Blocking a Wi-Fi thief

C

circusboy01

Posts: 757   +16
I have no idea what forum this post should be in. Hope I guessed right
I have a thing called SoftPerfect WIFI Guard It has detected someone using my WIFI signal. is there a way I can block them?
Here's the thing I am not selfish. If after I block them from using my WIFI, I don't see any significant Change in speed or performance. I will just go ahead and let them use the WIFI.
 
Either:
  • Change the password to something that's not easily guessable. Use WPA/WPA2 security not WEP which is very easily cracked
  • Change then hide your SSID so only people who know the SSID can connect to your network (refer to your router's manual)
  • Change the SSID to something like "installvirus.exe" or "FBI_Surveillance_Van" to deter people

circusboy01 said:
Here's the thing I am not selfish. If after I block them from using my WIFI, I don't see any significant Change in speed or performance. I will just go ahead and let them use the WIFI.
Click to expand...
Theft is still theft, be it stealing wifi or robbing a bank. More importantly, you're letting someone do whatever they want under your IP address and they could be downloading copyrighted materials, child p0rn, etc. and if the authorities come knocking on your door you're the one whose going to be implicated.
 
SLH28's comments should be heeded immediately.

The question is HOW did they gain access? Most likely you just failed to enable encryption and left the network wide-open. Stopping them then only requires the WPA/WPA2 encryption to be enabled and a pass-phrase to be created.

If you REALLY go after PROHIBITING, then you could use their MAC address and set your router to block it.
 
Do what slh28 says and make the wpa2 key 63 characters long. There are web sites that will generate a key for you if you want. Also use mac address filtering.
What I find most shocking is that you are willing to share your wifi with this random person. You do realise that once on your network and within the firewall it makes it so much easier to possibly hack into your pc next. Take control of your modem/router etc and basically do almost anything they want ? Lock it down!
 
jobeard said:
SLH28's comments should be heeded immediately.

The question is HOW did they gain access? Most likely you just failed to enable encryption and left the network wide-open. Stopping them then only requires the WPA/WPA2 encryption to be enabled and a pass-phrase to be created.

If you REALLY go after PROHIBITING, then you could use their MAC address and set your router to block it.
Click to expand...

I'm sure my network is wide open.I didn't even know there was any problem. I know when I first set up my computer I was getting WIFI from an unknown source, I did not realize I was stealing it from anybody, and I believe there is a chance they don't realize they are stealing WIFI from me. That is why I indicated that if they weren't causing me any problems. they could just go ahead and use it.
However once I enable encryption I Will leave it enabled. These people may be innocent.But why leavw it open for someone in the future that isn't so innocent...
 
circusboy01 said:
I'm sure my network is wide open.I didn't even know there was any problem. I know when I first set up my computer I was getting WIFI from an unknown source, I did not realize I was stealing it from anybody, and I believe there is a chance they don't realize they are stealing WIFI from me. That is why I indicated that if they weren't causing me any problems. they could just go ahead and use it.
However once I enable encryption I Will leave it enabled. These people may be innocent.But why leavw it open for someone in the future that isn't so innocent...
Click to expand...
UNLESS others tell you differently, this might be of help http://www.wikihow.com/Secure-Your-Wireless-Home-Network
 
learninmypc said:
UNLESS others tell you differently, this might be of help http://www.wikihow.com/Secure-Your-Wireless-Home-Network
Click to expand...

I Hit start typed cmd in start window hit enter. After window opened I typed ipconfig/all hit enter. a lot of writing came up. Didn't see anything that said Gateway address. did see physical address about 4 times. But they were not all the same.
what exactly am I looking for? After I find and enter the Gateway address, type it into the address bar and hit enter. What's next.?
After I'm finished will this take care of it for everyone, in the house using the WIFI? Or will they have to do these same steps too?

Hey learning, I know you said to ask other at TS. That's what I'm doing . I'm just using your post to do it in. Instead of starting a
new post. ;0)
 
Hey circusboy01. I have heard the result of having an unsecured Wi-Fi network from a lady whose friend had a few unmarked cars show up one Saturday morning and confiscate the pc's in the house. Apparently, child porn was coming through the unsecured network. I never did hear the final outcome as I have since moved on, so sih28's point is well worth heeding. What I always do when I have to secure a wireless router for someone is to always reset it to factory specs before I secure it.
 
Ipconfig | findstr /I /C:"gateway"
Your gateway will probably be 192.168.1.1
Type the gateway's address into your browser. A window should pop up asking for a username and password. Above the username field should be a line that says "The server says: " followed by the model of router. You can use this to google the default username and password. Or you can look on the bottom of the router.
Once you get in you should see a tab called something like "Wireless Settings" or "Wireless Security". As mentioned previously, you will want to use WPA2 and a good password. I recommend over 12 characters.
You will only have to do this once. You WILL have to enter the password for every device you want to connect to your wireless network.
 
