About a week ago my internet speed dropped a lot, even though I'm paying for 300 Mbps fiber. Plus, my phone keeps disconnecting from the wi-fi on its own and I have to reconnect it. Is there any way to check if someone else is using my network without permission?
Most routers have a web interface where you can see all the devices currently connected. You go to the router's address (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1, check the back of the device) with the username and password (if you've never changed it, it's probably admin/admin or something similar), and look for a section that says "connected devices," "DHCP clients," or "clients." If you see devices you don't recognize, something's up. It's also worth checking the connection history if the router allows it.
Now, your speed dropping and disconnections don't necessarily mean you've been hacked. It could be Wi-Fi interference (if you live in a building with lots of nearby networks), the router being bogged down by automatic updates, or simply degradation after years of use. The first thing I'd do is restart the router, wait a couple of minutes, and test again. If you're still having issues, try changing the Wi-Fi channel from that same interface (sometimes 1, 6, or 11 work better) or call your provider to have them verify from their end if you're actually getting those 300 Mbps.
Either way, even if you don't find any intruders, it's smart to change your Wi-Fi password to something strong (varied characters, no obvious words) and review what security methods you're using. WPA3 is the best if your router supports it, then WPA2, never WEP. And another thing: if the router has a reset button, consider doing it if the speed is still low; sometimes the configuration gets corrupted. But rule out the simple stuff first before assuming the worst.
First of all, a speed drop isn't automatically a sign of a hack. It could be that your router is simply overloaded, overheated, or there's interference in your area. Constant disconnections on your phone are usually more likely due to compatibility issues or your router needing a restart than to unauthorized access. That said, it's worth checking who's connected to your network, because even though it's less likely, an intrusion is possible.
The most straightforward way is to open your router's settings from your browser (you normally type the router's IP, something like 192.168.1.1, and log in with the username and password). Inside, you look for a tab that says "Connected Devices," "DHCP Clients," or "Network Devices." There you can see everything connected to your wi-fi. If you recognize all the devices (your phone, laptop, tablets, whatever you have), then there's no outsiders. If something strange or unknown shows up, that's your problem.
To improve the overall situation, make sure your wi-fi password is strong and that you've changed it from the default password (a lot of people don't). Also try restarting the router by unplugging it for a couple of minutes, and if it's old or overheated, try putting it somewhere with better ventilation. If after all this you still have the problem and unknown devices keep showing up, then it might be worth changing the password and checking your router's logs or contacting your provider.
Low speed and disconnections can have a thousand different causes, but there's one thing most people overlook: checking the WiFi channel you're using. If you live in an area with lots of networks nearby (especially in an apartment or building), your router can be stepping on other signals and that'll tank your performance without anyone actually "hacking" anything. Go into your router's interface and see what channel you're operating on; if it's congested, switching to a different one (ideally 1, 6, or 11 on 2.4GHz if you're using that band) can make a massive difference.
That said, there are things you can check to see if there are intruders. First thing is to access your router's settings (go to 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 in your browser, the password is usually on a sticker on the device) and look at the list of connected devices. If you see something you don't recognize, write down the names and Google them or check their MAC addresses to identify them; sometimes weird stuff shows up like "Broadcom" or generic names that are actually yours. Second thing is to change your WiFi password to something really strong (no dictionary words, mix uppercase, numbers, symbols) and use WPA3 if your router supports it, or at minimum WPA2. If you see the disconnections disappear after doing that, then yeah, you had freeloaders.
I'd also recommend doing a full router restart (unplug it for a minute) and if the problem persists, check if it needs a firmware update. Those details often solve it without needing to think about attacks.
If you want to rule out a hack without diving into complicated settings, open your router's app (lots of brands like TP-Link or Xiaomi have their own) and check the connected devices tab - you'll literally see who's hooked up to your network right now. But here's the trick most people skip: fully restart your router (unplug it for 30 seconds, not just the reset button) and then change your WiFi password to something strong, because if someone was in there before, they'll get kicked out automatically. Then monitor it for a few days - if the speed bounces back and the disconnections stop, that was it. If it's still slow even though the router's clean, then it's more likely congestion, interference, or an issue with your ISP.
Have you tried restarting the router by turning it completely off for like 30 seconds? Because first you've got to rule out the basics: saturation, heat, interference. Then yeah, go into the web interface (192.168.1.1 usually) and check the connected devices section - there you can see exactly who's hooked up to your network.
What nobody mentions is that some routers come with open ports or remote services enabled from the factory. After you've checked the devices, go into Advanced Settings and disable anything that says "remote access" or "UPnP" if you don't need it. Also change your wi-fi password to something strong if you haven't done it in years - lots of people leave it the same since they set up the router.
When I have network problems, the first thing I do is go into the router settings (that IP address they mentioned earlier) and check the list of connected devices - if you see machines you don't recognize, that's when something's actually off. But honestly, what you're describing sounds more like congestion or interference than a hack: try changing your WiFi channel to a less crowded one (a lot of networks pile up on the same channels in dense areas) and also restart the router after unplugging it for a few seconds, not just turning it off. If the speed is still terrible after that and the disconnections keep happening, then it'd be worth changing your router password just in case, but I'd bet it's a more basic technical issue.
Low speed doesn't necessarily mean you've been hacked, though it's definitely something you need to rule out. That said, there's one detail nobody's mentioned that's super helpful: check your router's logs. A lot of models keep a history of failed connection attempts or suspicious access. Go into the admin interface (that IP address people mentioned) and look for a section called "System Log", "Event Log", or something similar. You'll be able to see if someone tried to force their way in or if there are any weird activity patterns.
But beyond that, there's something more practical you can do right now without touching any settings: do a complete restart of your router. I'm not talking about just powering it off and on - actually unplug it from the power outlet for a full minute. Then, once it's back online, go straight to your router's app or that web interface and change your WiFi password. Don't use something generic like "1234" or your pet's name, something decent. After that, disconnect any devices you don't use regularly from that network and reconnect them one by one. While you're doing this, open the connected devices tab and check if there's anything unfamiliar with a weird name or a MAC address you don't recognize.
Once you've done all that, if the speed is still slow and the disconnections keep happening, it's probably interference issues (like others mentioned), your router overheating, or simply your ISP not delivering what they promised. But at least you'll have ruled out actual intrusions.
Get into your router and change your wi-fi password right now, because even if you check the connected devices, if the password is weak or default a neighbor could be in there without you noticing. After that, yeah, open the admin interface (usually at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) and check the connected clients tab to see what devices are there - if you recognize all of them, it's probably not a hack but interference issues or the router needing an update. What nobody mentions is that some modern routers have an activity log where you can see failed access attempts, that gives you better clues if someone actually tried to get in.
I had exactly the same thing happen and it turned out it wasn't a hack at all - the router just had way too many devices connected to it! But anyway, to be safe, go into your router's interface (192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) with your admin username and password, head to the DHCP clients section or connected devices and count how many there are. If you see MAC addresses you don't recognize, that's when you'd actually have reason to worry. Another trick is to power off the router for a couple hours and see if the speed improves when you turn it back on, because sometimes it just needs a full reset. Oh, and in the meantime change your wi-fi password to something really strong with numbers and symbols!
Log into answer.
