Tech Help Major wireless issues: Could I have someone leeching off our network?

[MacArther]

Can anyone suggest a good tool for managing Wireless internet connections?

I've gone from good - decent connection rate on all the servers...to 300+ ping spiking to 999. Also, I spent 5 minutes trying to load the Google search engine start page in FireFox...and then 2-3 more trying to load Yahoo.

I don't thing it's a trace rout issue...but the problem started BEFORE school let out by a few months....ergo I think I have a leech.

Also of note: This issue did not occur at all at around the same time or before last year (or the year before that).

 

[M4A1-S]

It really doesn't seem like it's just a single leech, it would have to be multiple in this case depending on your network speed. But if you want a temp solution, set up mac filtering, it's pretty simple to get all your MAC Addresses, but if you have guests over, might become an issue. Other then that, it could be some malicious program doing things, just run an AV scan if you haven't already for me. There's also CommView for Wifi, Though I've never tested it, so run at your own risk.

 

[Simon]

Do a traceroute. See where along the chain this is occurring. If there is a long load time to your router (192.168.x.x), there's an issue between your router and computer - either your own hardware, or the router itself (likely the latter).

If the second hop is very slow but the first is good, then it's a modem issue often.

Start with that and let us know where it's bogging down. This is the best way to determine your issue. If your neighbour was just downloading off you, they would likely have a pretty poor connection and you would overrun them - unless they are sitting leaning up against your wall with 20 torrents on the go. Lol.

 

[MacArther]

Do a traceroute. See where along the chain this is occurring. If there is a long load time to your router (192.168.x.x), there's an issue between your router and computer - either your own hardware, or the router itself (likely the latter).

If the second hop is very slow but the first is good, then it's a modem issue often.

Start with that and let us know where it's bogging down. This is the best way to determine your issue. If your neighbour was just downloading off you, they would likely have a pretty poor connection and you would overrun them - unless they are sitting leaning up against your wall with 20 torrents on the go. Lol.

Really? Even with the signal booster we added on?

 

[Simon]

Really? Even with the signal booster we added on?

The signal booster may present an additional hop if you’re connected to it. Run the trace route and see where your latency is crazy high. Signal boosters themselves aren’t renowned for great speeds.

 

[Ric]

The easiest way to determine if you have a leech on your network is answering the following questions:

1) Is my network secured? If it is, have I shared the key with anyone? Keep in mind, it is possible for your wireless network to be hacked even if it is secured. I have driven around my neighborhood before, looking for vulnerable networks and utilizing a specific version of Linux to complete objectives. This, however, is extremely uncommon for the every day individual. This is a method called wardriving.

2) Have I validated all of the MAC addresses on my network? If not, take the time to do this. Not sure what kind of router you're using, but there should be details on how to complete this somewhere on the Internet. Also, keep in mind, MAC spoofing is real, but it is uncommon for the everyday individual.

3) Do I have a virus? As listed above, viruses can and often do cripple local internet connections. Scan your computer for viruses, malware, etc. This is to include all devices connected to your network. Like a real virus in your body, a virus in a computer can start at A's computer and end up at D's computer before you know what to do.

I would, of course, heed Simon 's instructions on performing a trace route before doing something that takes a lot of time like verifying MAC addresses on a network.

 

[MacArther]

Update: Running the Trace Route shows the issue issssssssss (drum roll): The signal booster! It is SUPER bottle-necking all of the connections in my area of the house! We're talking a difference of Mbps to Kbps!

All PC scans showed up green too on the virus front, so that is good as well. Now I know I just have a wonky booster, and a toaster laptop.

Thank you everyone!

 

[Simon]

Update: Running the Trace Route shows the issue issssssssss (drum roll): The signal booster! It is SUPER bottle-necking all of the connections in my area of the house! We're talking a difference of Mbps to Kbps!

All PC scans showed up green too on the virus front, so that is good as well. Now I know I just have a wonky booster, and a toaster laptop.

Thank you everyone!

Signal boosters suck, unfortunately. Even when they "work", they are instantly chopping your speed in half. If you are looking for a good signal, I'd highly suggest looking into a more advanced setup with multiple access points that can cover the house adequately. That or simply moving it to a more central location. Not sure what your current hardware setup is. But glad we got this out of the way to start!

If you need any assistance with ideas to make things better, don't hesitate to shoot me a PM.