leeching my internet

sendme

sendme

CAGiversary!
I got home from work last night and thought I would check the program that came with my Linksys router. It has a nice little picture of every computer or game system that has been on ones network. Well on mine it should be my PS3, 2 computers and my 360. When I looked at it I saw another 360 and 3 other computers that were not mine. Now I would have just set it up so that no one could access the wireless but last time I did that my PS3 could not get online. I know it was something I was doing because I had it working fine in the past with all the security set up for the network. This weekend when I have time off of work I plan on fixing this. I was wondering if their was anyway I could get back at the person that is trying to leech off of my net work. Right now I have everything that they have used to leech the internet from me marked as an intruder. Would that keep them from using my internet with the computer?
 
[quote name='sendme']I got home from work last night and thought I would check the program that came with my Linksys router. It has a nice little picture of every computer or game system that has been on ones network. Well on mine it should be my PS3, 2 computers and my 360. When I looked at it I saw another 360 and 3 other computers that were not mine. Now I would have just set it up so that no one could access the wireless but last time I did that my PS3 could not get online. I know it was something I was doing because I had it working fine in the past with all the security set up for the network. This weekend when I have time off of work I plan on fixing this. I was wondering if their was anyway I could get back at the person that is trying to leech off of my net work. Right now I have everything that they have used to leech the internet from me marked as an intruder. Would that keep them from using my internet with the computer?[/QUOTE]

Set up your WEP (easily cracked by anyone giving a shit, i.e probably not anyone nearby) or WPA protection in the firewall right bloody now.

For the love of fuck, don't leave your login as admin/password.

Leaving your network unsecure is a giant invitation for anyone to come and mess with you. Pirate stuff while connected to your network? They download child porn? Hack attempt go out? You're the one the police are gonna be coming to talk to and "Oh, I guess it was unsecure!" doesn't fly well. While you're not gonna get into legal trouble (probably), they will harass you.
 
Taking their "free" Internet is the most that you can do to get back at them unless you are good with computers. If you were then you could do some stuff to the computers that are connected to the network (not to the game systems though)
 
[quote name='Logain8955']Set up your WEP (easily cracked by anyone giving a shit, i.e probably not anyone nearby) or WPA protection in the firewall right bloody now.

For the love of fuck, don't leave your login as admin/password.

Leaving your network unsecure is a giant invitation for anyone to come and mess with you. Pirate stuff while connected to your network? They download child porn? Hack attempt go out? You're the one the police are gonna be coming to talk to and "Oh, I guess it was unsecure!" doesn't fly well. While you're not gonna get into legal trouble (probably), they will harass you.[/QUOTE]

I really don't see how the police would come after me. Sure they would see it was on my network but would only see that I have 2 computers a 360, PS3 and a Wii. I think I know who the person is so then all they would have to do is check that computer. I have their mac address and IP address so all they would also have to do is check the computers to match them.

I am going to set up the security on it and try to get it to work with the PS3 this weekend. Well the PS3 this weekend that is however the security I'm doing now.
 
[quote name='sendme']I really don't see how the police would come after me. Sure they would see it was on my network but would only see that I have 2 computers a 360, PS3 and a Wii. I think I know who the person is so then all they would have to do is check that computer. I have their mac address and IP address so all they would also have to do is check the computers to match them. [/quote]

You don't have their IP. That IP number is an internal network address. The one that is broadcast to the world is the one that the ISP assigns you, which is what they would track you down with.

Would you get in trouble? Probably not. Would it be a gigantic headache? Oh yeah.

I am going to set up the security on it and try to get it to work with the PS3 this weekend. Well the PS3 this weekend that is however the security I'm doing now.
Click to expand...

Good man.
 
Another option you could do: Set up MAC filtering. Manually key in the MAC addresses of your computers and consoles to the router, and other device could go fuck themselves. Pain in the ass if you have a constant stream of guests coming in an out of your house with their own wireless toys, but theoretically, this solution should allow you to disable WEP and WPA protection schemes, but still have a level of security.

