Comments on: How To Tell If Someone Is On Your Wireless Home Network http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-identify-if-someone-is-on-your-wireless-home-network.html Computer - Internet - Technology Tips And Tutorials Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:12:07 +0000 hourly 1 By: K http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-identify-if-someone-is-on-your-wireless-home-network.html#comment-124464 K Tue, 01 Nov 2011 22:35:18 +0000 http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-identify-if-someone-is-on-your-wireless-home-network.html#comment-124464 There is no reason setup should be any different on an Apple machine (to the best of my knowledge) vs a Windows (or whatever) one, but here is a link designed for using Safari to get into a fairly mainstream Linksys router. http://www6.nohold.net/Cisco2/ukp.aspx?pid=80&vw=1&articleid=15841 If you are really in doubt, you should visit the linksys support page for your specific model router (should be on a sticker on the bottom of the device) and follow those instructions to setup a nice secure WPA2 encrypted connection (or the highest level of encryption you can use given the devices that will need to connect). Good luck! There is no reason setup should be any different on an Apple machine (to the best of my knowledge) vs a Windows (or whatever) one, but here is a link designed for using Safari to get into a fairly mainstream Linksys router.
http://www6.nohold.net/Cisco2/ukp.aspx?pid=80&vw=1&articleid=15841

If you are really in doubt, you should visit the linksys support page for your specific model router (should be on a sticker on the bottom of the device) and follow those instructions to setup a nice secure WPA2 encrypted connection (or the highest level of encryption you can use given the devices that will need to connect).

Good luck!

]]> By: Juliette http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-identify-if-someone-is-on-your-wireless-home-network.html#comment-124137 Juliette Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:14:25 +0000 http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-identify-if-someone-is-on-your-wireless-home-network.html#comment-124137 Any chance you'd know how to do this on a mac os x? My wireless network has been abused by neighbors who've been streaming videos non-stop.. 250$ bills. I think the problem is my router's been on 'linksys' for so long without our family knowing and our actual secured wireless network hasn't been in function, to our mistake. Any chance you'd know how to do this on a mac os x?
My wireless network has been abused by neighbors who've been streaming videos non-stop.. 250$ bills.
I think the problem is my router's been on 'linksys' for so long without our family knowing and our actual secured wireless network hasn't been in function, to our mistake.

]]> By: K http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-identify-if-someone-is-on-your-wireless-home-network.html#comment-105430 K Tue, 27 Sep 2011 15:22:12 +0000 http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-identify-if-someone-is-on-your-wireless-home-network.html#comment-105430 Any time you connect to someone else's network, there is always the possibility that they are tracking your every move.....so yes. Depending on what their setup is between your computer and their internet connection, they could have a complete history of your internet use. If they are sharing the internet with you willingly, you need to decide how much you trust that person. Otherwise....bad boy! You take your chances... Any time you connect to someone else's network, there is always the possibility that they are tracking your every move…..so yes. Depending on what their setup is between your computer and their internet connection, they could have a complete history of your internet use.

If they are sharing the internet with you willingly, you need to decide how much you trust that person. Otherwise….bad boy! You take your chances…

]]> By: Robert http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-identify-if-someone-is-on-your-wireless-home-network.html#comment-102252 Robert Thu, 22 Sep 2011 21:59:44 +0000 http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-identify-if-someone-is-on-your-wireless-home-network.html#comment-102252 I am tapping into someone else's wireless connection. Are they able to see my history and the sites I have been visiting easily? I am not worried about being hacked, but just wonder if they can see the history and what sites I am on throughout the day. I am tapping into someone else's wireless connection. Are they able to see my history and the sites I have been visiting easily? I am not worried about being hacked, but just wonder if they can see the history and what sites I am on throughout the day.

]]> By: K http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-identify-if-someone-is-on-your-wireless-home-network.html#comment-85269 K Fri, 05 Aug 2011 20:44:55 +0000 http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-identify-if-someone-is-on-your-wireless-home-network.html#comment-85269 Azedas: Sorry, I am not quite sure what you are asking me. All I am saying is that on some routers you can configure a setting so that only WIRED clients are allowed to login to the router. Which means that someone will have to have physical access to your router to make changes to it (normally a good thing). So yes, remote access to the router is denied when trying to make that connection wirelessly, but it will be allowed if the machine is cabled to the router. This does not affect any http traffic otherwise. I know a few Netgear routers DO NOT let you do this, but many others do. Here's a link that will hopefully offer some visual explanation for you and help to clarify. http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-disable-access-your-linksys-administration-interface-over-wireless-connection.html (Didnt' even realize the link was from this same site.....that's handy!) Azedas: Sorry, I am not quite sure what you are asking me. All I am saying is that on some routers you can configure a setting so that only WIRED clients are allowed to login to the router. Which means that someone will have to have physical access to your router to make changes to it (normally a good thing).

So yes, remote access to the router is denied when trying to make that connection wirelessly, but it will be allowed if the machine is cabled to the router. This does not affect any http traffic otherwise.
I know a few Netgear routers DO NOT let you do this, but many others do.

