Secure WiFi? How to Tell if Someone is Stealing Your WiFi

Summary: How to tell if someone is hijacking your WiFi signal and what you can do to stop them.

Q: How can I tell if someone is using my Wi Fi?

A: Start by turning off or disconnecting all your devices from the network. If your router’s lights keep flickering or the data activity LEDs stay active, that’s a strong sign that an unknown device is connected.

Do You Suspect Someone is Stealing Your WiFi?

Pirating WiFi signals is not as common as it used to be when many users did not utilize basic network security. However, having an intruder gain unauthorized use of your network is still possible. Beyond a neighbor “sharing” your signal, a cybercriminal can use such access in various ways. If you suspect that someone is stealing your WiFi, there are a few things you can do:

• Disconnect Your Devices and Check Your Status Lights – If possible, log all your devices off your network. Once you are sure all the devices are offline, if the status lights on your router are still flashing, indicating WiFi is in use, you probably don’t have secure WiFi but instead have an unauthorized user sharing your signal

• Purchase a WiFi App for Your Mobile Device – There are numerous apps available that can identify all the devices connected to your network. By scanning the list, users might notice devices that are not theirs. Many devices will have easily recognizable names. However, some are listed as "unknown devices.” It can be complicated to isolate and remove unauthorized WiFi access without the correct and specific device names. Many modern routers have mobile apps to support user control. These mobile apps can help visualize your network map and identify authorized connections and unauthorized users.

Q: How do I identify who’s stealing my WiFi?

A: Log into your router’s admin interface and check the device list. Look at the names and addresses of the connected devices; if any are unfamiliar, they could be unauthorized users.

Small and Midsized Business (SMB) Alert: Understand Your WiFi Security Settings

Unsecured WiFi is the equivalent of leaving a safe unlocked, with the door open and a neon sign pointing at it saying, “GET MONEY HERE!” Improper WiFi security settings also transmit “data packets” between the router and users without encryption, making them easy to hijack. WiFi security has come a long way. WPA3 and WPA2-PSK (AES) are the most widely available and secure settings for current routers. There are more cyber security settings and options available for more advanced routers, so concerned business operators, especially those with data security mandates, should consult IT experts to obtain the most secure WiFi setup available.

There are two primary components of Network Security:

• Threat Control – Threat Control is a simplified term for cyber security. It encompasses the layers of defense available to protect a WiFi network and all of its endpoint devices from cyberattacks
• Access Control – Access Control refers to the steps necessary to ensure that only authorized users can gain access to your network. However, even with layers of protection to block unauthorized use and attacks on a WiFi network, there are many ways that bad actors can compromise your network and breach your data

There are several layers of security that provide threat and access control, including:

• Firewalls & Intrusion Detection/Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS) – Firewalls serve as your network’s gatekeepers, filtering traffic according to rules and even performing deep packet inspection. They often integrate IPS to block threats proactively. IDS monitors traffic for suspicious patterns and alerts you to potential intrusions, while IPS takes it further by actively stopping malicious traffic
• Endpoint Protection – Malware often targets individual devices as entry points. Endpoint defenses, such as traditional antivirus, next-gen antivirus, and endpoint detection and response (EDR), scan and block threats at the device level, isolate suspicious activity through sandboxing and enable deeper forensic analysis.
• Secure Remote Access – Virtual private networks (VPNs) provide encrypted tunnels for remote users. Network access control (NAC) solutions ensure devices comply with security policies before and during network access. NAC integrates with other controls, like firewalls, to quarantine or limit access when needed
• Encryption & Data Protections – Encryption secures data both in transit and at rest, safeguarding confidentiality and integrity. Advanced practices also address data integrity by detecting unauthorized changes

Q: How do I block or remove unauthorized users?

A: The simplest step is to change your Wi Fi password. This logs out all devices, forcing everyone to reconnect. For finer control, enable address filtering or access control in your router settings to block specific devices while keeping trusted ones connected.

What’s the Best Way to Protect Your Network and Prevent WiFi Theft?

Nothing is more important than protecting your small business’s hard-earned data, and network security is too vital to leave to chance. It’s important to know how to tell if someone is stealing WiFi. To detect WiFi thieves, monitor router lights and inspect connected devices via admin logs or network-scanning tools. To stop them, update your WiFi security settings by changing passwords, enforcing encryption and applying filtering. For best protection, lock down router settings by disabling risky features and keeping firmware and credentials current.

Business IT professionals can help home users and business owners make informed and cost-conscious decisions about network setup, cyber protection, computer repairs and how best to protect and maintain the integrity of their entire system. They can also ensure your system has strong network security from the start. Continuous remote and onsite IT support will help maintain your system and keep it running safely and efficiently.

Contact your local IT provider for an appointment to review WiFi and network security. It’s far less costly and time-consuming to avoid a data breach than to recover from one.