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.

[OverMyDeadBody]

just because someone's accesing your wireless doesn't mean they can actually access your computer with your info on it though does it?

[Flibbertyjibbet]

My neighbours and I all live close together in terraced houses.
When I go onto the internet I have to pick from any or all of Tiscali, BT Internet or Sky internet depending which one, two or all of us is online. If someone else switches theirs on while I'm online I get a message to say that another user has been detected.
None of us is accessing the others or piggybacking, as its all security thingy wotisted with the number off your router when you first set up, its just that the wireless devices do pick up anyone else's wireless within quite a wide distance.
So it might just be someone close by also on the internet but using their own service provider.

[TinkerbellesMum]

It depends if there is a download limit, it will slow down your own connection making browsing and downloading difficult. It is possible to access another computer using the same router. It is covered under the law in the UK as theft.

[anorak]

Yes I would not begrudge someone else getting on the internet on my connection if that were all there were to it.

Thanks for all your messages. frasersmummy when I did as you suggested I had a message saying windows could not configure the wireless connection.

I haven't had any more of these pop-ups and really thing they were bogus ones from network magic to encourage me to take their free trial.

[popsycal]

you could do a system restore to before the date of the network magic thing and if it installd any software on your pc, that may take it off.....

[RTKangaMummy]

A problem with someone piggybacking you is that if they download ILLEGAL stuff then you are responsibel cos it is your ISP iirc

So if you are piggybacked by peadafile then they download stuff it is tracked onto your ISP

I think that is correct

[TinkerbellesMum]

You are right, you'd have no proof it wasn't you.

I'm pretty sure you can transfer files quite easily if you don't have a secured router.