I think someone is piggybacking my internet connection - what can I do about it?

[anorak]

I've had two messages come up "new device detected, name ***, Now online in your home network"

Is one of my neighbours piggybacking and if so what can I do about it please?

It's def not coming from my house, there is no one here but me.

password protect it

password

I'm not really sure how to do that. My laptop is password-protected for log-on but our main computer isn't. However I only have the laptop switched on at the moment.

What I mean is I have to put in a password to start up my laptop for any use not just internet. After that I can click straight through to the internet.

Main family computer - no password but it's switched off atm. How do you add a password?

I THINK you have to put security settings on your wireless connection. DH does this stuff so not sure how! Maybe try googling it?

if you use BT, there's some stuff here:

bt.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/bt.cfg/php/enduser/cci/bt_adp.php?p_faqid=10490&cat_lvl1=346&cat_lvl2=401&p_ cv=2.401&p_cats=346,401

you using windows?

right click on your little wireless icon in bottom right and select "view wireless networks". then you want advanced settings a couple of times and you should be able to set a password.

Apols for awful typing, one handed.

I've just googled but it's like a foreign language to me

This is a worry.

do you need more help anorak?

That would really annoy me, I bloody pay for it! Get some good security. It will really slow down your connection/downloads.

Right, I have just done what Jane suggested, and it appears I have a firewall setting that stops anyone else connecting. I am beginning to smell a rat.

I had trouble connecting this morning (it happens a fair bit, I live in Bermuda and sometimes stuff like the weather affects my ISP) and while trying to connect I clicked on a thing called windows network magic that I'd never noticed before. It offered me a free trial; I declined.

These piggybacker alerts came in the form of a network magic pop-up - could they be bogus alerts designed to make me accept that free trial?

I have never had any notifications of piggybacking before and now suddenly two within 10 minutes

You need to set a password on your router. Do you know which router you have?

Do you have spybot anorak? It will scan your computer for spyware and other such things that have made their way onto your computer. It's free and I have used it for years. You need to check for updates about once a week to keep in relevant but it's easy. here it is

Probably worth doing:
Virus Scan
Spybot Scan

Then asking anyone who has used the computer recently, if they have installed anything.

Sound advice, NannyNick.
You should ensure your wireless network is secure too.

Thank you all. Yes I have spybot and AVG. Haven't the first clue how to set a password on my router, nor do I have any idea where the paperwork with numbers on is. DH got the internet installed weeks before I arrived in the country and filed the paperwork away.

Do you think my network magic theory could be possible?

(Mr. EPPM here, EPPM off on a nappy change)

Often routers have a console that's accessible via your brower, and often it resides at:

192.168.0.1

Try visiting that address in your browser. It should ask for a password if the router's been configured with one. Otherwise, it may show you a console that will allow you to specify one.

Or it may not, it really depends

anorak you can anls get a tracker thing to monitor how much you download...dh has one on ours as he rather paranoidly imo thought the same was happening with us......I dont think it is though - I just think he downlaods too much!!!

will find you a link

is your home network secured

to check..double click on your wireless icon (down beside your clock) then click view wireless networks this will show all the networks in your area and will tell you if its secured or open

if its secured then no-one can access it and its something bogus on your pc.

link{http://www.broadbandchoices.co.uk/broadband-download-monitor.html\broadband download monitor}
its free

Can I just ask - why do you care?

try again

DSM I have two concerns, privacy and security.

I asked DH about it last night and I am going to leave the ball in his court as he is super-security conscious. Thanks for all your suggestions.

ok ..

just so you know I answer these kind questions for a living

so let me know if you need more help

But is it costing you more as a result?

If not, does it really matter? It doesn't hurt you does it?