Here's a link that will hopefully offer some visual explanation for you and help to clarify.
http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-disable-access-your-linksys-administration-interface-over-wireless-connection.html
(Didnt' even realize the link was from this same site…..that's handy!)

]]> By: azedas101 http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-identify-if-someone-is-on-your-wireless-home-network.html#comment-85126 azedas101 Fri, 05 Aug 2011 09:18:34 +0000 http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-identify-if-someone-is-on-your-wireless-home-network.html#comment-85126 @<a href="#comment-85122" rel="nofollow">K</a>: Okay, but I still need a clarification of this issue. Please, do you mean there would be an optional setting for disabling remote access of a network PC to router of once http is disable all PC on the network would be denied from having admin access or are there any update u can give me on new routers. @K:

Okay, but I still need a clarification of this issue. Please, do you mean there would be an optional setting for disabling remote access of a network PC to router of once http is disable all PC on the network would be denied from having admin access or are there any update u can give me on new routers.

]]> By: K http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-identify-if-someone-is-on-your-wireless-home-network.html#comment-85122 K Fri, 05 Aug 2011 09:00:20 +0000 http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-identify-if-someone-is-on-your-wireless-home-network.html#comment-85122 Carrie: You are quite welcome! You are wise not to do anything important on your own computers until you are reasonably sure they are secure again. Hopefully you feel confident about your own hardware soon, once someone looks it over :) Azedas: Most routers have a setting to disable wireless login. This simply disallows wireless clients from logging into the router to manage it, it doesn't affect http traffic. With this enabled (in theory), the only way to change settings on the router is to use a computer physically cabled to it. As for MAC whitelisting, I think it's largely a waste of time and it's annoying to deal with from an admin perspective. Any competent intruder will simply MAC spoof anyway. You are banking on complex AES encrypted keys to keep out intruders, though mostly you are simply hoping to offer a more annoying target than your neighbors. Have a great weekend everyone. Carrie: You are quite welcome! You are wise not to do anything important on your own computers until you are reasonably sure they are secure again. Hopefully you feel confident about your own hardware soon, once someone looks it over :)

Azedas: Most routers have a setting to disable wireless login. This simply disallows wireless clients from logging into the router to manage it, it doesn't affect http traffic. With this enabled (in theory), the only way to change settings on the router is to use a computer physically cabled to it. As for MAC whitelisting, I think it's largely a waste of time and it's annoying to deal with from an admin perspective. Any competent intruder will simply MAC spoof anyway. You are banking on complex AES encrypted keys to keep out intruders, though mostly you are simply hoping to offer a more annoying target than your neighbors.

Have a great weekend everyone.

]]> By: azedas101 http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-identify-if-someone-is-on-your-wireless-home-network.html#comment-85120 azedas101 Fri, 05 Aug 2011 08:57:57 +0000 http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-identify-if-someone-is-on-your-wireless-home-network.html#comment-85120 Guys!!! I have a question that is bugging my mind and the question is "Is it possible to clone a laptop WLAN(wifi) MAC address? Guys!!! I have a question that is bugging my mind and the question is "Is it possible to clone a laptop WLAN(wifi) MAC address?

]]> By: azedas101 http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-identify-if-someone-is-on-your-wireless-home-network.html#comment-85114 azedas101 Fri, 05 Aug 2011 08:43:12 +0000 http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-identify-if-someone-is-on-your-wireless-home-network.html#comment-85114 @<a href="#comment-82458" rel="nofollow">K</a>: Disabling wireless login to a router means u have to disable http in the router? @K:

Disabling wireless login to a router means u have to disable http in the router?

]]> By: azedas101 http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-identify-if-someone-is-on-your-wireless-home-network.html#comment-85111 azedas101 Fri, 05 Aug 2011 08:39:14 +0000 http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-identify-if-someone-is-on-your-wireless-home-network.html#comment-85111 @<a href="#comment-22105" rel="nofollow">Jimmy</a>: It is possible bcos hacker can easily use any of your shut down IP and MAC address to access ur network and u will still be assuming it is still in the range of ur IP and MAC. This bring about vivid physical seeing working system on the network b4 confirming systems on ur network through router record. @Jimmy:

It is possible bcos hacker can easily use any of your shut down IP and MAC address to access ur network and u will still be assuming it is still in the range of ur IP and MAC.

This bring about vivid physical seeing working system on the network b4 confirming systems on ur network through router record.

]]> By: azedas101 http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-identify-if-someone-is-on-your-wireless-home-network.html#comment-85106 azedas101 Fri, 05 Aug 2011 08:03:12 +0000 http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-identify-if-someone-is-on-your-wireless-home-network.html#comment-85106 @<a href="#comment-77482" rel="nofollow">Mike Boyds</a>: Guy!!!!!!!!!! I have done it severally but I am still encountering the same issue even when syntax error is not involved does it means one cannot shut down remote systems for security reasons. Guys reply. I am really having a bug in achieving this task. Thanks.............!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! @Mike Boyds:

Guy!!!!!!!!!! I have done it severally but I am still encountering the same issue even when syntax error is not involved does it means one cannot shut down remote systems for security reasons.

