How to Recognize Anyone Using Your WiFi and How to Restrict Them

Arathy Ajith
14 Nov, 2022


 

Your network's WiFi configuration is simple to ignore. Once it's up and going, you usually don't think twice about it. However, if your internet connection has been sluggish or unreliable and nothing you've done seems to improve it, it could be that someone is using your WiFi unintentionally. Your network becomes slower as more devices are linked to it. Your connection will slow down when freeloaders clog up your network and consume all of your bandwidth. It may be a neighbor you shared a password with in the past but later forgot. Another possibility is that someone hacked into your network.

As long as someone has access to your WiFi, they might possibly monitor or access other devices connected to the same network, which creates privacy and security issues in both scenarios (via LifeWire). Your network router can help in this situation.

You simply need to log into your router's web interface to see a list of all the devices connected to your WiFi. Then you can deny access and boot unfamiliar devices from your network. The parental controls are useful for parents if their children are using WiFi when not supposed to be online. Here is a brief step-by-step breakdown of the procedure.

How to Find Someone Connected to Your WiFi

You must first check to see if your WiFi has any unauthorized users connecting. Real-time lists of all connected devices are provided by the router. You can modify your network's password or revoke access for each device if someone has gained unauthorized access. The login information for the access portal will be printed on the back of a  router unless you've changed it. Obtain the login information and password. Additionally, find the router's IP address and copy it.

  1. Start by launching your computer's browser. Alternatively, use the companion app on your phone if your router has one.

  2. Type the IP address into the URL bar that you just copied.

  3. Enter the username and password you found to access the router.

  4.  If you have a modern router, you can be sure that it keeps track of the devices that are connected, but you might need to look around for the proper settings.

  5.  Locate a tab that says something like "DHCP listings," "connected devices," "attached devices," "wireless clients," or "online devices." Some contemporary routers display gadgets with names like "Android" or "iPad." Consequently, locating a device is simple. However, the majority of routers will display them as a 12-character string. A MAC address is a number that is exclusive to each device. Some routers allow you to disable access by flipping a switch next to the connected device. If yours doesn't, you can disconnect that device from the network by using its MAC address.

You have two options after getting the list of all connected devices (along with their respective MAC addresses): Refresh the list or look up the MAC addresses for your devices while you unplug all of them. If none of your devices are using the WiFi and one is still listed, it is an unwanted visitor.

Additionally, you can compare the MAC addresses of your laptops, tablets, or mobile phones to those listed in the list. Your network has an unlawful connection if the MAC addresses or device counts are incorrect.

How to Block unwanted people from your WiFi

The easiest solution is to change your password if you find that someone is unauthorizedly utilizing your WiFi. All network users, including the unidentified device, will be logged out. All of your devices will need to be reconnected with the new password, of course. Additionally, it's always a good idea to change the WiFi password if you've been using the default password.

Again, it will differ between router brands and models, but to modify your WiFi password:

  1. Re-login to the router dashboard.

  2. Select wireless security from the menu.

  3.  Locate and choose the "wireless key," "preshared key," or "WPA/WPA2" field.

  4. Enter the previous password in the appropriate boxes before creating a secure new one.

  5.  Save the file.

That is the quick and dirty method for immediately removing any unauthorized users from your network.

Filter your MAC Address For Enhanced Security

You can boot devices one by MAC address if you prefer a more exact method. 
All you need is the offending device's MAC address. 
It is listed among the linked devices (it might be labeled DHCP). 
Find a setting called "MAC address filtering" after you have it (or hardware filtering).

  1. Copy the device's MAC address, paste it in the appropriate box, and then filter it out. Even if the device enters the correct WiFi credentials at this time, it will not be able to access your WiFi (via Asus). No matter what kind of access credentials a device has, you can block it from entering by enabling MAC address filtering. All of the permitted devices' MAC addresses must be obtained.

  2. Log back into the router's dashboard. Locate the network filter page or MAC address filter and add each MAC address individually.

  3. From this point on, every connection request from a device will be compared to the list of approved devices by your router, and any device that doesn't match will be denied access.

It's important to remember that MAC address filtering can be bypassed. It adds an extra degree of security, but any malevolent party determined to hack your network may find ways to get around it. You can also alter and conceal the name of your WiFi network for further privacy (also known as the SSID). The only users who can connect are those who use the exact SSID and password.
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