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]

Originally Posted by Nique

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.