Who's Stealing Your Wi-Fi? 7 Ways to Check Router Connections

Introduction: Why Your Wi-Fi Might Be Slowing Down for No Reason

Have you noticed that your internet has become slower, even though your plan hasn't changed? Pages are taking longer to load, videos are slower on YouTube Is your computer constantly freezing and online games lagging? One possible reason is foreign devices, connected to your router. Neighbors, guests, or even random passersby could have cracked your network password (or exploited a vulnerability in old firmware) and are now hogging your traffic.

According to the study Kaspersky By 2023, one in five home Wi-Fi users had experienced at least one unauthorized connection. Moreover, in 60% of cases, network owners weren't even aware of the "outsiders" for months! In this article, we'll look at how check the list of connected devices, identify other people's gadgets and block them forever - even if a neighbor changes their MAC address.

Spoiler: you don't need complex software for diagnostics—standard router tools or free mobile apps are enough. And if you're using a router from Rostelecom, Beeline or MTS, we will separately consider the nuances of their firmware.

Method 1: Checking via the router's web interface (universal method)

The most reliable way is to log in router admin panel and view the list of connected devices. This instruction applies to most models: TP-Link, ASUS, Keenetic, Zyxel, Tenda etc.

How to do it:

1. Find out Your router's IP address. Usually it is 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1You can check this via the Windows command line:

   ipconfig /all

   Look for the line “Default gateway” - this is the router address.

2. Enter the IP into the address bar of your browser (e.g. http://192.168.0.1).
3. Enter your login and password. By default, this is often admin/admin or admin/passwordIf it doesn't fit, check the sticker on the router body.
4. Find the section with connected devices. It's called differently in different firmware versions:
   • 🔹 TP-Link: DHCP → DHCP Clients or Wireless Mode → Statistics
   • 🔹 ASUS: Network map or Clients
   • 🔹 Keenetic: Devices (in the main menu)
   • 🔹 Zyxel Keenetic: Monitoring → Devices

The list will show all devices connected to your network—both via cable and Wi-Fi. Please note:

• 📱 Unknown device names (For example, Android-123456 or iPhone-abcdef).
• 🖥️ MAC addresses — a unique identifier for each device. If you see an unfamiliar address (for example, 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E), this is a reason to be wary.
• 📊 TrafficSome routers display how much data each device is consuming. If an unknown device is consuming gigabytes, it's a clear sign of data theft.

Take a photo of the MAC address and name

Check if this is your device (ask your family)

Block the device through the router settings

Change your Wi-Fi password to a more complex one-->

⚠️ Attention: If you rent a router from a provider (for example, Rostelecom or Beeline), the interface may differ. In this case, look for the "Devices" or "Clients" section in the main menu. Some providers block access to advanced settings—in that case, use the alternative methods in this article.

Method 2: Mobile apps for network monitoring

Don't want to fiddle with your router settings? Install one of the specialized apps. They scan your network and display all connected devices in a convenient view.

Top 3 verified apps:

• 📱 Fing (Android/iOS) — the most popular. Shows devices, their MAC addresses, manufacturers, and even network vulnerabilities. The free version is limited to one network.
• 📱 NetScan (Android) — scans the network in seconds, saves connection history, and includes notifications for new devices.
• 📱 WiFi Guard (Android) - Automatically compares current connections with a "white list" of your devices and alerts you to any unauthorized connections.

How to use (using example) Fing):

1. Connect to your Wi-Fi network.
2. Launch the application and click Scan.
3. Wait for the scan to complete (usually 10-30 seconds).
4. Browse the list of devices. The app automatically detects the device type (smartphone, laptop, TV, etc.) and manufacturer (e.g. Samsung, Apple, Xiaomi).

Benefits of the apps:

• 🔍 No need to go into router settings.
• 📊 Traffic visualization (which devices are using the most network bandwidth).
• 🔔 Notifications about new connections.

Fing

NetScan

WiFi Guard

Other

I don't use it-->

⚠️ AttentionMobile apps only show devices that are active at the time of scanning. If a neighbor connects at night while you're sleeping, the app won't "see" them. For 24/7 monitoring, set up notifications on your router (if supported).

