Wifi is a significant commodity in the 21st century, and it plays a vital role in the virtual platform through which we can get in touch with near or dear ones. if your wifi network is unprotected, your neighbors can suck your wifi network’s speed. Smartphones connect to open wifi networks automatically. As a result, you will face slow internet speed.
People use unsecured networks for pirating movies. Therefore, you can be a target of them if you use an unsecured wifi network. Every system can be hacked in 21 st century. As part of secured internet, you must secure your system as much as possible to avoid slow internet in your wifi network.
Last two months, I have been facing a slow internet connection on my Wi-Fi network. Initially, I could not understand what the reason behind it was. Then my internet service provider assists me in knowing my neighbors also use my Wi-Fi network, which slows down my internet.
After that, I learned how to protect the wifi network from the neighbors. Are you worried about how to protect wifi from neighbors? You don’t have to worry at all. I will guide you to enrich your knowledge about it.
How to protect Wi-Fi from neighbors
Here are some guidelines to protect Wi-Fi from neighbors and these are easy to follow and one can do that without any technical help as well.
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01. Change the default username and password of the router
If your neighbors get the router’s username and password, they can see your password whenever you change your wifi password.
To avoid free access of the neighbors to your wifi, you have to enter the router page and reset the default setting. A default username and password are set there whenever you buy a router. You must change the default password and username.
It is easy to assume the default password and username of the router. You have to write down the username and password in your note whenever you will change the username and password. If you forget these two pieces of information, you won’t get access to your router page.
02. Change the network name
When you set up the wifi network for the first time, you will find the default router name and SSID (The Service Set Identifier). Hackers can quickly get this default name. Suppose you buy a TP-LINK Archer model router. Then you will see the name of the router wifi is ‘tp-linkarcherc5400wifi’.
Hackers get essential information in this way, and there is a chance that your wifi can get hacked. Changing the wifi name can protect your wifi from your neighbors.
03. Connect Encryption
Maybe you don’t know about the security features that modern routers use and how to protect wifi from neighbors. However, for the security of wifi, encryption is essential. You have to go to your router page to activate encryption.
After that, you have to go to the security options. From here, you have to turn on WPA Personal or WPA2-PSK and the Encryption Type. You have to set a strong password which will be the Network key.
04. Activate the firewall
A firewall protects your router network from outside attacks. Anonymous external traffic cannot get access to the router network if you activate the firewall option. Generally, the firewall system is automatically activated in your modern router.
05. Upgrade the router firmware
Hackers may have an eye on your router and may look for bugs. However, you have to update the router firmware regularly. As a result, your router’s security of the router will improve. Therefore, you have to upgrade router firmware regularly.
06. Disconnect Guest Networks
Nowadays, the guest networks option is available on many routers. If the guest network option is in your router, you must turn it off. Hackers benefit from this option.
It will create another network with your router. Additionally, there is no password available. As a result, people can access your wifi which eventually causes slow internet speed.
07. Change the position of the router
Changing your router’s position can help you get an uninterrupted wifi connection. First, you have to know where your neighbors installed their wifi. You can casually ask them this question.
Once you get the information, you have to change the location of your router or try to keep your distance from your neighbor’s routers as much as possible. The best location for setting up a router is the center of your home.
08. Use VPN
VPN hides your identity online and is used to exchange your data through a third-party server. Your wifi network will be secured if you use a good VPN.
09. Turn off the WPS function
You will access your router network by pressing a single button on your device. WPS function operates this process. Though your connection process gets more accessible, it increases the chance of hacking rate. Turning it off is better because many hackers know how to crack it.
10. Turn off the SSID broadcast
What if you hide the name of your wifi network? It will help protect your wifi network and complicate the hacker’s job. You must turn off the SSID option once you have connected all your devices to wifi. Then your wifi network name won’t be visible to the hackers. In this way, you can protect your wifi from your neighbors.
11. Unplug your Router
You will get an immediate solution if you turn off your router for a short period. As a result, those who use your wifi will lose access. You can relocate your router to maintain a reasonable distance from your neighbors’ houses.
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How to check uninvited guests on the router?
