Someone is using my wireless connection

[bigtom212]

This is my first time here so please bear with me. I got cable awhile ago and I didn't know anything about security. After reading a few articles on the net, I was horrified to find that I should have set a password. I always wondered why my speed was so much slower than advertised so I checked recently and found out someone has been using my connection. I live in an apartment building so it is hard to guess who is doing this to me. Since that person is using my connection, I think I have the right to see what sites he goes to and find out his identity. He has to type in his name at some point when he uses my cable. Is there a way for me to find out what he types and what he has been doing with my connection?

[Sava700]

Ok i'm assuming your using a wireless router?? In this case its going to have to go to your ISP to find out what they are doing or where they surf to find identy. I'm thinking there are ways to block the distance a router will put out on... or some have switches for different channels so i've heard. Otherwise you may have to just break down and get a wired router to keep someone from stealin bandwidth. If this doesn't help please give other specifics on whats going on and what you use for equipment?

[jumpingrat]

Try enabling a WEP key for encryption. Only authorized computers will be able to access your router. As for a surfing history, I imagine that the ISP has general usage tracks and statistical history. But as for individual sites, multiply all that info times all the customers and soon they would be out of room on their servers. Of course the person who was using your bandwidth will have it on their computer, but short of knocking on doors I would'nt bother. Just enable a secure key for the router, and their bandwith leaching will be over.

[buckifan]

Some things you can do to avoid becoming an unwilling ISP for your apartment complex.

(1) Already mentioned above, enable WEP. The key can be found by an experienced hacker but at least you will slow him/her down.

(2)Change your SSID and DO NOT broadcast it. By broadcasting you are begging people steal your bandwidth.

(3) DO NOT use your router as a DHCP server. Assign a static gateway address to your router and a small range of addresses to your clients by using subnetting. Why make it easy for a hacker? Let them guess what IP addresses will work.

(4) Use the Access List option on your router. This will allow only clients on your network that have a specific MAC address.

These tips will not stop a determined hacker but 99% will just give up and move on to an easier target.