I've noticed my internet connection has gotten really slow lately. I suspect someone might have connected to my Wi-Fi without permission. How can I check how many devices are connected and identify the intruders?
It's not necessarily someone connecting to your Wi-Fi - slowness often comes from other factors - but checking doesn't hurt. Go into your router's admin panel (192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 in the address bar) and see what devices are connected, but keep in mind you won't always recognize the names - a lot of phones and tablets just show weird IDs. One thing people often miss: sometimes ghost devices stay listed even when they're offline, so a long list isn't automatically proof of intruders. If you really suspect unauthorized access, change your Wi-Fi password and enable WPA3 encryption if your router supports it.
The most important thing is to access your router's control panel as soon as possible. Usually you just need to type the router's IP address into your browser's search bar (it's often 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1), enter your login credentials (check the manual or the back of the router if you don't know them), and then look for a section called "Connected Devices" or "Client list". There you'll see all the devices connected at that moment, with their MAC and IP addresses. If you see devices you don't recognize, that's the sign that someone has connected.
Once you've identified the intruders, the next step is to change your Wi-Fi password to something more complex and secure - use uppercase, lowercase, numbers and symbols. If you see a lot of unknown devices, also consider updating your router's firmware if there's a newer version available, because it could patch security holes. Many routers also have the option to use a separate 5GHz network from the 2.4GHz one, which is less crowded and faster for your main devices.
In the meantime, if your connection continues to be slow even after you've blocked the intruders, the problem might not be just that. Sometimes your internet provider has issues on the line, or the router is positioned badly in your house (surrounded by thick walls it slows down the signal). If you're sure no one is connected and the speed is still terrible, contact your internet provider to have them check the line.
When you check your router's control panel, pay attention to the device names: if you see stuff like "Marco's iPhone" or "Samsung Galaxy" that you don't recognize, it's probably an intruder, while your devices will have names you recognize right away. Besides blocking the strangers, also consider changing your Wi-Fi password and enabling WPA3 encryption if your router supports it, because maybe someone figured out your old password.
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