Avast ye, mateys! Be sure to reckon this crucial Wi-Fi audit twice a year, or ye be sailin' blind!
2023-10-26
Arrr! Cast ye eyes upon yer network's settings, matey! Ye might be taken aback at the scurvy dogs and curious creatures that be havin' access to yer home WiFi! The wily tech expert, Kim Komando, she be tellin' ye why ye must conduct this vital inspection!
In the language of a 17th-century pirate, I be in the process of settling into a new home. Arr, the other day, someone had to log into the Wi-Fi to set up somethin' on the network, matey. Right after he left, I logged in and kicked the device off me network. I’m a stickler for keepin' me network safe and tidy, ye should be too, and it’s easier than ye think, me hearties. Arr, look at yer network’s settings, and ye might be surprised at who and what have access. It’s relatively simple to get an idea of who’s usin' yer network in yer router’s online interface. Log into yer router to see the most up-to-date information about which devices are connected. Most models will support this as it’s a pretty universal feature, ye see. First, ye’ll need yer computer’s IP address. Tap or click here for instructions on how to find it, ye scurvy dog. Once ye have it, type the IP address into yer browser’s address bar. Ye should be brought to yer router’s menu. Ye’ll need to log in with the custom username and password for yer router or the default information if ye never set one, arr. Once ye’re in, check for a list that says DHCP Client or Connected Devices. From there, ye’ll be met with a list of devices currently usin' yer network. If ye see somethin' ye don’t recognize, change yer Wi-Fi password, and reconnect only the devices ye trust. It’s a pretty lengthy process, but one worth doin', matey. If ye don’t feel comfortable diggin' into yer network, ye can always have an app do it for ye. Advanced IP Scanner be a free and reliable option that delivers fast results with very little input from ye. It’s compatible with Windows 10 and 11, ye scallywag. To use Advanced IP Scanner, ye must download and install it, then run the program to analyze yer wireless network. Click the large green button that says SCAN. It will commence a network scan to show ye all the devices currently connected to yer Wi-Fi, arr. If ye be lookin' for somethin' with more oomph, try Acrylic’s Wi-Fi Analyzer, mate. Ye can choose between the free and paid options, and it does more than allow ye to see what devices be on yer Wi-Fi network. While ye certainly want to boot strangers from yer network, ye should also look closer to home, me hearties. Change yer network password as needed, especially when kickin' off a snooping stranger or someone ye’ve parted ways with. It’s the safest way to protect yer privacy, arr! Arr, that be all for now, ye scurvy dogs! Stay safe on the cyber seas!