How do i see who's leaching off my WAP?

[RgrPark]

Lately, I noticed my internet connection get very slow at times.
I have been out of the tech scene for a LONG time and barely remember how i even set up a wireless homenetworking.

Anyways, I recently noticed that i was missing the "lock" symbol on my wireless network icon...
Is there any way i can look up if anyone is using my internet without my permission?
Any help would be appreciated.

 

[gistech1978]

dhcp client list

 

[vi edit]

You can go into the setup and checked under "connections". Usually it'll list the MAC address of the user as well as the computer name assuming they are connected from a window's based computer.

 

[Nebor]

Yeah, just open up your router and see who it's given IP address to. Unfortunately it is difficult to actually locate the person responsible in order to give them a proper beating.

 

[FoBoT]

maybe you should just secure it correctly so that no one else can use it

 

[Corsairpro]

use WEP, that way you won't have to worry. I have a wireless router in my house which is 2 down from a College fraternity, so I know they can see my house as a WAP, I would sincerely recommend that you use Wireless Encryption Protection.

 

[AFB]

The lock is the firewall. I recomend client lists and NMAP

 

[RgrPark]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
maybe you should just secure it correctly so that no one else can use it

for some reason, the utils that came with my d-link card stopped working...?
I tried to reinstall the whole thing...when i try to run the executable, it doesn't do anything...and it has never worked when i click on "let windows configure my connection"
i feel so computer illilerate.

Also, to do everything like looking under setup and stuff, I'm supposed to do it from the computer that's attached to the actual router correct?

 

[hevnsnt]

Use Airsnare

Q: What does this program do?
A: AirSnare monitors network traffic for unfriendly MAC addresses and alerts you when a MAC address is found that isn't on the friendly list. AirSnare also monitor DHCP requests from clients.

Q: How much does AirSnare cost? Is it shareware?
A: AirSnare is beggarware. Beggarware asks that you make a donation to help continue development of the program and others like it. If you like the program and use it to assist you in intrusion detection you are encouraged to make a donation. The program uses some DLLs that needed to be purchased and there are hundreds of development hours involved in the program, beggarware was the most logical release method.

 

[Corsairpro]

Originally posted by: RgrPark

Originally posted by: FoBoT
maybe you should just secure it correctly so that no one else can use it

for some reason, the utils that came with my d-link card stopped working...?
I tried to reinstall the whole thing...when i try to run the executable, it doesn't do anything...and it has never worked when i click on "let windows configure my connection"
i feel so computer illilerate.

Also, to do everything like looking under setup and stuff, I'm supposed to do it from the computer that's attached to the actual router correct?

yea, you'll want to hook a computer up by ethernet (RJ-45) and goto 192.168.0.1

The username by default is usually admin
and password by default is usually password
(i'm assuming you didn't change these)

from there just keep clicking menus till you find DHCP and look for any unfamilar names / MAC addresses. From there I'd recommend setting up at least 64bit WEP (a 10 character hexadecimal code)

 

[TheNinja]

I don't allow DHCP on my WAP. I have 3 computers at my house at they each have a specific IP address as well as a MAC address. Why would you use DHCP on a home network? And if anyone can MAC address spoof and find which IP addresses I'm allowing/using, well then they can leech off my DSL I guess.

 

[Murphyrulez]

I use DHCP on my wireless home network for when my brothers come over and bring their laptops, or I am setting up a new computer for a friend... But true, it's not that often and you don't really need to have it enabled all the time.

 

[Platypus]

just turn on mac filtering.

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: CorporateRecreation
just turn on mac filtering.

This, plus disable broadcasting of the SSID (and change the SSID from the default) + WEP (which stands for Wired Equivalent Privacy, BTW) is a pretty solid way to secure your WLAN.

 

[DT4K]

Originally posted by: Corsairpro
use WEP, that way you won't have to worry. I have a wireless router in my house which is 2 down from a College fraternity, so I know they can see my house as a WAP, I would sincerely recommend that you use Wireless Encryption Protection.

WEP is fine to discourage people from just using your bandwidth or messing around. But it can be cracked very easily with available utilities. So if someone is serious about hacking your network, WEP is NOT sufficient.