Hackers using someone else’s wifi come with various effects, some small, some big, some evm attracting legal consequences. Here is an outline are some of the consequences that may arise from a hacker using one’s wifi. Let us know more about “How To Stop Hackers From Using My Wifi?”.
- They may gain access to private and personal information such as credit card details, security details
- They may plant viruses or malware
- Hackers may use one’s wifi to visit illegal sites and gain access to illegal content
- Hackers may be able to tamper with private information of the wifi owner, destroy information or perhaps even sell them.
It is too annoying how common it is for neighbors or others to hack through security defenses to connect to wifi networks that do not belong to them. It might seem inconsequential when someone realizes that someone without authority is using someone else’s wifi but it actually is not. This article will provide relevant information on ways to prevent hackers from using one’s wifi network.
Ways to stop hackers from using one’s wifi
- Setup or change wifi passwords
- Change SSID
- Change wifi router username
- Update router
- Unplug router
- Setting up notifications whenever a connection occurs
- Setting up firewalls
1. Setup or change wifi passwords
The first way to stop hackers from using one’s wifi is by setting up a password for the wifi, which will cause every connection to require the setup password to be imputed. If a wifi password already exists and yet the hackers are still connecting iot the wifi, changing the wifi password should be able to keep them out and restrict them from making a connection to the wifi. The best sorts of password contain capital letters, numericals, and special characters
To change wifi password
- Enter the IP address of the router into any web browser
- Login using the username and password of the router
- Select the wireless security tab on the next page that appears after logging in
- Enter the desired combination of password in the wifi password box
- Scroll to the bottom of the page, and click on the SAVE button to make the changes effective.
2. Change SSID
An SSID is what is referred to as the name of any particular wifi network. Any wifi SSID that remains on default will be easy to be hacked, once a wifi network is setup, a user should ensure to change the SSID and make it unique
To change SSID
Locate the IP address of the router
Log into the administrative console
Change the SSID
3. Update router
Regularly updating a wifi router ensures the network is able to defend itself from hackers, and is able to protect against security threats
To update a wifi router
- Enter the routers IP address into a web browser
- Enter the login details of the router; username and password
- Find the update tab under the advanced administration section
- Go to manufacturer’s website of the router;
- Download a firmware update file from the manufacturer’s website
- Move the file to a desktop after extracting it
- Back in the update section select choose file
- Click on the firmware update file that was downloaded at step 5
- Being update by selecting the update button
Router update should begin, one process complete, the router should reboot itself, otherwise manually reboot the router by pressing down the power button for no less than 10 seconds.
4. Unplugging router
This is an immediate solution, for when other methods have been used yet, but one wants a hacker to stop using their wifi immediately. Unplugging a router shuts down the wifi network and immediately disconnects any device connected to it.
5. Enabling firewall
A firewall acts as a sort of wall for lack of a better word. Upon setting up security rules and instructions, a firewall monitors outgoing and incoming network traffic thus being able to stop external threats from gaining entry or access.
To set up a firewall
- On the routers configuration page access the firewall firewall or any section with a similar name
- Click on enable
- Select save
- Select apply
- Router will reboot immediately
When the router comes on again, setup security instructions and rules as desired.
To stop a hacker from using one’s wifi
- Tips to stop hackers from using one’s wifi
- Stop divulging personal information
- Do not leave your wifi without password protection
- Update wifi router regularly
- Ensure wifi password is unique and is not easy to guess.
- Dot reuse passwords, codes or SSID
- Ensure SSID and wifi passwords don’t have relation to simple things such as birthdays, names, etc
- Change wifi password regularly
Conclusion
As this article has highlighted the risks that follow when a hacker using someone else’s wifi, we hope the methods provided in the article will be able to put a stop to the ability of the hacker from making further usage of the wifi network that does not belong to him, whether its by updating the router, by changing password or even by unplugging the router.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is a hacker?
A hacker is anyone who connects to someone else’s wifi network without being granted the permission or authority to make such a connection.
