We've all been there; we're on our computer browsing for something important and suddenly the internet slows to a snails pace. Not sure if it's just the crappy, unreliable service from Comcast or if someone is well, stealing our internet. Luckily we came across some great tips to discover if someone really is stealing this hot commodity.
LifeHacker recently answered a question submitted by one of their readers and it hit a sore spot with us. Many of our friends have this problem on a regular basis and we're always asked to help them out. Detecting and rectifying the situation is actually quite easy and LifeHacker recommends several steps, here are the three best:
• Check Your Wireless Router Lights: Shut down each of your devices that could potentially use the wireless signal and look at the lights on your router. If the wireless light is blinking, the signals from your router are still being used.
• Check Your Router Device List: Browse the list of devices and compare the names and IP addresses of them to the names and addresses of your own devices. If you detect someone else is using your wireless connection simply change or create a new password.
• Bulk up your wireless security: Change your security to WPA2 instead of the more commonly used WEP. WEP is much easier to crack, especially if you don't change your passwords or use common ones such as password.
See the rest of the suggestions at LifeHacker.
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If it's secured, you shouldn't have a problem.
Aside from that though, you could also open up only enough wireless connections for the number of devices you have and lock each one to the mac address of one of the devices. Mac addresses can be spoofed, but it's more trouble than most would put into getting a little free wifi.
The heck with WPA2, go for WPA2-PSK if you want something uncrackable.
Connect to your router with an ethernet cable, (not strictly necessary, but more secure) and enter 198.168.1.1 in your browser to get to your router's settings. Should work for most routers.
Just don't mess with settings without your manual unless you know what you're doing!
Or you could be a good neighbor and let people use your wifi. Sometimes my service goes out and I'm grateful that one of my neighbors has an un-password-protected router so I can check my email. If I knew who it was, I would bake them cookies.
@Polly S then they can be a good neighbor and help me pay the bill.
Change the router name and then turn off Broadcasting your ID. That way unless you know the name of the router it appears to not exist.
I believe in a free internet for all. And while I pay for it, it's open. Never any problems.
I don't think this is something to be pissy about. Learn to share. It WILL come back to you.
And before arguing, think of all the free downloads you've done.
This has proven to be a great resource.