Method 3: Checking via the command line (for Windows)

If you prefer the "classic" methods, you can check the connected devices via Windows command lineThis method does not require installing additional software and works on any OS version.

Instructions:

1. Open Command Prompt (Win + R → enter cmd → Enter).
2. Enter the command:

   arp -a

   Click Enter.

3. You will see a table with the IP and MAC addresses of all devices on your local network.

How to decipher the output:

• 🔢 IP addresses species 192.168.x.x — these are devices on your network.
• 🆔 MAC addresses (in the format 00-1A-2B-3C-4D-5E) — unique identifiers. They can be used to identify the device manufacturer (the first three pairs of characters). For example:
  • 00:1A:79 — Samsung
  • 3C:5A:B4 — Google (including Nest, ChromeCast)
  • B8:27:EB — Raspberry Pi

To find out the manufacturer by MAC address, use the service MAC Vendors (enter the first 6 characters of the address).

arp -d

Then wait 1-2 minutes and enter again arp -a — the list will be up to date.-->

Method 4: Analyzing traffic through a router (for advanced users)

Some routers allow you not only to see connected devices, but also analyze their trafficThis will help identify "greedy" neighbors who are downloading torrents or watching 4K videos at your expense.

Where to find traffic statistics:

What to do if there is too much traffic:

• 📉 Limit your speed for suspicious devices (if the router supports QoS or Bandwidth Control).
• ⏱️ Set a schedule (for example, turning off Wi-Fi at night when everyone is sleeping).
• 🚫 Lock your device by MAC address (more on this in the next section).

⚠️ Attention: If you see suspicious activity in your traffic statistics (for example, a device consumes 100 GB overnight), but you cannot identify it by its MAC address, this may be a sign not only of a “freeloading neighbor,” but also hacking a routerIn this case, it is recommended to reset the settings to factory defaults and update the firmware.

Method 5: Blocking third-party devices by MAC address

Found a stranger? The most reliable way to get rid of him is block its MAC address in the router settings. Even if a neighbor changes the device's name, they won't be able to connect.

Instructions for popular routers:

• 🔒 TP-Link:
  1. Go to Wireless Mode → MAC Filter.
  2. Select the " modeAllow only specified devices to connect to the network».
  3. Add your devices' MAC addresses to the whitelist.
  4. Save the settings.
• 🔒 ASUS:
  1. Open Wireless Network → MAC Filter.
  2. Turn on filtering and select the "Allow».
  3. Add MAC addresses of your gadgets.

🔒 Keenetic:

1. Go to Home Network → Devices.
2. Find the suspicious device and click "Block».

Important nuances:

• 🔄 If you block all devices except your own, new devices (such as guest smartphones) won't be able to connect. You'll have to add them manually each time.
• 🔧 Some advanced users can spoof MAC addressIn this case, the only solution is to change your Wi-Fi password to a more complex one.
• 🔒 After blocking Be sure to change your Wi-Fi password (instructions in the next section).

Method 6: Change your password and security settings

If you find foreign devices, it’s not enough to just block them – you need to prevent new connectionsTo do this:

1. Change your Wi-Fi password:

• 🔑 The password must be long at least 12 characters.
• 🔤 Use a mix of letters (upper and lower case), numbers, and symbols (e.g. WiFi_7#kL9!pQ2).
• ❌ Avoid using obvious combinations: dates of birth, names, words from a dictionary.

2. Change the default security settings:

• 🛡️ Set the encryption type WPA3 (or WPA2-PSK, if WPA3 is not supported). WEP And WPA are considered obsolete and easily hacked.
• 🔄 Turn it off WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) - this feature is often used for hacking.
• 📡 Hide network name (SSID) is useless - it does not protect against hacking, but only complicates the connection of legitimate devices.

3. Update your router firmware:

• 🔄 Outdated firmware contains vulnerabilities that hackers exploit.
• 📥 The update is usually available in the section Administration → Software Update.
How to create a strong password?

Use a password manager (eg. Bitwarden or KeePass) to generate random combinations.

