How to know if someone unknown is stealing WiFi
Time to Read: 2 minute
With this method you can check if a device you don't know is connected to your WiFi network, so that you can block its access to the Internet
Protecting your WiFi network from unknown people who may try to connect to it is a fundamental task for security reasons and also to ensure that the user can use all the bandwidth they have contracted with their Internet provider.
Something that experts recommend when a person believes that someone else is connecting to their network is to check if some unknown device is really accessing it. This process is relatively easy and allows you to know precisely if someone else is using the WiFi network.
There are several methods for this, the most basic of which is to use the router itself or the modem. This is possible because most routers have a status page or a configuration page that shows all the devices connected to the network.
On this page you can view aspects such as the names of the devices, their IP addresses and their connection status.
Another way to find out who is connected to a Wi-Fi network is by using network scanning software such as Fing or Angry IP scanner, these programs search for devices connected to a network and display information about the found devices, including their IP address and their manufacturer. Mobile apps can also be used to scan WiFi networks and see what devices are connected.
In all these cases it is recommended that the person first disconnect all the devices in their home from the network, since in this way they will be able to avoid readings from their equipment and thus concentrate on the others that could be shown when doing the sweep.
How to prevent a stranger from connecting to your WiFi
Once the sweep is done, if the user detects unknown devices connected to their WiFi network, it is best to block their Internet access . This can also be done directly from the router's configuration page.
For this, it is necessary to make use of a function called access control list (ACL), which is available in all routers on the market regardless of their brand or model.
Here we explain how to create an ACL to block access to your WiFi to anyone you don't know.