Has your internet been running slower than usual? You might have someone “piggybacking” off your internet. When someone connects to your unsecured WiFi network without your permission, that’s considered piggybacking. Most piggybacking cases come from a neighbor who doesn’t want to pay for WiFi themselves and sees an opportunity to connect to yours for free. More rarely, it might be a hacker who connects to an unsecured WiFi network, which makes it easy for them to access your personal information. Securing your WiFi will help prevent anyone from connecting to your WiFi, no matter their intentions.
Two ways to check if someone is on your WiFi
If you start to notice that your internet is slower than usual and you’re pretty sure the network isn’t the issue, check to see if someone has connected to your WiFi without permission. There are two ways to check what devices are connected to your network.
Low-Tech
A simple, low-tech way to check if someone is on your WiFi is to look for a flashing green light on your router after unplugging or turning off anything in your home that connects to your WiFi.
This method works best if you know all the devices that are connected to your WiFi. Be sure to turn off or unplug all smart TVs, computers, tablets, phones, or any other devices connected to your internet. Once you’re confident that all devices have been turned off, look at your router’s wireless signal light. If that light is flashing, another device is still using your internet. If there is no light flashing, you’re in the clear! Be sure to secure your WiFi network.
High-Tech
A more thorough way of checking for unauthorized devices on your WiFi is to find your router’s IP Address and a list of devices that are connected to your internet. To start, you need to determine your router’s IP address. Most router IP addresses are 192.168.1.1, but to be certain, you should follow these quick steps:
Press the Windows key on your keyboard, type in “cmd” and open Command Prompt.
A separate window will pop-up; type in “ipconfig” into that window.
Finally, locate “Default Gateway” and the numbers to the side will be your router’s IP address.
Go to your System Preferences and click on Network.
Select the WiFi you’re connected to (indicated by a green dot) and click on Advance, located to the bottom right corner of the window.
Click on the TCP/IP tab and your IP Address will be the set of numbers next to “Router.”
Once you have the IP address, open an internet browser window. Type your IP address into the search bar, and a prompt will appear to log into your router. If you’ve never changed your login settings, the username and password can be found on the physical router. It should be printed on a sticker either on the side or the bottom of your router.
Then, to find any devices connected, click on Clients (this can also be My Network, Device Manager, Connected Devices, etc., depending on the brand of router). A list of IP/MAC addresses and device names will appear. From this list, check the device names and make sure you recognize them. If there is a device that you don’t recognize, it’s time to secure your WiFi.
How to protect your WiFi
Securing your home WiFi is the key to keeping unwanted users off your network.
- If you haven’t already, set up a strong password to access your WiFi and router. Make the password hard to guess with a mix of letters, numbers and special characters. Don’t use your birthday, address or phone number, since these are easy to find.
- If there are signs that someone may be using your WiFi again, make it a priority to match up devices on your IP address. We recommend doing this twice a year. You can even set a reminder in your calendar. Be sure to create a spreadsheet of all the devices you’re familiar with, and update that list whenever you add a new device.
- Be sure to only share your login information to those who live in your household and people you trust. Ensure that you are using best practices to keep your private information as secure as you can.
Ensuring your WiFi is secure helps to keep your connection fast and safe from someone piggybacking off your WiFi. By setting up a strong password, taking some time to go through the list of devices connected to your router, and learning how to secure your WiFi, you will be taking the best precautions to keep your information safe. When you stay aware and in control of your WiFi connection, you can be online safely.
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I’m sure someone is piggybacking, please send technician.
I can see that there are 144 people in mine why can’t I just press that to see who it is.
There needs to be an easier way to get rid of piggyback devices than changing my network password.
How can I take off the connected devices off my modem
Did you find out how to do this?
Can I remove connected devices that are not authorized to be using my Internet? If yes, what are the steps to do this. If no, why not?
Fairly sure my internet has been hacked and someone is piggybacking. I will call a technician likely. Thanks for the input in additional comments.
I’m pretty sure I have neighbors in the apartments i live, piggybacking my wi-fi. How can I stop it without changing my password?
Im positive my neighbor is piggybacking my internet. How do I get her off. I would like to know how to change my password.
I know neighbors are piggyback my internet how do I stop them permanently
Can I delete from the list of devices on my router/modem?
I would like a more thorough tutorial to determine if one of my neighbors is piggybacking off my internet. I really can’t determine from this short article if this is the case. More pictures of what it looks like to have someone on your service would be helpful.
How do I remove any unwanted devices that are connected to my WiFi??
Is there a way to delete devices individually? I have several old devices still showing up on my list that I no longer use. I’m assuming this may be 1 cause for my connection slowing down, sharing connection with multiple devices not being used. Changing my password is a hassle trying to log into everything again. Hoping there’s a more simple way to delete devices.
No comment i’ve got a Q/A:
So my neighbors use my WiFi (w/o) permission; however I wouldn’t mind as long as it has no affects to my device- but I just figured out that’s the cause (most likely) that my settings get changed. Anyone got advice on how to allow them to use WiFi but stop Wtr their doing that changes my device settings?
Will it help prevent signal theft if I add a wifi router which supports WPA3 between my devices & the cable modem?
Is there a safe app to download from the play store that will help pause or even eliminate unwanted neighbors from using my internet ?
Someone is hacking my internet. I have complained about this before. I have reset my modem so many times! When I unplug my Wi-Fi, every time, I hear my neighbors generator kick on. I live in Laclede County Missouri where thieves are a dime a dozen.
Centurylink had found that my telephone, landlines and my internet were having issues. A new modeum was sent . Then interruptions became even more frequent. New mideum, we thought maybe defective. Centurylink scheduled tec to come out 4 times. 1st time app was last Wednesday. They never showed or called. I called and apology with email they had to reschedule again again we been waiting every day since last Wednesday. Never even got a notice of any kind . Being transferred to repair dept, tec support, after a l o n g hold, I’d b disconnected. They are sorry. For a tec to come to ur house, they ask if ur available from 830am to 530pm , that an adult has to be there. Well, nearly 8 business days n you got to be home?? I didn’t go to work for 2 days. I have disabling conditions n my husband is 71 years old. We have no home phone no social media n what should we do if one of us had an accident? Huh. Yell real loud! The best part is have been with centurylink 35 years!! And a few very private info on our separate personal wireless devices. They tell you chat. Chat costs. It’s called assisting uou., chat tells you suggestions that Chat don’t know n like calling n actually talking to a representative, each one is so helpful trying to help resolve ur issue, they pass you on to a dept, transfer to a dept. That say They just don’t care. And don’t want to work that hard!! Now its I have piggybacking. Well, if I have no internet in my TV, or my wireless devices how do I check to see being I pay tec support to be there if I need them 24/7. Oh, how many times have I expressed I d rather not do alot of personal things re my services with centurylink on line thee secured network. Ip. Etc.is our wi fi secured with piggybacking, secret admirers. Did I mention that 2nd time in 3 months I have a hacker on my credit card thank you centurylink , every credit adjustment I get, my bill seems to be more each month. They send along disconnect notices. 35 years I’m a centurylink customer.