Take the first letter of each word from your favorite quote and add numbers/symbols. For example, the phrase "I like to drink tea in the morning at 7 o'clock" becomes YalpchUv7ch!.

Don't use the same password for your Wi-Fi and your provider's personal account!

Method 7: Using a guest network (for security)

If you often have guests or are afraid that the password for your main network might have leaked, set up guest networkThis is a separate Wi-Fi network with limited rights:

• 🔌 Guests will not be able to access your local devices (printers, network drives).
• 📶 You can limit the speed or operating time of the guest network.
• 🔒 The main network will remain protected even if the guest password is hacked.

How to set up a guest network:

• 📶 TP-Link: Wireless Mode → Guest Access.
• 📶 ASUS: Guest access in the main menu.
• 📶 Keenetic: Home Network → Segments → Guest.

Recommendations for setting up:

• 🔑 Set a simpler (but not obvious) password for the guest network.
• ⏱️ Set up automatic shutdown of the guest network at night.
• 📊 Limit the speed (for example, to 10 Mbps) to prevent guests from “eating up” all your traffic.

⚠️ AttentionA guest network isn't a panacea—if a neighbor connects to the main network before it's created, they'll remain listed as devices. Always combine this method with other methods (MAC blocking, password changes).

What to do if nothing helps?

If you've tried all the methods but suspicious devices continue to appear, it's possible:

• 🕵️‍♂️ Your router hacked (for example, through a vulnerability in the firmware).
• 📡 Someone is using repeater (signal booster) connected to your network.
• 🏢 In an apartment building there may be crossing of channels — you see your neighbor's devices, but they are not connected to your router (false alarm).

Actions in difficult cases:

1. 🔄 Reset your router to factory settings (button Reset on the back panel).
2. 🔧 Update the firmware to the latest version (download from the manufacturer's official website).
3. 📞 Contact your provider — perhaps the problem is on their side (for example, a data leak in your personal account).
4. 🛡️ Buy a new router with support WPA3 and protection from attacks (for example, ASUS RT-AX88U or TP-Link Archer AX6000).

If you suspect your router has been hacked, check:

• 🔌 Unknown port forwarding rules (Port Forwarding).
• 📡 Unauthorized DNS changes (in the section Internet → DNS).
• 🔄 Unusual scheduled tasks (if the router supports Cron).

FAQ: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Is it possible to find out which device is connected by its MAC address?

Yes, you can determine the manufacturer using the first 3 bytes (6 characters) of the MAC address. For example:

• 3C:5A:B4 — Google (including Nest, ChromeCast)
• B8:27:EB — Raspberry Pi
• 00:1A:79 — Samsung

A complete list of manufacturers can be found on the website MAC Vendors.

My neighbor connects at night when I'm sleeping. How do I catch him?

There are several ways:

1. Set up notifications about new devices in the router (if supported) or in the application Fing.
2. Turn on connection logging in the router settings (section System Tools → Journal).
3. Use Wi-Fi schedule — turn off the network at night (for example, from 00:00 to 6:00).

I blocked my device, but it reappeared. Why?

Possible reasons:

• Neighbour changed the MAC address your device (this can be done in the Android settings or through special programs on your PC).
• You only blocked Wi-Fi connection, and the neighbor connected via cable.
• In the router the settings were reset (for example, after a firmware update).

Solution: Combine MAC blocking with change password And disabling WPS.

Is it possible to find out what websites a neighbor visits through a router?

Technically yes, but:

• 🔍 If a neighbor uses HTTPS (which is 99% of websites today), you will only see the domain (for example, vk.com), but not specific pages.
• 📜 In routers Keenetic and some models ASUS there is a function Access control, which keeps a log of visited websites.
• ⚠️ Collecting such information may violate Personal Data Law (Federal Law 152). Use it for personal purposes only.

How to protect yourself from router hacking?

Basic safety measures:

• 🔑 Change the default administrator password (Not admin/admin!).
• 🔄 Disable remote access to the router (section Administration → Remote Management).
• 🛡️ Turn on the firewall (if available in the settings).
• 📥 Update your firmware regularly.
• 🔌 Disable unused services (For example, Telnet, FTP).