I have someone elses internet unintentionally. How is this possible?

[ibex333]

So I recently discovered that my internet speed fell drastically. I have 100mbps but getting only 15mbps.

So I called my ISP, and they told me to connect directly to the modem forgoign the router. Immediately, my speed jumped to 100mbps. Problem solved, right? Faulty router. But not so simple..

Connected the router back, and speed is crap again. So I tried connecting to the router. 192.168.1.1

That doesn't take me to my routers page, but instead to "Optimum online login page" for Optimum online router customers. I know this, because it's identical to what my friend has. (he lives far away from me but has Optimum ISP) I have an ASUS router.

I tried again and again, but I always get redirected and cant connect to my router. One time, I somehow got through and loaded my routers settings page, but only once and it gave me error 404 shortly after.


Now, get this..... I disconnected my ISP modem completely and connected directly to my router... And... I STILL have internet! I am online with 15Mbps! What in the actual ****?!

I read somewhere that it is possible to set up routers such that they work as wireless adapters but I never set it up like that and never messed with it's settings! I don't even know how to do this...

Regardless, this is not funny anymore. First, I don't want to steal someones internet, and second, I want to get back into my router and use MY ISP, that I'm paying for!


Any ideas?


PS: I did ipconfig /all and noticed my DNS server is same as my router ip. 192.168.1.1 Isn't that weird?

 

[mnewsham]

How are you connecting to your router?

If it's a direct ethernet LAN, I don't see how that's possible

If you're using wifi, you may just be connecting to someone else on accident.

 

[ibex333]

Direct Ethernet LAN.

And me neither...


I also "see" two unsecured wireless connections from my router using my phone. ASUS 5GHz and ASUS 2.4GHz. Not only do I have someones connection but I am sharing it too.

 

[mnewsham]

Direct Ethernet LAN.

And me neither...

Are you using any sort of in-wall wiring that might be connecting somewhere else you're not aware of?

 

[ibex333]

Are you using any sort of in-wall wiring that might be connecting somewhere else you're not aware of?

I am using TP-Link power-line adapters. Any chance those can be somehow doing this? My neighbor could be using those as well, and maybe this somehow interconnects because apartments are literally right next to each other... I'll go disconnect those powerline adapters and check.

 

[ibex333]

Insanity... Problem solved... Disconnected the PowerLine adapter completely from the router and now I am back into my ASUS login page, speed is back up to 100Mb.

These PowerLine adapters seem to be a real danger in apartment buildings.

 

[JackMDS]

If some of the electrical lines are interconnected?

Yeah, the PowerLine might interconnect too.

Houses that have only one main Electrical Meter and one main panel would behave this way.


😎

 

[mnewsham]

Insanity... Problem solved... Disconnected the PowerLine adapter completely from the router and now I am back into my ASUS login page, speed is back up to 100Mb.

These PowerLine adapters seem to be a real danger in apartment buildings.

Yup, powerline adapters need to be entirely isolated from the other apartment's electrical systems in order to function properly, older apartments especially have issues with this.

 

[mindless1]

These PowerLine adapters seem to be a real danger in apartment buildings.

I too feel that free internet is dangerous! 😛

Really though, all you probably need to do is make some config changes if the clients using the wallplug lan will allow it. Set them to your router IP (Edit: I mean as the gateway, not literally to the same IP) and change your router's IP to something other than what your neighbor is using. However I don't know if there will be other network conflicts... I'd try it and go from there.

 

[ibex333]

I too feel that free internet is dangerous! 😛

Well, if it was a descent speed free internet, maybe it would not be so dangerous. 😉

Thanks so much for your help. I'd never even consider this possibility and would end up spending a lot more time figuring this out.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Yeah. That's why those powerline adapters (if they follow the standard), provide for 128-bit security on each transceiver, much like wifi provides for 128-bit encryption.

Most powerline adapters ship in "open" mode, and it's up to the end-user to "pair them", which is generally vendor-specific. (Use a special utility that works over ethernet, or push a physical button on the unit, etc.)

 

[killster1]

haha good story i thought about this being one of the only solution other than someone had a ai mesh bridged thing going on but still good stuff! never tried a power line adapter but if i ever have a apartment ill try for that free 15mps to add to my line hehe

 

[ibex333]

just an update, the internet connection coming from that powerline adapter magically disappeared after 3 days... I plugged it back into my router to see if it would redirect me to that neighbors router login page instead of mine, but this time, it's going to my routers page like its supposed to, which means that connection is definitely not there at this point.

Perhaps someone living next to me was testing a powerline adapter and wasn't happy with the results, was smart enough to finally enable encryption or got rid of the adapter completely.

 

[mindless1]

^ Probably just one of those things that takes time.

- NSA got the memo to halt all surveillance but hadn't read it yet.

- You post this topic

- NSA hadn't had time to read all your internet posts yet to realize you posted this topic.

- Oops, you're onto them, pull the plug guys !!

😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