Just a thought.
 
I can't really explain it, but there is a way to have your SSID broadcast turned off and still be able to connect to the router through wireless.
 
I had this happen to me when I was living with my roommates. The one who owned the router didn't exactly use the strongest password, and 2 and a half months in we noticed our connections were going insanely slow without us doing anything bandwidth intensive. We also noticed an extra computer connected to the network, so we knew we had an intruder.

We kicked the bastard off by turning off SSID broadcasting and MAC filtering, which only allowed our computers to connect to the network. The problem was solved after doing it.
 
[quote name='fatmanforlife99']I can't really explain it, but there is a way to have your SSID broadcast turned off and still be able to connect to the router through wireless.[/QUOTE]

You just turn it off and then it needs to be manually entered to connect to it. He would need to use a ssid. The thing with hiding the ssid is that it's a lot easier to get around than you would think.
 
[quote name='Logain8955']You don't have their IP. That IP number is an internal network address. The one that is broadcast to the world is the one that the ISP assigns you, which is what they would track you down with.

Would you get in trouble? Probably not. Would it be a gigantic headache? Oh yeah. [/QUOTE]

MAC address's "never" change while an IP always changes. The MAC address would be a better arguement then the IP route.

Yet you are right it would probably be a gigantic headache heh.
 
[quote name='strikeratt']MAC address's "never" change while an IP always changes. The MAC address would be a better arguement then the IP route.

Yet you are right it would probably be a gigantic headache heh.[/QUOTE]

MAC address filtering has it's uses, but not for security. MAC addresses are actually easy to spoof and it's very easy to get someone's MAC address off of a wireless connection. Maybe you'll be lucky and the person leaching doesn't know what he's doing, but if he does, MAC filtering and ssid modification won't do much to protect you, at least not on their own. Always enable the highest security possible on a wireless connection.
 
WPA2 + changing the router username/password + MAC Filtering (just on those you have MAC addresses for).

If nothing else, at least block those MAC addresses. Yes, they can be spoofed...but most people probably don't know/won't do that.
 
If someone is on his network, can they access any of his files on his computer? Or does a folder/file have to be enabled for filesharing? I have a setup with WPA and SSID broadcast off. I've only used a moderate password and have a file server, so folders are mapped and shared. Now I'm a little worried.:cry:
 
I just looked and Linksys EasyLink Advisor also gives me the mac address and the subnet mask.
 
[quote name='n25philly']MAC address filtering has it's uses, but not for security. MAC addresses are actually easy to spoof and it's very easy to get someone's MAC address off of a wireless connection. Maybe you'll be lucky and the person leaching doesn't know what he's doing, but if he does, MAC filtering and ssid modification won't do much to protect you, at least not on their own. Always enable the highest security possible on a wireless connection.[/QUOTE]

Aye very true ... 99/100 times though it's someone just looking for some free net usage :D so that's what I was going by. It's also easy just to change the MAC manually to help hide it that way. Also as he said ... highest security possible
 
Use WPA/WPA2 with a strong passphrase (example: h8&q$j@13zla^) Mix symbols, letters, & numbers. Never use words. Change your passwords / passphrases quarterly. I recommend you read this article about wireless security myths:

http://blogs.zdnet.com/Ou/index.php?p=43

You could also change your ssid to send a message to said leechers. (example: CheapAssNeighbors or StopStealingMyInternets)
 
Well I have the security set on my router now and was able to get the PS3 to work with it. It took me about an hour and a half of reentering the passphrase. I also changed the ssid and the password however to log into my routers ip is still the name it has always been. I don't know if I can change that. I'm sure I can I just have to log in and do it. To bad someone hasn't wrote a program and posted it online that runs in the background and pops up with a message telling you that someone is trying to connect to your net work. Then gives you an option to just shut their system down or do something to mess with them.
 
