How do I tell if others are using my wireless internet?

I set up my wireless internet and for the last month it has worked great. Except for the last couple of days my internet keeps slowing. I suspect it is because someone other than my room mate is using my internet. How do I check this and how do I stop them?

 

You can check your dhcp leases against the computers you know should be on your connection. to prevent people from using it, you should secure it or use a MAC filter. What make and model of wireless router do you have?

 

Is it your own home connection from your own router?

If so you can always check in the config?

Go to Start - Run (or Windows + R) type CMD and hit enter
Once the command prompt has opened type "ipconfig" (without speech marks)
Now open Internet Explorer and type in the IP Address for the default gateway into the address bar and hit enter - Now depending on the type of router you may or may not be persented with a log in box if this is the case it will be the default credentials if you have not already altered these yourself, different makes/models have different defaults but give Username: Admin and Password: Admin a try and Username: Administrator and password: Admin if this is not the case google will help you find the answer.

Once in the config for your router you should be able to check who is connected wirelessly and if there is a computer name on there you do not recognise then bobs your uncle you've found them.

(This little bit of advice was based on the idea that you are on a home router, on a home connection with an unmodified config and standard network settings)

Stopping them is the next hurdle, but first lets see if the above worked for you.

Hope this was of some help

Antony.

 

Why not take a couple of minutes and properly secure your router so that doesn't happen to begin with?

 

Maybe the person is not convident or has the know how on how to do this - no need to get so mean about it.
Came here requesting help so why not give help?

 

There wasn't a mean character in my statement below thank you. I asked a legit question. For all we know there may be a reason why he doesn't and this leads to his hopefully answering with the reasons why it isn't or he thinks it isn't.

Your statement above makes way way too many assumptions...and quite frankly is a bit offensive.

 

I do appologise - I read it wrong, the way I saw it was as if you where critosising him - I do mean it when I appologise and did not mean to cause offence, please accept my appology.

 

None taken...it just kinda surprised me a bit...no worries

 

Well no harm done.
All just a little misunderstanding.

Let's just hope that Brahman has solved the issue and if not does return to the forum for more advice

 

Lets just keep the advice constructive if the OP returns.