How to Identify If Someone Is Stealing Your Wi-Fi

Protect Your Wi-Fi Network from Hackers

Wi-Fi networks can be targeted by hackers who exploit home or work networks to steal personal data or plan other attacks while hiding their identity.
It’s not just large company internet networks that are at risk, but also household Wi-Fi networks.
Through a personal Wi-Fi attack, hackers can access personal data, online banking, and steal money from bank accounts.

Moreover, cybercriminals can use home Wi-Fi to launch attacks preserving anonymity and geolocation or download large data volumes without affecting their own connection.
They can also infect devices connected to a Wi-Fi network with malware.
Given this scenario, it’s natural to wonder if we have already been a victim of such attacks.

The good news is that it takes very little to understand if someone is stealing your Wi-Fi and protect your network from hacker attacks.
Here are some signs to look out for and precautions to take.

How to Detect Wi-Fi Theft

To protect your Wi-Fi from neighbors or potential cybercriminals stealing bank credentials and personal data, it’s important to know who is connected to your home network.
Some clear signs of compromised security that owners of wireless networks should pay attention to include:
– Slower connection speed
– Router lights blinking when not in use, indicating that someone else is sending or receiving data through your network
– Unknown IDs in the list of devices connected to the router
– Unrecognized apps appearing on your devices or changes in settings you didn’t make
– Suspicious activities like large data transfers or unauthorized access
– Unrecognized events in the router’s activity log

If you notice any of these symptoms, cybersecurity experts recommend checking the router immediately to see if there are other connected devices and taking action.
A first step is to ensure you have set a WPA2 or WPA3 password.

Preventing Wi-Fi Theft

If you discover someone outside your circle is using your Wi-Fi, don’t panic.
With a few simple steps, you can prevent Wi-Fi password theft and unauthorized access to your wireless network.
Cybersecurity experts recommend taking the following precautions:
– Change the default router password
– Use a password manager to create a complex and effective Wi-Fi password
– Update the router firmware through the browser
– Disable WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) as it can be vulnerable and a gateway for hackers
– Hide your Wi-Fi network name (SSID) to prevent unauthorized access

By following these quick measures, you can defend your connection against potential hacker attacks and nosy neighbors.
If you realize you have been a victim of an attack and your personal data is in jeopardy, report the incident to the Cybercrime Unit.