The MAC address is usually stored in eeprom on the network adaptor. Easily changed by the user.

Also, WEP has been easily crackable for the past ~8 years.

So don't rely on MAC address filtering or WEP encryption for security. Your best bet with consumer level technology is WAP2 encryption (not WAP1).
 
Just buy some ethernet cables and close all your windows!

But if you really uber paranoid you can get 50 feet for $10 at monoprice.com
 
exactly :)
i have started using cable coz who ever leeches from my network knows how to bypass the security key. i keep on changing and the pc keeps on coming back. well not any more :) .. back to old days. wifi has its problems
 
[quote name='GamerLina']exactly :)
i have started using cable coz who ever leeches from my network knows how to bypass the security key. i keep on changing and the pc keeps on coming back. well not any more :) .. back to old days. wifi has its problems[/QUOTE]

I'm not going to lie. When I am traveling with my netbook...and I come across a secured wifi connection...that does not seem to stop me one bit. I will get online.

At home...I am all wire with the exception of game pads.
 
[quote name='Megazell']I'm not going to lie. When I am traveling with my netbook...and I come across a secured wifi connection...that does not seem to stop me one bit. I will get online.

At home...I am all wire with the exception of game pads.[/QUOTE]

Hmmm... could we have found sendme's leecher? :lol:
 
[quote name='boneless']Hmmm... could we have found sendme's leecher? :lol:[/QUOTE]

If he was anywhere near Italy in the last few months then yeah it was probably me :)
 
i wish i could use wpa but the ps3 will not connect with it turned on, the wii, and my new laptop connect fine with wpa1. i am using the netgear wgr614 v4 router. any suggestions?
 
I'm having a bit of network/Internet problem and thought posting in this thread might help.

Every time I try and watch YouTube or any other streaming site with nice quality video at around 9PM it goes slow as hell. I’ve also noticed it be slow during the weekends. My hunch tells me it's someone leeching, but there are few things that make me question this theory.

1. I have MAC address filtering and have it limited to the 4 devices in our home, plus our wireless network is password protected (and not some simple password, either). Although my router is telling me that 5 MAC addresses have had DHCP leases, which doesn't make any sense, since I’ve only allowed 4.

2. I can't think of someone in my vicinity that would want to "borrow" any Internet from us. All of our neighbors are old folks who have been long retired and can easily afford their own net connection.

3. Whenever I notice the slowdown I go into the router UI and check to see who is connected, and the only computer connected in mine. I look at both the network topology and a list of computers connected to the access point.

4. Another oddity is that it’s telling me that one of the computers has two MAC addresses. Is this even possible?

It’s really driving me nuts, because I enjoy watching music videos at night to unwind before going to bed. Although with this current issue it can easily take 10 minutes to download a 4-minute video, something that doesn’t happen during the morning or afternoon hours.

So am I being uber paranoid in thinking that someone is stealthily getting in our network? Or is it that my ISP is sucking every night (and weekends) at the same time.
 
Could be your ISP, getting slowed down during peak hours.

That's what I'd assume...especially because you've taken many steps to see that it's probably *not* somebody on your network.

[quote name='ctrek3']i wish i could use wpa but the ps3 will not connect with it turned on, the wii, and my new laptop connect fine with wpa1. i am using the netgear wgr614 v4 router. any suggestions?[/QUOTE]

Did you check to see if there's a firmware update for that particular router? I know my parents Netgear router did stupid things (wouldn't connect laptops with WPA), but, a firmware update fixed that.
 
[quote name='ctrek3']i wish i could use wpa but the ps3 will not connect with it turned on, the wii, and my new laptop connect fine with wpa1. i am using the netgear wgr614 v4 router. any suggestions?[/QUOTE]

Did you check to see if there's a firmware update for that particular router? I know my parents Netgear router did stupid things (wouldn't connect laptops with WPA), but, a firmware update fixed that.
 
