Very few people can live without internet access; most of us ensure that our smartphones, tablets and laptops are always connected to the internet. When you’re home, you, like most people, rely on your Wi-Fi router for internet access. But without proper security, someone could easily tap into your wireless network and not only use for free the internet you’re paying for, but they can have access to shared folders and other resources. If you’re wondering how to tell if someone is piggybacking on your Wi-Fi, here are some ways to find out.
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Check your router
Unless you have a lot of devices (like smart home gadgets) on your Wi-Fi router, checking your router is the easiest way to know for sure if someone else is on your network. You do this by taking the gadgets offline by either turning them off or setting them to airplane mode, according to an article on Business Insider. If there are no devices using Wi-Fi, the status lights on the router should not be flickering or flashing. If they are, well, someone else is probably connecting to your network.
Log into router
Another foolproof way of catching your internet thief would be to find a list of connected devices by logging into your router’s settings page. You can easily do this by logging into the account you have with your internet service provider, assuming that’s where you got your router from. If you provided your own router, you can access the router settings by using the access information that is typically found on the back of the router. Once there, you can find the devices connected to it.
Wi-Fi detective apps
There are a lot of applications you can download onto your phone that could scan your network and provide a list of all the connected devices. You can search the app store for options, keeping in mind there are malicious bugs hidden in some apps that could steal sensitive information. Do your research before downloading any of these apps.
Sources used:
Business Insider: How to tell if someone is stealing your Wi-Fi and how to stop them
Digital Trends: How to tell if someone is stealing your Wi-Fi — and what you can do about it
Mashable: How to see who is lurking on your WiFi
