How do I find out if someone is stealing my Wifi?

[ColdNeverBotheredMeAnyway]

Several months ago my neighbour had just moved in next door. His Wifi was not yet set up and he asked me if he could use mine temporarily as he needed it to sort out his bills etc - we don't have mobile phone signal where we live so I sympathised and gave him my password.

Since then, I've noticed my wifi is slow from time to time e.g. when I'm watching TV on streaming etc, and I wonder whether he's still using it and causing the slow down?

I tried to change my password, thinking I could just kick him off if he was on there - but my heating is connected to the wifi and it stopped working when I changed the password, I couldn't get the heaters to sync with the router, so I had no choice but to change it back to the old password.

Is there a way to check how many devices are connected to my Wifi and how heavily they're using it?

I don't know but they're not 'stealing' it if you gave them the password and haven't since changed it .

Just change the password.

change the password and get a new thermostat for the heater? (I assume that's what it is)

I currently have Sky, and I was able to check.

If you're on Sky, type 192.168.0.1 into a new browser window and it should bring up the maintenance stuff including what devices are connected. This is a link to information on how to block devices you don't recognise.

For a while when you don’t need the heating on change the password to “FuckingStopUsingMyWifiYouTightBastard”.

Then change it back so you can work your heating.....though there must be a way of getting the thermostat to work?? I would try sorting that again?

There definitely is a way, and a way to control who's logged in,and when they are logged in, without changing the password. You have to become the Administrator. Sadly, I don't know how.

You could try posting in'Geeky Stuff', to be found in 'Other Stuff'. Those cool kids will know how.

Technophobes. like me might just keep randomly turning it off.

Or , oc, you could ask him.

Just change the password and see if they casually mention it!

Google "how to change my Wi-fi password on (insert your) network"

On BT and Sky (only ones I've had) you can see which devices are currently or previously logged in and remove them if you want.

On the back of your router you will see a label with your Wi-Fi password there will also be an up address you can type in to your internet browser to login as admin to your router once logged in using the admin login on that label on the back of the router you can manage the devices connected to your internet hope this helps

If he's connected to your Wi-fi in the past, then his devices will still be able to pick up the signal. We've two networks and our iPads switch themselves over between networks so they are on the strongest signal.

When I go to my sister's, my phone will automatically connect to her Wi-fi.

Thank you, I'll try and see who is logged on

I can't change the password - all of my heating is wifi connected, and when I tried to change it before they all stopped working, and I spent hours trying to re-sync them before giving up and changing the password back again. It was a total nightmare.

I think you can log in as admin and set the router to allow/block specific mac addresses of devices connecting. Just tell it to only allow your stuff and the heating and block the rest.

You need to figure out how to change the password your heating is using.

If he's connected all his devices to your WiFi (and quite possibly given the password to visitors too); those devices will automatically connect when they are near your router. You can manually block individual MAC addresses; but you'd need to be sure they were him, and you'd need to keep going back to see if there are more devices and blocking them whilst they are connecting.

You need to change the password; in short, you've made your network insecure by sharing it.

Contact your heating provider to get instructions on how to re-sync the heating to the router.
Change the name of your WiFi to "GetYourOwnWiFiYouCheapSoAndSo" and reset the password while you're at it.

Relax in the knowledge that you're in complete control of your heating and your WiFi.