By logging in to your router’s interface, you can ensure who your wifi’s uninvited guests are. Once you log in, you have to search the ‘Device list’ section. From there, you can identify the intruders on your wifi. You will get the option to remove, delete or block the suspicious account.
Check your Security setting
You must check the router’s security to protect your wifi from neighbors. Advanced security is needed to keep your wifi from neighbors like hackers. Some neighbors are like parasites, and they are responsible for decreasing your wifi network speed.
Generate a unique password
You have to generate a password that is unique and strong. You should not set your birthday and nickname as your wifi password. The reason is that neighbors can assume your password. Consequently, they will use your wifi without your knowledge.
Lock your wifi network
The easiest way to protect your wifi from neighbors is using WPA2 with a unique and strong password. If your neighbors try to steal your wifi, they will be discouraged from doing it due to this combination.
Change wifi Frequency
Wifi uses two types of frequencies such as 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. 2.4 GHz offers longer-range signals while the other gives closer-range connections. Mainly, 2.4 GHZ frequency is targeted by hackers.
If you use 2.4 GHz in your wifi, you may face disruptions by neighbors because their connection range is longer. If you want to avoid it, you can change your wifi frequency and start to use 5 GHz. It will help avoid neighbors’ interruptions because it offers a closer connection.
Avoid high-demand frequency channels
You can prevent your problems by avoiding the high-demand channels. To learn about high demanded channels, you can use several apps. If your router doesn’t have the option to change the frequency channel, you should buy a new one.
You can follow these steps if your router has the option to change the frequency.
- At first, you have to open a browser and then type the Router’s IP address. After that, a pop-up window will open.
- Afterward, you must clock in on the advanced option and press the proceed button.
- Then you must use your username and password to finish your successful login.
- Next, you must open the Wireless setting and clock on ‘Channels’.
- Finally, you can change the channel if you wish.
Send jamming signals to neighbors’ wifi
This can be a clear idea to protect your wifi from neighbors. You can send blocking signals to your neighbor’s wifi. However, in some countries, it is illegal. You can use some apps to block particular wifi and create jams in it.
Territorial setup
If you want to eliminate unwanted signal disruptions, territorial setup can be another option. It is a wireless mesh network. Using this option, you can also block the wifi signal of your neighbors.
Frequently asked questions
You may have very little knowledge about how to protect wifi from neighbors. However, I am here to discuss some common questions about how you can secure your wifi from neighbors.
01. Is it true that my neighbors can use my wifi?
Of course, they can. Neighbors can hack your wifi and slow it down if your router’s security system is not activated correctly. Additionally, if you don’t change the default password and username, they can know how many times you changed your wifi password.
02. How could I check if someone is using my wifi?
You can check the list of your wifi users by entering the interface of your router.
03. Is it possible to block neighbors’ wifi signals?
You can block a neighbor’s wifi in two ways.
- You can block their wifi name and place them on your blacklist.
- Creating a wifi’ Whitelist’ is the second option.
04. Do neighbors get notifications if I check suspicious accounts?
There is no way a neighbor can get a notification if you check a suspicious account by login into your router interface.
05. Is there any law if anyone uses my internet?
There is such a law for that. However, it is clearly illegal to do harm to your wifi network.
06. Can my neighbors see my internet activity?
They cannot. However, if the neighbors have wifi access, they can see your activity on the internet.
07. Can I give personal information in my wifi password?
You can give whatever you want. However, there is a chance to hack your wifi because hackers can guess your wifi password from various angles. They try to enter your wifi password by giving your nickname, date of birth, or favorite things you like.
08. Can neighbors create any impact on my internet speed?
Your internet speed will decrease if they know your wifi password and continuously download from the internet.
Final Thoughts
You may want to surf your browser without any interruption. However, if your neighbors have access to your internet, then you are going to face slow internet speed. Consequently, your mood can change, and you might get angry.
By setting strong security, you might avoid this situation. The dangerous part is that sometimes hackers can use your router’s IP address to do illegal things. For that, you can be guilty. But having proper knowledge about how to protect wifi from neighbors will help you get a great experience on virtual platforms.
