If your internet feels slow even when nobody at home is using it, someone else might be. Unknown users share your bandwidth and can also be a security risk. Here is how to check.
Signs of an unwanted user
- Speed drops at night or at times when your family is not online.
- The router’s lights blink heavily even when all your devices are off.
- You shared your password with guests, tenants or neighbours in the past.
Check the list of connected devices
- Log in to your router settings (usually 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1).
- Look for a page called DHCP Clients, Attached Devices, Client List or Wireless Statistics.
- You will see each device’s name, IP address and MAC address.
- Count your own devices: phones, TVs, laptops, CCTV cameras and smart plugs. Anything you do not recognise could be an outsider.
Tip: turn off Wi-Fi on your own devices one by one and watch which entries disappear, so you know exactly which device is which.
Remove unwanted devices
The quickest and most effective fix is to change your Wi-Fi password. Every device gets disconnected and only those who know the new password can rejoin. Many routers also let you block a specific device using its MAC address.
Keep them out for good
- Use WPA2 or WPA3 security with a long password.
- Turn off WPS, the push-button connection feature, which is easier to break into.
- Create a separate guest network for visitors, if your router supports it.
- Do not write the password on the router itself.
Still slow?
If no unknown devices are connected and your speed is still low, read our troubleshooting checklist or contact SF Networking support so we can check your line.