In case it does not, you can check out on the documentation of the router.

Check the Wireless Router Lights

Your wireless router must come with indicator lights showing internet connectivity, hardwired network connections as well as other wireless activities. One of the best ways to see if anyone is using your wireless network is by shutting down all the wireless devices and then checking out whether the wireless light is blinking. The trouble here is that there may be several other WiFi devices like your TV or the gaming console that you must remember to unplug; moreover, you will just know whether there is an intruder; it does not provide with any other information. This is a quick trick that can confirm your suspicions but for more details, you need to follow up.

Find the Connected Devices

You need to look for the connected devices in the web interface of the router. Find a button or a link that is named, ‘connected devices’, ‘attached devices’ or ‘DHCP clients’. You will find this option on the configuration page or the status page. On some of the routers, the list is printed on the status page itself.

There you have it. You can use the above-discussed strategies if you need to know who is using your wireless network. It is not enough to abide by the points mentioned in this list; you need to secure your connection properly to stop people of using your wireless network.

Wifi Photo via Shutterstock

This article, "How Can You Prevent People from Using Your Wireless Network" was first published on Small Business Trends