Guys reply. I am really having a bug in achieving this task.

Thanks………….!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

]]> By: Carrie http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-identify-if-someone-is-on-your-wireless-home-network.html#comment-85061 Carrie Fri, 05 Aug 2011 04:40:04 +0000 http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-identify-if-someone-is-on-your-wireless-home-network.html#comment-85061 Thanks K, u really dont know how much I appreciated what u have told me or guided me. I felt so helpless until u show up. Even now when I come to this website, I have to use public's network to get online with my galaxy tab. I dont dare to do anything with my home computer nor office's computer. You really taught me alot. Thanks K! :) Thanks K, u really dont know how much I appreciated what u have told me or guided me. I felt so helpless until u show up. Even now when I come to this website, I have to use public's network to get online with my galaxy tab. I dont dare to do anything with my home computer nor office's computer. You really taught me alot. Thanks K! :)

]]> By: K http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-identify-if-someone-is-on-your-wireless-home-network.html#comment-84920 K Thu, 04 Aug 2011 19:19:53 +0000 http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-identify-if-someone-is-on-your-wireless-home-network.html#comment-84920 The IP doesn't really matter. The internal IP for your computer is irrelevant and subject to change. The IP for your house (really for your cable modem) usually is also subject to change depending on your ISP (online provider). So neither of those things is very important. You could ask your ISP to change your IP if you are worried for some reason, but anyone with access to a computer in your house can easily find it out again. I wouldn't worry about IPs, whether they are internal (your network inside the house) or external (your address to the world). 1) Have someone check your router to make sure it isn't providing easy outside access. (Or simply restore it to defaults to clear anything someone has put in there purposely). Then set it up securely (this takes into account setting up the wireless in a secure fashion). 2) Have someone take a look at your computers in the house to make sure nothing was put on them that will allow easy remote access. Things like LogMeIn will run as a service in the background and will likely still allow someone to get in even after you secure everything else. After that you should be fine. At work is another story though ;( The IP doesn't really matter. The internal IP for your computer is irrelevant and subject to change. The IP for your house (really for your cable modem) usually is also subject to change depending on your ISP (online provider). So neither of those things is very important. You could ask your ISP to change your IP if you are worried for some reason, but anyone with access to a computer in your house can easily find it out again.

I wouldn't worry about IPs, whether they are internal (your network inside the house) or external (your address to the world).
1) Have someone check your router to make sure it isn't providing easy outside access. (Or simply restore it to defaults to clear anything someone has put in there purposely). Then set it up securely (this takes into account setting up the wireless in a secure fashion).
2) Have someone take a look at your computers in the house to make sure nothing was put on them that will allow easy remote access. Things like LogMeIn will run as a service in the background and will likely still allow someone to get in even after you secure everything else.
After that you should be fine. At work is another story though ;(

]]> By: Carrie http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-identify-if-someone-is-on-your-wireless-home-network.html#comment-84396 Carrie Wed, 03 Aug 2011 04:53:46 +0000 http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-identify-if-someone-is-on-your-wireless-home-network.html#comment-84396 Thank you so much for ur reply, K. I will try to do the setup myself. BTW, he also knew my my pc ip address and most probably mac address as well. Now that I re-setup the network, is it possible that he still access to my computer using other method? Thank you so much for ur reply, K. I will try to do the setup myself. BTW, he also knew my my pc ip address and most probably mac address as well. Now that I re-setup the network, is it possible that he still access to my computer using other method?

]]> By: K http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-identify-if-someone-is-on-your-wireless-home-network.html#comment-84317 K Tue, 02 Aug 2011 23:25:05 +0000 http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-identify-if-someone-is-on-your-wireless-home-network.html#comment-84317 Hey Carrie, So long as you don't reuse passwords from before, once you change your wireless security he should not be able to get in any longer (assuming you set up the wireless in a safe manner - the online guide should help with that). Basically the whole point of these guides is to prevent exactly what happened to you. Even when you do everything right though, if someone else is doing the wireless setup for you.....there is always a chance they can get on. That is why I would recommend YOU do the wireless setup or have a trusted person do it for you. (Can't really fault you for having the boyfriend do it before, but this time make sure the person setting it up is trustworthy ;) Hey Carrie,

So long as you don't reuse passwords from before, once you change your wireless security he should not be able to get in any longer (assuming you set up the wireless in a safe manner – the online guide should help with that). Basically the whole point of these guides is to prevent exactly what happened to you. Even when you do everything right though, if someone else is doing the wireless setup for you…..there is always a chance they can get on. That is why I would recommend YOU do the wireless setup or have a trusted person do it for you. (Can't really fault you for having the boyfriend do it before, but this time make sure the person setting it up is trustworthy ;)

]]>