Confirming others accessing unsecured wireless broadband network?

Be hard to tell unless you have some sort of logging on your wireless router. Access your routers administration pages and see what options you have for this. If you have no logging on you may only be able to tell whos logged on at a particular time by looking at the DHCP table on the router.

If concerned then change your router admin password, make sure you've got security enabled, SSID set to not broadcast and change your password keys for wireless access.

If youre really concerned, restrict access by MAC address filtering so only PCs or laptops in that list will have access. Google for instructions on how to do this for your own router model.
 
Your router should (mine does) show the ip addresses of whos logged on at that time you check it. Also, as I have it set to serve out ip addresses, I can see the details of ip leases obtained within the last 2 days - including the computer name of the pc.
If you are concerned that your network is compromised, do what car said and apply MAC address filtering (something i also do) - allowing only the MAC addresses of pcs known to you - access the network.

The other thing would be to change wireless settings - switching from WEP encryption to WPA PSK (assuming it supports this standard). Whilst both can be cracked, it takes a considerable amount of time to crack WPA. Anyone could crack WEP - and often in 10 minutes (i've done it myself ...hasten to add only for my own interest in finding out how difficult it would be and it most certainly wasnt difficult).

Also, its no harm to change router settings so that your wireless network is hidden ie. shouldnt show up when others scan for networks within their range...
 
gebbel said:
Is it possible to tell if others can do (or have done) this?
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Can I ask why you wish to do this? Presumably the router has now been secured and you are not proposing a honeytrap or similar?

Are you are concerned that someone has been downloading illegal material through your router or similar?
 
rmelly said:
Are you are concerned that someone has been downloading illegal material through your router or similar?
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To be honest, my wireless network (Clearwire broadband routed through Belkin 54g Router) is not secure. I live in an apartment, with a duplex above me and another apartment to one side. I was just wondering if I could easily identify whether or not my neighbours had been "surfin' a free ride".
PS I know it's stupid that I have not secured it, but I tried before and found it very complicated. Ended up having to call Belkin and wait 40 minutes for customer services. They were hopeless.
 
you have little or no chance of finding this out, certainly not historic usage. You should focus on securing it and logging as outlined if available.

You probably should turn it off until you can secure it.

In your situation, I'd be less concerned about the monetary aspect (free ride etc) than what might have actually been downloaded through YOUR connection e.g. illegal music/movie downloads etc.
 
post the particular model number for the router. Once you can get into the config page for the router, it will be very easy after this.
 
gebbel said:
Belkin Wireless G Plus Router. Model F5D7231-4
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Ok, just to kick things off, If you don't have a copy of the manual, [broken link removed]
Access routers config page by typing in following url => http://192.168.2.1/
Have you setup a password for the route itself? (cos if not, illegal users have control over your router as well - which is much worse). If not, set one up immediately.
Everything else can be done fairly easier from the routers web interface. Just double check against the manual.

Post back here if you have any problems.
 
Thanks S.Sid,

Secured the network using WPA encryption (whatever that is!). It seems like it is the most basic form of security. I created a password, but thought that I would have to enter it every time I log on. This is not the case. How can I be sure now that others cannot access the network?
 
gebbel said:
How can I be sure now that others cannot access the network?
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1: Change the WPA key from time to time, don't use words that can be found in a dictionary and make it long and tricky ith numbers and punctuation characters so it cannot be easily guessed.

2: Set the wireless network to only accept the MAC addresses of your devices.

3: Switch to static IP addressing.

4: Switch off the router when it's not in use.
 
My connection is now a "Security-Enabled Wireless Network (WPA)".
I created a password while enabling this security. My question now is why am I not prompted to enter this password every time I log on? When I switch on the Computer and Router, it just connects up like before. Where's the security in that?
 
gebbel said:
My connection is now a "Security-Enabled Wireless Network (WPA)".
I created a password while enabling this security. My question now is why am I not prompted to enter this password every time I log on? When I switch on the Computer and Router, it just connects up like before. Where's the security in that?
Click to expand...

It's because your computer conveniently remembers the key. You only need to enter this the first time you connect, all subsequent connections the computer remembers it and passes it on for you. If anyone else tries to connect they will have to have the key to do so.
 
I hate to say it it but a quick Google will throw up numerous top tip guides for securing your wireless connection covering everything mentioned above and more.
 
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