How To Know If Someone Is Stealing My Wifi?

In today’s digital world, the internet is like a helping hand for us. And with the internet comes the WiFi. We use it for everything. Be it browsing the internet or streaming our favorite shows. These wireless networks are found in Coffee Shops, libraries, or airports and are very convenient. But sometimes you wonder why the WiFI is running slow in your home. Or maybe because your neighbors are stealing it. So, in this blog, let us check out the ways for how to know if someone is stealing my WiFi. And also how to secure your WiFi network.

Ways To Detect If Someone Is Stealing My Wifi

While wireless networks facilitate seamless internet connectivity for all of your devices, they also make it simpler for other users to access your connection. If you notice that your WiFi has been running slow for some days and you suspect that someone is stealing your WiFi, the first and foremost thing you should do is check. We are providing some of the effective methods below. Some of these methods are simple, while others require a little technical knowledge.

1. Monitor Your Router’s Indicator Light

There are many routers that have special lights. Which indicates whether your router is on or connected to the internet. One light shows if there's wireless activity. If you want to check if someone is using your WiFi or not, then disconnect every device from the network and check the lights. If it still keeps blinking, then someone might be using your WiFi. But if you have lots of gadgets, it might not work well.

2. Using Third-Party Apps

You can use apps like Fing or Who's On My WiFi, available for both phones and computers, to spot any unfamiliar devices or persons using your network. As technology makes it easier to keep an eye on your WiFi network. Also, there are router checkers that can also check whether your network is hacked or not. Also Read- 5 Ways on How To Use Android Phone As Wi-Fi Repeater?

3. Inspecting Your Network's Connected Devices

This process is a bit complicated. But this method is the easiest way to check the list of connected devices in your router. Step 1- Log in to your router using a web browser. Step 2- Look for the section that shows the current wireless devices connected to your network. Step 3- Identify any unknown devices. In this process, you can check any device that is connected to your network. Whether it is a phone, a computer, a laptop, or any gadget. Every device will appear with a unique MAC address. If the listed devices are more than the number of devices present in your home, then someone may be using your WiFi. You can cross-check by looking up the MAC addresses of your known devices in their settings and see if any unrecognizable addresses appear on the list.

4. Review Router Activity History

This is one of the effective methods while checking if someone is using your WiFi or not. If you did not spot any other MAC address in the connected device list, but you suspect someone is using your network, then reviewing your router’s activity history or logs can help you find past activity records. You need to check the router settings menu where the current connected devices are listed. The advantage of checking logs is that you can detect the device even if the device is currently not connected. If you have any idea about when the network started slowing down, then you can see if new MAC addresses appeared during that period.

How Can You Secure Your WiFi

1. First, you need to change your password. Create a strong and unique password. Make sure it is a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. It shouldn't be easy to guess.
2. Then enable encryption. Use WPA2 or WPA3 encryption on your router. This helps to keep you and makes it harder for unauthorized users to access your network.
3. You can also turn on MAC Address Filtering. This lets only certain devices to connect to your network. For this, you need to enter your device's MAC addresses into your router settings.
4. Another important thing is to regularly update the firmware of your router to get the latest software. Manufacturers often release updates that fix security problems.

Conclusion

Protecting your WiFi network is crucial. As it is important to safeguard your personal information from potential threats. If you suspect someone is stealing your WiFi, investigate properly and responsibly and take the necessary steps to secure your network. After all, a secure WiFi network means a safer, faster, and more reliable internet experience for you and your household.