Tell who is on your wireless network

As you may know, most modern wireless networks are encrypted. When someone joins your wireless network, either because the person has managed to steal your password or because you gave the person the password yourself, the encryption stops affecting your security with respect to them.

Depending on how your computer and other devices are configured, a stranger who joins your WiFi might gain access to the files that you share among computers, printers, and other connected devices. The sad truth is that most computer users have terrible habits when it comes to security and seldom take even the most basic security precautions. If someone on your network gets infected by a dangerous strain of malware, the malicious software could spread to other computers and devices on the network.

Some types of malware focus specifically on WiFi routers , either using their resources for malicious purposes or taking advantage of their central role to attack as many people as possible. Virtually all routers keep some sort of a record of past and current connections, usually stating both the IP address of every connected device and its name. Just remember to also change your password otherwise the intruder might reconnect the second you go back to minding your own business.

We also encourage you to download a comprehensive WiFi analysis application , such as NetSpot, to understand the reason why someone has successfully joined your wireless network. NetSpot can create an easy-to-understand heat map of your wireless signal strength so you can determine how far from your router someone could be and still have access to your wireless network.

A lot of sensitive information is being sent and received over wireless connection: passwords, identity information, payment card credentials, private correspondence, etc. Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow.

Download Article Explore this Article methods. Tips and Warnings. Related Articles. Article Summary. Method 1. Open a browser. You can use a web browser to log in to the web interface for your wireless router. You can use the web interface to set up and configure your wireless network and check who is connected to your wireless router. Type the IP address of your router in the address bar. This takes you to the web interface for your wireless router.

The IP address for your wireless router is going to be different from one make and model to another. Consult the user's manual or the manufacturer's web page to find the specific IP address for your wireless router.

Common router IP addresses include Click it to open it. Look for the IP address to the right of "Default Gateway". Enter your username and password. If you haven't changed the username and password, input the default information.

This can vary depending on the make and model of your router. Consult the user's manual or manufacturer's web page to find the default username and password for your router.

Common usernames and passwords include "admin" and "password". Look for a list of devices. You can find a list of connected devices in the web interface for your router. This is going to be different depending on the make and model of your router. It may be under "Connected devices" or "Attached devices" or something similar. This will show the device name and MAC address for each device connected.

If you notice any devices that don't belong, be sure to change your Wi-Fi password. While on Netgear, you need to look for Attached Devices. However, there are other methods you can use. There are quite a few different network scanners out there that you can use. The only downside is that these apps will only list active devices — the ones that are currently online. Doing this will keep anyone from using your internet connection to perform malicious acts.

What tools did you use to do that? Share your experience with us in the comments below. Anya is a freelance technology writer. With a background in Journalism, Language Studies, and Technical Translation, Anya couldn't imagine her life and work without using modern technology on a daily basis. Always looking out for new ways to make her life and location-independent lifestyle easier, she hopes to share her experiences as a tech- and internet-addict through her writing.

These days, setting up a WiFi connection is easy and inexpensive. Most smartphones have the capacity to act as a mobile hot spot. In any case, there is always the risk of unauthorized access to your wi-Fi network and router. This article explains various methods to discover if someone is using your Wi-Fi without permission, as well as summarized ways to secure your Wi-Fi from potential intruders. You should be aware of certain warning signs that indicate that someone is connected to your network without permission.

One common sign is slower Internet speed. Every Internet connection takes up some bandwidth, and if someone is downloading torrents or playing online games on your network without your permission, then your traffic slows down.

Knowing who is using your WiFi and when is crucial for keeping your network secure. This tutorial explains how to check if someone is using your WiFi, how to kick them off, and how to help prevent them and anyone else from accessing your WiFi again. There are several ways to detect whether or not someone is using your wireless network, such as obtaining direct router access via a browser or using router checker apps.