Nowadays, many may think that having your Wi-Fi signal stolen is a thing of the past, but that’s not entirely true. It’s true that more people can afford to have internet at home. Like many other things, it’s now so commonplace that the offering is vast and prices are much more competitive, making it a more affordable service. In any case, Wi-Fi thefts in homes continue to occur. Therefore, one of the main ways to prevent signal theft is to hide the name of your network. This way, they can’t steal it if they don’t know it exists.
It may seem unimportant, but it’s possible that whoever is stealing your Wi-Fi signal is doing so to carry out malicious or illegal activities, which could cause serious problems. So, preventing them from accessing our Wi-Fi can be beneficial in many ways.
How do you know if someone is stealing your home Wi-Fi signal?
First, it’s a good idea to access the router’s administration page by typing the router’s IP address into a web browser. After this, enter the administrator username and password (the default credentials are usually “admin” and “admin” as the username). Then, look for a list of connected devices under the heading “Device List” or “Connected Devices.” Finally, if the number is higher than the number of home devices currently connected to the internet, it means someone is using your Wi-Fi without authorization.
Protecting your network by hiding the signal name, also known as the SSID
The first tip we’ve given may be the one that yields the best results. Protecting your network by hiding the signal name, also known as the SSID (Service Set Identifier), can be very helpful. By doing so, the network disappears from the list that appears when someone searches for available connections on their mobile phone or computer. There are even cases where commercial establishments steal Wi-Fi signals from individuals, from people who live on the same street.
Detect other devices: Some third-party apps provide a list of devices connected to our network
To hide your Wi-Fi network from strangers, follow these steps. First, open your browser on a device connected to your Wi-Fi network. Then, type 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 (depending on the router) in the address bar. Next, log in with your router’s username and password. Finally, look for the option related to the SSID or “network name” in the wireless settings section and deactivate the option that says “Broadcast SSID” or “Show network.” Before closing, simply click “Save Changes” and you’re done.
To detect other devices, we can also use external apps. Some third-party apps provide a list of devices connected to our network. These apps can be used to identify unknown devices and prevent neighbors from connecting to the Wi-Fi. Additionally, these apps also alert you of new connections to detect unauthorized devices as soon as someone connects.
It’s also advisable to periodically change your network password
In any case, before using third-party applications, the first thing to do is secure your home Wi-Fi network. To achieve this, it’s essential to use a strong password. It’s recommended that you use a combination of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. It’s also advisable to periodically change your network password. And also recommended to activate WPA3 or WPA2 encryption to ensure that data transmitted over the network is encrypted and protected from third parties. You should also update your router’s firmware and use a VPN. These are some tips that can help improve Wi-Fi connections at home, especially nowadays when many people already using home office on a daily basis. And the kids doing homework on tablets or computers.
