Has your internet slowed down, or do you just feel that someone unfamiliar is hanging on your WiFi? It is not paranoia, a poorly secured network tends to be an easy target. The good news is that it can be easily checked and solved. Let us get to it.

How to find out who is connected

The most reliable way is to look directly into the router:

  1. Log in to the router (via the address on the sticker on the device).
  2. Find the connected devices section (often “Connected devices”, “DHCP clients” or “Devices”).
  3. You will see a list of everything currently connected, with a name and an address.

There are also simple mobile apps that show the devices on the network clearly. The principle of addresses is explained in the article on the basics of networking.

How to spot an unfamiliar device

The list tends to have more items than you expect, because almost everything is connected today. Proceed like this:

  • List your devices. Phones, laptops, TV, console, smart devices, cameras.
  • Compare with the list in the router. What you cannot place is suspicious.
  • Help yourself by turning things off. When you temporarily turn a device off, it disappears from the list, and so you identify it.

Note, many devices announce themselves with an incomprehensible name, so an unknown name in itself need not mean an intruder.

What to do if someone unfamiliar is there

The fastest and most effective solution:

  • Change the WiFi password to a new, strong and unique one. This disconnects everyone and reconnects only your devices.
  • Use WPA3 or WPA2 security. Older types are easily broken.
  • Change the password to the router itself too, if it is still the factory one.

How to secure the network reliably

So you do not have to solve the problem repeatedly:

  • A strong and unique WiFi password. No birth dates or “12345678”.
  • Up-to-date router firmware that fixes security holes, more in the article on how to secure a router.
  • Disable WPS, which tends to be a weak spot.
  • A separate guest network for visitors, so they have no access to your devices. The principle is complemented by a captive portal.
  • Separated smart devices, more in the article on securing a smart home.

Why it matters

Someone unfamiliar on your WiFi is not just about slowed internet. They can monitor your traffic, get to shared files or abuse your network for illegal activity that is then linked to you. That is why securing it is worth taking seriously.

Conclusion

Finding out who is on your WiFi is a matter of looking into the router. If you find something suspicious, just change the password and properly secure the network. A few minutes of prevention saves you trouble and slowed internet.

Suspect an unfamiliar device or want to have your network properly secured? Get in touch, we will check the network and set it up to be secure.

This article is part of our Cybersecurity overview.