How to Detect If Someone Is Stealing Your Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi theft is more common than you think. Even though your home Wi-Fi network is password protected, hackers in the neighborhood may have found a way in; this is more likely if you’ve been using the router’s default username and password, and never bothered to change it.

Therefore, if your internet seems slower than usual and data consumption has hit the roof for no apparent reason, don’t brush it aside. Someone out there could be piggybacking your Wi-Fi and exposing your home network to cyberthreats.

It’s never too late to take back what’s yours. Allow me to show you how to detect if someone is stealing your Wi-Fi, followed by ways to cast out those brazen burglars.

Signs Someone Might Be Using Your Wi-Fi

One simple hack for Wi-Fi theft detection is to disconnect all devices on the home network and check the lights on your router. One of the lights represents activity on the wireless network; it flickers when data is being transmitted over Wi-Fi and remains solid green or white when Wi-Fi is not in use.

If the router continues to flicker after removing all your devices from the Wi-Fi network, it’s a sign that an unknown device might be connected. However, I must add that this method isn’t reliable or practical for a home with many smart appliances and gadgets.

How to Detect Unauthorized Devices on Your Wi-Fi

You strongly suspect that someone is using your Wi-Fi without permission, but how do you identify this thief? It could be a notorious hacker you know nothing about, or an acquaintance who borrowed your password in the past. Here’s how you detect unauthorized users on your home network:

1. Check Your Router’s Device List

You can view a list of devices connected to your home network by logging into your router’s admin panel.

• Find your router’s IP address, which is typically provided in the user manual or printed on a sticker on the router.
• Type the IP address into a web browser and press Enter to access the admin panel.
• Enter the default username and password in the provided fields, unless you changed them earlier. You can get the default login credentials by looking up your router model if you don’t find them on it.
• Click on Wi-Fi Clients, Connected Devices, Wi-Fi Network, or a similar field to open the device list – name and for each connected device.
• Take note of unfamiliar devices on your network.

2. Use a Wi-Fi Scanner App

Those who prefer a quick and easy way to detect intruders on their wireless network may consider downloading a Wi-Fi scanner app like Fing, Who Uses My Wi-Fi, or Netspot. Register/create an account on the app, run a scan, and obtain a list of connected devices within seconds.

You can identify an unwelcome device by observing details like brand names and model numbers. Most of these apps let you block a connected device directly from their user interface and manage your Wi-Fi network in other ways.

• Fing enlists all devices on the network, discovers hidden cameras, runs internet speed tests, identifies network vulnerabilities, and more.
• Who Uses My Wi-Fi detects all connected devices, including hidden cameras, reveals network status (signal strength, speed, Wi-Fi standard, etc.), highlights strange devices, and tests internet ping, among other things.
• Netspot analyzes and troubleshoots wireless networks in real-time, displays interactive Wi-Fi heatmaps, and provides comprehensive reports to help optimize your network’s coverage + security.

3. See Log History & Active Sessions

Several internet service providers (ISPs) let users view log history and active sessions through the router’s admin panel. This data offers deep insights on internet usage, so you know what online activities are hogging your network bandwidth.

You may find the router history section on the admin panel dashboard or under network management (if applicable). Log files reveal browsing data from various devices on the network, so you can readily identify shady activity and erratic data consumption patterns.

How to Stop Someone from Stealing Your Wi-Fi

After you’ve spotted a freeloader or unauthorized devices on your Wi-Fi network, it’s time to do away with them. Here’s how you put an end to Wi-Fi theft and secure your home network:

1. Change Your Wi-Fi Password

Default usernames and passwords are the easiest to crack, so replace them with a unique network name and personalized password as soon as possible. Once the Wi-Fi network name and password have been updated, all devices previously connected will lose internet access.

To reconnect, you’ll select the new name you chose for your Wi-Fi network and type in the password you created; this step will be repeated for each device. Without the updated information, any outsiders previously on the network will be locked .

BONUS TIPS

Long and complicated passwords are hard to guess and hack. Therefore, create a Wi-Fi password of 10+ characters, which is a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols.

Avoid using personal info, such as your date of birth, phone number, or pet’s name as a password. Lastly, change your password every three months to minimize damage from data breaches.

2. Enable MAC Address Filtering

Most internet routers come with a feature called “MAC Address Filtering,” which limits the number of devices that can connect to a network. Every device has a unique Media Access Control (MAC) address that serves as a form of identification; you can obtain the MAC address for each of your connected devices from the router’s admin panel.

Normally, any device can join a Wi-Fi network by entering the password, but enabling the MAC address filtering feature will only allow devices having an approved MAC address. As a result, unfamiliar devices will be filtered out, leaving the thieves baffled.

3. Upgrade Your Router Security

The latest routers are equipped with better security features, which make it easier to protect your home network from cyberthreats. For starters, you get that makes it nearly impossible for hackers to steal your Wi-Fi password. Additionally, these routers receive regular firmware updates to improve safety and performance.

Modern routers are designed to grant more control over your home network. You can customize settings from a user-friendly mobile app, monitor connected devices remotely, hide your SSID (to make your Wi-Fi network invisible), set up parental controls, and receive alerts for suspicious activity. 

Have you been using the same router for 3 or more years?

FYI, it’s outdated, and now is a great time to replace it with a newer model that guarantees better performance and security.

Tips for Choosing the Right Router for Your Home Internet

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