How To Check If Someone Is Stealing Your WiFi & What You Can Do About It

Revisions:
11-21-12: Initial release

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WiFi running a bit slow lately? If your router is still using old security methods such as WEP, then there’s a very real possibility that someone has hacked in to steal your WiFi. Apart from the obvious fact that your internet will be slower, the hacker might be using your internet to do nefarious evil things – all of which could easily be traced back to you. So how you can find out if someone is using your WiFi, and perhaps more importantly – what exactly can you do about it?

Check the devices associated with your router

This method is 100% guaranteed to see any devices registered on your network, but not every router contains this valuable info. Log in to your router by typing it’s IP address directly into the browser address bar. In most setups, eitherhttp://192.168.0.1 or http://192.168.1.1 should work, or it may be written on the router itself, along with the username and password you need to log in with.

Once logged in, look around a section called Attached Devices or Device List. On DD-WRT flashed routers, this is under the Status -> Wireless screen. You will find a list of all the IP addresses currently being used

Monitor wifi network use

Of course, not all your devices will have helpful names, so you’ll need to figure out the IP address of each computer and WiFi device you own in order to cross-check them against the list. I covered how to find your IP address a few days ago when I showed you how to control your torrent client from your mobile. Don’t forget that an iPhone or Android phone will also have it’s own IP address if it’s using your WiFi, so you’ll need to account for those too.

Basic Security – Stop using WEP

Any router purchased in the last 5 years or so should be able to support a more secure authentication protocol, so log in to your router again and find the Wireless Settings screen.

Change the security options to either WPA or WPA2. WPA2 is more secure, but it’s incompatible with some types of devices.Chose the option that allows for both. Don’t choose the Enterprise option as it is designed for companies with authentication servers. When choosing your password, make sure it is at least 15 characters long, includes upper and lower case letters, numbers, and punctuation.

There are some other methods that people will typically advise you to take, that help ,but are not bulletproof.

Hiding your SSID: You can hide your network name so it won’t be seen, but freely available wifi hacking tools will reveal them instantly.

IP filtering: This blocks out a specific IP, but changing IP is as simple as refreshing the connection.

MAC filtering: More secure since it blocks a device via the unique hardware address that is given out when it’s manufactured, but again, anyone trying to steal your WiFi can easily “spoof” their MAC address.

So your WiFi is feeling a little sluggish? The truth is that someone probably isn’t stealing your WiFi. More likely your computer is running slowly, or your router needs rebooting. You could also try boosting the WiFi signal.

 

Alternatives To The Demonator: The Demonoid Proxy

[The Underground Staff works hard finding solutions while you don’t have to.]

Well, there are now reports that the Demonator is down for the count. Maybe it will get back up. Wait and see? I don’t think so!

To be honest, there are tons of proxies to access Demonoid. And the Demonator is only one.

Here are some other proxy sites that you can use to access the private tracker site.

Here’s a list of fast free proxy sites for you to use when you can’t access some websites at school or work. The list is updated with fresh proxy sites frequently.

Unlock Web

XS2Web Proxy

Work Surf

Your Proxy

MySpace Proxy

Proxy 4 MySpace

proxy 4 you!

Surf Everywhere

Hidden Visits

Check Profiles

MySpace Waiter

Social Surf

MySpace at school with this free web proxy portal

2 de web

BestFastProxy

RealFreeProxy

BIZ Browser

Most of these work with MySpace and other sites as well, so you can log into the Demonoid site and download your torrents.

I have personally tested Unlock Web, so these should be up and working