I'm going to take a contrary stance here and suggest you monitor your bandwidth. If your bandwidth isn't being choked off when you need it by your neighbors, then live and let live. Your ISP isn't charging you by the megabyte, and you're neighbors aren't downloading child porn or making threats against the president. Next time there's a block party, wear an "I'm the Guy with the Free Wifi" shirt and your neighbors will give you a beer.

I realize that this isn't foolproof advice, because illegal file sharing is still pretty common, but there's hasn't been a legal kerfuffle about that in a long time where I've heard of lots of individual ISPs being targeted. If your bandwidth isn't taking a hit, do a solid for the commons.
 
honestly i think a lot of leechers are people with laptops thinking its just public internet. i thought my sister was tapping into the local bread shop till i had to fix her pc. fire it up and get about 3 unsecured linxis routers with about 2-3 bars hehe. i sort of glad she can tho because i dont have to share bandwitth with her :)

i just go wired here. im a gamer on pc and console and wirless isn't a smart t hing to do compared to a solid wired connection. also not really sure it's safe the radio waves from those singals are. i mean i know someone that can sit on their deck and get a signal from about 3 miles away.. yet im sitting right by that small thing while it's doing a local broadcAst?
 
You guys need 2 routers, one for "public" that is locked down with basic WEP that only allows internet but not LAN access that the crappy hardware like DS's can hook to, and one with WPA2 AES that is for most of your own stuff that has LAN access. Have different channels or different flavors of 802.1b/g/n for both of them.

Speaking of that, crap that claims to be 802.11n and doesn't do 5ghz should be banned.
 
[quote name='turls']You guys need 2 routers, one for "public" that is locked down with basic WEP that only allows internet but not LAN access that the crappy hardware like DS's can hook to, and one with WPA2 AES that is for most of your own stuff that has LAN access. Have different channels or different flavors of 802.1b/g/n for both of them.

Speaking of that, crap that claims to be 802.11n and doesn't do 5ghz should be banned.[/QUOTE]

I think there are some home routers that allow for two separate networks/network configurations, right? I've been meaning to look into one of those.
 
[quote name='Rig']I think there are some home routers that allow for two separate networks/network configurations, right? I've been meaning to look into one of those.[/QUOTE]

Yes, that is a possiblity as well. I use 3rd party firmware so I don't know if stock firmware allows them to be completely seperate.
 
[quote name='RedOktober']

You could also change your ssid to send a message to said leechers. (example: CheapAssNeighbors or StopStealingMyInternets)[/QUOTE]

Some old neighbors of mine had ones titled VirusDistro and another had TrojanStorage.
 
[quote name='torifile']I'm in the "chill the fuck out" camp. It's not that big a deal.[/QUOTE]

Not that big a deal to give somebody full access to your computer and network? No wonder there are so many fucking zombie computers spreading malware shit all over the internet. Get real.
 
[quote name='turls']Not that big a deal to give somebody full access to your computer and network? No wonder there are so many fucking zombie computers spreading malware shit all over the internet. Get real.[/QUOTE]
Umm, no. I said nothing about your computers. First, turn off sharing on your computers. Use a firewall program. Use a mac. It's not that hard. There are a thousand ways to secure your computer even on a network with other computers.

Does that mean that I leave an open access point at my house? Not really. I have 2 routers, one WPA2 secured and one open. I know that when I'm in a pinch, it's nice to have an open access point around.

And besides that, this vendetta seeking is just petty and childish.
 
[quote name='torifile']Umm, no. I said nothing about your computers. First, turn off sharing on your computers. Use a firewall program. Use a mac. It's not that hard. There are a thousand ways to secure your computer even on a network with other computers.
[/QUOTE]

The same people that have open access points sure aren't going to go down a checklist to make sure individual PCs are secured. Hence, they get compromised if the wrong undesirable taps into their PCs.

If you are only talking about the vendetta part of it, then I don't think you were clear on that.
 
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