Do I have a bandwith 'thief'?

Of late I've noticed a lot of activity from my broadband wireless
modem/router (flashing light) even when my PC is either off or not
connected to the Internet.

I suspect I have a neighbour who is 'stealing' my bandwith. Would I be
correct in thinking this and is there any way I can check if someone is
accessing my connection?

I don't have any security set on my modem/router and am loath to go to
all that hassle if I am wrong in my suspicions. I have also tried
pulling the AC plug out of the unit for a while. This sometimes
restores it to its 'idle' state but later it'll be active again.

Any suggestions, recommendations or similar case stories would be very
welcome.

Thanks.

> I don't have any security set on my modem/router and am loath to go to
> all that hassle if I am wrong in my suspicions.

Well you know what you need to do then !!. Enable WPA encryption and your
problems solved.

Dave

In message <(E-Mail Removed) .com>,
Rick22 <(E-Mail Removed)> writes
>Of late I've noticed a lot of activity from my broadband wireless
>modem/router (flashing light) even when my PC is either off or not
>connected to the Internet.
>
>I suspect I have a neighbour who is 'stealing' my bandwith. Would I be
>correct in thinking this and is there any way I can check if someone is
>accessing my connection?

Go into the router GUI and see if there are connected devices you don't
recognise.
>
>I don't have any security set on my modem/router and am loath to go to
>all that hassle if I am wrong in my suspicions.

?

Even if it's not happening now it could happen anytime.

--
dave @ stejonda

"Rick22" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) oups.com...
> Of late I've noticed a lot of activity from my broadband wireless
> modem/router (flashing light) even when my PC is either off or not
> connected to the Internet.
>
> I suspect I have a neighbour who is 'stealing' my bandwith. Would I be
> correct in thinking this and is there any way I can check if someone is
> accessing my connection?
>
> I don't have any security set on my modem/router and am loath to go to
> all that hassle if I am wrong in my suspicions. I have also tried
> pulling the AC plug out of the unit for a while. This sometimes
> restores it to its 'idle' state but later it'll be active again.
>
> Any suggestions, recommendations or similar case stories would be very
> welcome.
>
> Thanks.
>

Just think of your wireless router as your car. You wouldn't leave your car
open with the keys inside in the middle of a large town would you? So why do
you leave your wireless router wide open to any hacker/thief who can see
your signal.

Set WPA on the wireless side, change the default SSID and disable the SSID
broadcast, and also change the default username/password. I would go one
step further and use static IP addresses for the local machines. Disable
DHCP in the router and assign IP addresses (preferably outside the standard
192.168.x.x subnet, use the 10.x.x.x. address range) to each machine.

gort wrote:
>> I don't have any security set on my modem/router and am loath to go to
>> all that hassle if I am wrong in my suspicions.
>
> Well you know what you need to do then !!. Enable WPA encryption and your
> problems solved.
>
Set up a MAC filter as well. Also, many routers will let you see what's
connected to the wireless side, so just ask it what it thinks when
things are busy.

Mind you, my father's wired router, with no PCs active, can often have
the WAN activity light flashing like a disco light show just due to all
the hackers trying to get past it.

--
Dave
mail da (E-Mail Removed) (without the space)
http://www.llondel.org
So many gadgets, so little time

"Rick22" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) oups.com...
> Of late I've noticed a lot of activity from my broadband wireless
> modem/router (flashing light) even when my PC is either off or not
> connected to the Internet.
>
> I suspect I have a neighbour who is 'stealing' my bandwith. Would I be
> correct in thinking this and is there any way I can check if someone is
> accessing my connection?
>
> I don't have any security set on my modem/router and am loath to go to
> all that hassle if I am wrong in my suspicions. I have also tried
> pulling the AC plug out of the unit for a while. This sometimes
> restores it to its 'idle' state but later it'll be active again.

Why not stick a big sign outside your property advertising free broadband
access for all? ;-)

Whoever is using your wireless access, could be spamming via your
connection, or downloading kiddie porn, guess who's responsible?

Setup WPA-PSK now, before it all ends in tears, you know it makes sense ;-)

P.

On Thu, 19 Oct 2006 03:43:40 UTC, "Rick22" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> I don't have any security set on my modem/router and am loath to go to
> all that hassle if I am wrong in my suspicions.

Are you going to wait until someone downloads p0rn via your connection,
and the police bash in your door at 5 a.m.? Fix the security now...

--
[ 7'ism - a condition by which the sufferer experiences an inability
to give concise answers, express reasoned argument or opinion.
Usually accompanied by silly noises and gestures - incurable, early
euthanasia recommended. ]

"Rick22" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) oups.com...
| Of late I've noticed a lot of activity from my broadband wireless
| modem/router (flashing light) even when my PC is either off or not
| connected to the Internet.
|
| I suspect I have a neighbour who is 'stealing' my bandwith. Would I be
| correct in thinking this and is there any way I can check if someone is
| accessing my connection?

Leave your access point open and suspect you may have a bandwidth theif? ROFL!
I guess you don't use the security features on your home doors either then?

Rick22 wrote:
> Of late I've noticed a lot of activity from my broadband wireless
> modem/router (flashing light) even when my PC is either off or not
> connected to the Internet.
>
> I suspect I have a neighbour who is 'stealing' my bandwith. Would I be
> correct in thinking this and is there any way I can check if someone is
> accessing my connection?
>
> I don't have any security set on my modem/router and am loath to go to
> all that hassle if I am wrong in my suspicions. I have also tried
> pulling the AC plug out of the unit for a while. This sometimes
> restores it to its 'idle' state but later it'll be active again.
>
> Any suggestions, recommendations or similar case stories would be very
> welcome.
>
> Thanks.
>

The other possibility is that your computer IS accessing the network
frequently.

If you have running programs, e-mail with short refresh times,
Messenger, the router itself, etc these will just 'blip' the network but
give the impression of heavy use.

Personally, I would assume in the first place that it is my computer and
try to disprove it. Next, see if I can find a list of attached devices.

If it is your neighbour, he may be equally naive and assume that the
strongest signal is him. Can you be sure which neighbour it is? Signals
can travel a long way. If you confront them they may be upset to
discover that they have broken the law. Neighbourly trust can rebound.
Taking another posters analogy - give your neighbour your house key in
case of emergency whilst you are on holiday. Come home to find the house
stripped but no sign of break-in. First thoughts? Second thoughts will
be that a burglar has efficiently picked your locks.

But, please, try and put some security in place. It will ease your mind
tremendously.

flop

"Rick22" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) oups.com...
> Of late I've noticed a lot of activity from my broadband wireless
> modem/router (flashing light) even when my PC is either off or not
> connected to the Internet.
>
> I suspect I have a neighbour who is 'stealing' my bandwith. Would I be
> correct in thinking this and is there any way I can check if someone is
> accessing my connection?
>
> I don't have any security set on my modem/router and am loath to go to
> all that hassle if I am wrong in my suspicions. I have also tried
> pulling the AC plug out of the unit for a while. This sometimes
> restores it to its 'idle' state but later it'll be active again.
>
> Any suggestions, recommendations or similar case stories would be very
> welcome.
>
what wireless modem/router to you have?