Someone's Stealing my Wi-Fi - Help!

[Nique]

Actually I'm not sure if this is the case. But our internet seems to be running extremely slowly at random intervals, which, to me, sounds pretty tell-tale of wi-fi theives.

Now before you guys all jump down my throat about having an unsecured network etc. I HAVE secured my network - we set up a very long complicated password the day I installed the wireless router. My ISP gives me between 12-15 Mbps and usually over the wifi I'll get between 6 and 9. Last night I was getting 3Mbps at most.

However, it's feasible that someone may have gotten past it my network security, or maybe I didn't setup the right security features, etc. I am going to contact my ISP and the router manufacturer for support but if we do that and wind up with the same issue I would like to know a way to confirm if I have a wifi theif on my hands and how I can retaliate (or just make sure it doesn't happen again). Any help or pointers would be awesome to the max.

[EVILNess]

Go into your router's settings when you are getting this slowdown and look at the list of clients. See if there is a computer or console you cannot account for. If there is one you can block his MAC address.

Several other factors may be at play here though. If you get your internet through AT&T then their network is like a beat wife. It gets very sluggish around peak hours. It could be this. I know my internet (I get 1.5 on a good day.) can slip down below 768 Kbps at peak hours. This could be an issue even if you don't have AT&T.

Also, you should investigate the other computers in your house, make sure no one is downloading anything. I know that my roommate likes to LIE LIKE A DIRTY WHORE when he downloads stuff. It could be anything, a windows update set to a specific time or maybe a Steam game.

It could also be something interfering with your WiFi signal. Cordless phones, metal and wires in the wall, Stoves and Refrigerators, there are many things that can be doing it. Next time it happens hook yourself directly up to the router and see if you have a reduced speed over the wire as well. Be aware that you will be faster over cable regardless but use common sense when judging.

Also, one more thing to be aware of... Wireless networks work like hubs. They basically split your internet equally. If you get a 10 by yourself then as soon as you add another person you each get a 5. Add another you all get 3.33, another you all get 2.5... meaning you could simply have too many computers on your wifi.

Also, the kind of security you have on your router would be an excellent place to start for extra information. As long as you are using some form of WPA and a sufficiently long password I doubt you have a random everyday wifi thief.

[Nique]

Cool cool. That gives me a good place to start.

If you get your internet through AT&T then their network is like a beat wife.

What? I mean, what?!

[EVILNess]

What? I mean, what?!
Their network is very stressed, and that is putting it mildly.

Specifically from smart-phones. Oh my god, the bandwidth that gets eaten so people can check their Facebook from their phones.

The connotation was that the subscriber is the Husband, the Smart-phone is the back of his hand, and the Wife the network.

EDIT: Oh one more thing. When you test the connection over a wire, test it both through the router and directly to the modem.

[synkr0nized]

For what it's worth, you could add your devices' MAC address and by default block all others not listed to add to the password security of the router (make sure it's WPA 2 and not WEP).


If you can, when you notice it is going slow on wireless try a wired connection to compare. If there is a difference, it may indicate that your wireless signal is encountering interference.

[Yumil]

I'd be interested in the times you experience the speed reduction, it may just be primetime use from your area if it's consistent across a period of time. There's also the probability of them lowering your bandwidth if you are a heavy user of it(you'd mainly see this if it slows down near the end of the month, many service providers have a threshold before they start withholding).

You can tell if you are getting stole from pretty easily though. If you do see a loss in speed at a time, hop on your router config and check to see what all devices are connected, if it's something you don't recognize, it might be that.

WEP is almost as bad as having an open network.
WPA(PSK2 or either) is ok, but you need to have an extremely secure password(random numbers, letters, etc). If it's not an extremely good password, it is extremely easy to brute force with a good dictionary.

Course, wireless cracking isn't as widespread as everyone makes it out to be. Besides, if you have a good WPA password most people will just give up. Throwing in MAC filtering and even more. Unless you had one persistent person, you'll more than likely be fine. If you had one persistent person though, Id be more worried about why they are so persistent than them using your bandwidth.

[Melfice]

Incidentally, have you tried rebooting the router/modem?
I'm sure you have, but occasionally this'll do the trick.

[Nique]

Incidentally, have you tried rebooting the router/modem?
I'm sure you have, but occasionally this'll do the trick.

This appears to have done the trick but I'm going to keep an eye out for other users.

[Lumenskir]

I think someone from Listia might have hijacked your Twitter account.

Speaking of all this disconnecting router talks, is it something that can be done and undone fairly easily? I got shunted into buying the router and being the keeper for my apartment and would find it absolutely hilarious if I could control when my roommates get their internet.

[Nikose Tyris]

Yeah, I removed him from my twitter 'NPF' list because of it for now.

[Yumil]

I think someone from Listia might have hijacked your Twitter account.

Speaking of all this disconnecting router talks, is it something that can be done and undone fairly easily? I got shunted into buying the router and being the keeper for my apartment and would find it absolutely hilarious if I could control when my roommates get their internet.
Depends on the routers firmware. My D-Link has a thing called "Access Control" where I can set all access stuff for all macs. Like I can set what time they get internet, plus what websites they can or can not go to(white or blacklist). It's easy enough to deactivate and reactivate on this one. I think my linksys had a similar feature, but I can't tell you if it had it out of the box as I changed it's firmware to something third party.

BTW, thank you, you just gave me a good idea. I just blocked College Humor for my roommate. The hilarity will ensue here shortly as it's his favorite site.

EDIT2: With mine you can also block ports, which is insanely fun when you know the ports their favorite game uses. Like if you have a WoW addict, you could potentially stop them from playing wow:O

[Nique]

Ah I have not checked my twitter in a while. Thats all me - I didn't realize it was auto updating with every single thing I did on Listia. I'll see about correcting that.

UPDATE: There doesn't appear to be an option for how much/ little is posted from Listia to twitter. Submitted a complaint but I'll probably just bock them.

EDIT: Hey so, while we're here - What's the normal drop in speed I should be getting off my wifi? I'm supposed to get 12-15Mbps hard-wired. I seem to get 2.5Mbps at MOST wireless. Is that... weird?

[EVILNess]

Hey so, while we're here - What's the normal drop in speed I should be getting off my wifi? I'm supposed to get 12-15Mbps hard-wired. I seem to get 2.5Mbps at MOST wireless. Is that... weird?

Well, what kind of router is it? G? B? N? Is your router a N device running in compatibility mode?(This means it's slowing itself down so older cards can connect to the router.)

The max speed for a B connection is 11 Mbps, which assumes perfect full bar connections with no interference and just one connected computer. (IE You are never gonna get a perfect connection) While peak data rates may be achievable at times, many 802.11b home network links typically run at 2-3 Mbps

A G is 54, and N is two Gs duct taped together.

802.11g also includes a feature called dynamic rate scaling. If the wireless signal between two connected devices is not strong enough, the connection cannot support a maximum speed of 54 Mbps. Instead, the Wi-Fi protocol reduces its maximum transmission speed to a lower number to maintain the connection.

[Nique]

Yeah it's an 'N' type. So... probably running in, as you say, compatibility mode.