can you see who is using your wireless connection?

I live in a densely populated apartment complex and have was wondering if
there is a ay to see if other wireless users are "piggybacking" on my
wireless connection. Is there a way to identify whose computer is using my
connection? Thanks

If you have a wireless router with DHCP enabled, it will generally show you
a client list (IP address, host name, MAC address). It's pretty easy to
tell whether something on the list is not yours, but it won't tell you the
physical location of the foreign client. You could try: Start/Run
\\<IPaddress> ENTER - you might learn some interesting things.

Doug Sherman
MCSE, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP

"fred" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:5DFF54D4-5393-47A8-86E5-(E-Mail Removed)...
> I live in a densely populated apartment complex and have was wondering if
> there is a ay to see if other wireless users are "piggybacking" on my
> wireless connection. Is there a way to identify whose computer is using
my
> connection? Thanks

Log on to your router - http://192.168.0.0 or 0.1 and in the html page you
open look for Administration (or so) tab - you might need an ethernet
connection to router pending your router security settings, and the
password. You should find a list of MAC addresses of computers/hardware who
access your router. You should also have a log of incoming and outgoing IP's
and ports/protocols.
You can simply manage your wifi encryption and accessibility settings; ex.,
disable Broadcast of SSID, allow a restricted number of users (1 or 2
depending what you connect), allow only listed MAC's - get yours via
Run->ipconfig /all etc
Michael
"fred" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:5DFF54D4-5393-47A8-86E5-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I live in a densely populated apartment complex and have was wondering if
> there is a ay to see if other wireless users are "piggybacking" on my
> wireless connection. Is there a way to identify whose computer is using
> my
> connection? Thanks

AirSnare will do that...

http://home.comcast.net/~jay.deboer/airsnare/

Of course if your wireless network is secured properly then you won't have
any intruders...:-)

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...ebruary10.mspx

--
Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...


"fred" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:5DFF54D4-5393-47A8-86E5-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I live in a densely populated apartment complex and have was wondering if
> there is a ay to see if other wireless users are "piggybacking" on my
> wireless connection. Is there a way to identify whose computer is using
> my
> connection? Thanks

Phillips wrote:
> Log on to your router - http://192.168.0.0 or 0.1 and in the html page you
> open look for Administration (or so) tab - you might need an ethernet
> connection to router pending your router security settings, and the
> password. You should find a list of MAC addresses of computers/hardware who
> access your router. You should also have a log of incoming and outgoing IP's
> and ports/protocols.
> You can simply manage your wifi encryption and accessibility settings; ex.,
> disable Broadcast of SSID, allow a restricted number of users (1 or 2
> depending what you connect), allow only listed MAC's - get yours via
> Run->ipconfig /all etc
> Michael
> "fred" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:5DFF54D4-5393-47A8-86E5-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> I live in a densely populated apartment complex and have was wondering if
>> there is a ay to see if other wireless users are "piggybacking" on my
>> wireless connection. Is there a way to identify whose computer is using
>> my
>> connection? Thanks
>
>
There is quite a bit of controversy on the merits of filtering MAC
addresses and disabling broadcast of SSID. Some say it only dissuades
the casual bandwidth thief and that a good packet sniffer will catch
this data. Apparently, only WPA has any chance of providing sufficient
wireless security.

"Sooner Al [MVP]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:O99jDv$(E-Mail Removed)...
> AirSnare will do that...
>
> http://home.comcast.net/~jay.deboer/airsnare/
>
> Of course if your wireless network is secured properly then you won't have
> any intruders...:-)
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...ebruary10.mspx
>
> --
> Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)
>
> Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
> mutual benefit of all of us...
> The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
> rights...
>
>
> "fred" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:5DFF54D4-5393-47A8-86E5-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>I live in a densely populated apartment complex and have was wondering if
>> there is a ay to see if other wireless users are "piggybacking" on my
>> wireless connection. Is there a way to identify whose computer is using
>> my
>> connection? Thanks
>

With SSID enabled, you can see conflicting channels, so can switch yours to
avoid interference...

That was just an example of simple 'counter-measures' one can implement with
a few mouse-clicks or keystrokes. Unbroadcasted SSID protects against casual
or accidental connections but not against dedicated hackers, for ex.
Michael
"optikl" <optik-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:jNidnfYar4FwDEbeRVn-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Phillips wrote:
>> Log on to your router - http://192.168.0.0 or 0.1 and in the html page
>> you open look for Administration (or so) tab - you might need an ethernet
>> connection to router pending your router security settings, and the
>> password. You should find a list of MAC addresses of computers/hardware
>> who access your router. You should also have a log of incoming and
>> outgoing IP's and ports/protocols.
>> You can simply manage your wifi encryption and accessibility settings;
>> ex., disable Broadcast of SSID, allow a restricted number of users (1 or
>> 2 depending what you connect), allow only listed MAC's - get yours via
>> Run->ipconfig /all etc
>> Michael
>> "fred" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:5DFF54D4-5393-47A8-86E5-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> I live in a densely populated apartment complex and have was wondering
>>> if
>>> there is a ay to see if other wireless users are "piggybacking" on my
>>> wireless connection. Is there a way to identify whose computer is using
>>> my
>>> connection? Thanks
>>
>>
> There is quite a bit of controversy on the merits of filtering MAC
> addresses and disabling broadcast of SSID. Some say it only dissuades the
> casual bandwidth thief and that a good packet sniffer will catch this
> data. Apparently, only WPA has any chance of providing sufficient wireless
> security.