Geesus said:
Do what slh28 says and make the wpa2 key 63 characters long. There are web sites that will generate a key for you if you want. Also use mac address filtering.
What I find most shocking is that you are willing to share your wifi with this random person. You do realise that once on your network and within the firewall it makes it so much easier to possibly hack into your pc next. Take control of your modem/router etc and basically do almost anything they want ? Lock it down!
Click to expand...
Isn't that why some people use guest network accounts? I've known people that have their normal connection lockel, and have one for others to use, such as myconnection-guest. From what I've seen this prevents that kind of direct access to modems/routers and other shared stuff
 
NTAPRO said:
Isn't that why some people use guest network accounts? I've known people that have their normal connection lockel, and have one for others to use, such as myconnection-guest. From what I've seen this prevents that kind of direct access to modems/routers and other shared stuff
Click to expand...
hmm; Not always. M$S reports on how to ENABLE guests access to the PC, which also says
* it's normally disabled​
* it has no password​
The PC owner can alter BOTH of these. In addition, once enabled, the choice of Public File Sharing is available.

In addition, the WiFi "guest" (ie someone we don't know) is actually quite another thing - - controlled entirely in the WiFi router.

Having business data on the system AND periodically needing to share the WiFi can be a challenge to secure - - but it's doable.
  1. Use MAC address reservation to assign known users/devices into the low range of the DHCP (say192.168.1.2-32)
  2. Allow DHCP range to be just a few more than that (say 192.168.1.2-40)
  3. Secure WiFi access with encryption
  4. Secure the PC with the firewall limiting ports 136-139, + 445 to the dhcp range in (1)
  5. Set the firewall to deny inputs from 192.168.1.33-254
WiFi authorized-guests then Internet access but can't access your PC.
No one gets WiFi with knowing the WiFi access encryption key
 
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Everyone said this already but you need to go into your WiFi Router Web Admin through a Browser read the manual for your router and see what you need to type in: 192.xx.xx.xx.xx
Default user name or default password

Once you get in your setup your SSID: MYNET or something like that
Security: WPA2
Passcode (password):what ever you want make sure it has high caps, low caps and numbers

Once you do this save it..

Now back on your laptop you will now have the laptop re-scan for your SSID: MYNET
they it will ask you for a Passcode: type that in then click on okay

If everything goes well then you are not lock-in to your WiFi

No one can tap into it if you don't give out your Passcode:

Also the WiFi router password should be changed to another password to protect you from anyone trying to get in there to gain access to your WiFi Signal and your network and internet.

You have to learn how to manage your security on your network. Otherwise everyone near you would just hope on your internet.
 
slh28 said:
Either:
  • Change the password to something that's not easily guessable. Use WPA/WPA2 security not WEP which is very easily cracked
  • Change then hide your SSID so only people who know the SSID can connect to your network (refer to your router's manual)
  • Change the SSID to something like "installvirus.exe" or "FBI_Surveillance_Van" to deter people


Theft is still theft, be it stealing wifi or robbing a bank. More importantly, you're letting someone do whatever they want under your IP address and they could be downloading copyrighted materials, child p0rn, etc. and if the authorities come knocking on your door you're the one whose going to be implicated.
Click to expand...


It's been a while since I started this thread. I didn't follow any instructions. (No offence meant) It's just I didn't know how to follow the instructions, and I only had one hijacker.
Now I have three and I want them gone.

So Change password: Is that the password I use with my user name to open browsers, and stuff? Or is that a WiFi password? I don't think I have one. How do I change fromWEP, which is what I have now, to WPA/WPA2
What is my SSID? How do I change, and hide it? Not sure if we have a router manual, or where it might be. Am I out of luck? or can I find the manual on line?
The final thing I do is make up a scary SSID Right?
Hopefully I will be able to follow the new instructions, and you wont have to dumb it down too many times before I understand :D
 
Personally, I think its best if you get in touch with the person that installed the router, whether that be the landlord or your ISP. I'll let those more knowledgeable reply.
 
OP:
Get make (and model) of modem/router from the device itself. Check the sticker on the bottom.
When found, go to: https://www.techspot.com/guides/287-default-router-ip-addresses/
Type in your modem/router address in your browser and if successful you will see your device's UI.
Look for Wireless/Network, then Configure/settings and change your WIRELESS connection from Open to WPA.

*Use WEP if you want (it's certainly better than Open and the chances of it getting hacked are slim), but most go for WPA+PSK for example. If you want to use a 63 character password, go ahead, but that's overkill imo.

Create a password you can remember or use a password manager (ie:Last Pass) and make it as long as you want.
For added security, you can make it so your SSID is not even transmitted, so it will not even be seen by your neighbours.
Click Apply/OK and you're done.
Enjoy
 
The people from Verizon came, and set it up. I guess I could try to get a hold of them by phone or Internet, and see iof they could help.
 
circusboy01 said:
The people from Verizon came, and set it up. I guess I could try to get a hold of them by phone or Internet, and see iof they could help.
Click to expand...

Have you checked Verizon's site? Scroll down to the router section, select your router and click on network security. I don't remember if In-Home Agent can do the wi-fi setup or not, you can try. Think I set mine up manually.
 
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