In an increasingly connected world, securing your Wi-Fi network has become essential to prevent a hacker from using your network without your knowledge. Compromising a home or professional connection can allow an intruder to access your sensitive files, or even hijack your data through a falsified IP or MAC address.
To see how to check for an intrusion, it is crucial to verify whether unknown devices appear in the list of connected devices on your Wi-Fi or router. A suspicious address, abnormal activity on your IP, or a sudden password request can all be clues of an attack. In some cases, an unknown MAC address connects discreetly to your router to exploit your resources and compromise your security.
To detect an intrusion, it is essential to closely examine the devices connected to your network. Check if your internet or Wi-Fi connection shows anomalies, and then consider enabling monitoring options provided by your router. Finally, regularly checking the list of connected devices will allow you to quickly spot anything suspicious.
How to Detect if an Intruder Has Infiltrated Your Network
Signs of intrusion to watch for
There are several indicators to know how to check if someone is using your Wi-Fi network. An unusual slowdown might indicate someone is trying to take advantage of your connection. For this, access your router’s interface and look at the listed addresses. If you notice devices connected to your network that you don’t recognize, it’s likely that a third party has infiltrated your Wi-Fi network.
Methods for checking and securing
You can also use specialized tools to detect if an unknown device has infiltrated your network. Some hackers use advanced methods to infiltrate your systems quietly and bypass the security key. To avoid this, change your passwords regularly and enable two-factor authentication if possible. Thus, even if someone uses your resources without permission, you can react in time to limit the risks.
How to Check If Your Network Has Been Hacked
Examine your connected devices
To know how to spot anomalies, start by checking all the devices connected to your network. The administration page of your router allows you to display the devices connected to it, along with their IP addresses. If you see unknown network devices or addresses, it may be that someone is using your connection without authorization.
Recognize the signs of an intrusion
A compromised local network may show multiple alerts. For example, if you notice that the bandwidth drops significantly or that unusual devices appear, it might be because your Wi-Fi has possibly been infiltrated. In that case, it is essential to secure your network immediately. Acting quickly reduces the risks that your system has been hacked and you avoid serious consequences.
Signs of a Network Infiltration Not to Be Neglected
Check the technical indicators
A first sign of intrusion is often visible directly from your browser’s address bar. By entering the IP address of your router, you can access its interface and monitor suspicious activities. If you detect someone is using your network or there are unusual connections, this may indicate that an intruder is exploiting your access.
Identify suspicious behaviours
If you notice regular slowdowns, try monitoring your network to see if unusual activity is happening. In some cases, your internet provider may help you confirm if someone has hijacked your connection. When someone uses your resources without authorization, it is essential to block connected devices immediately and strengthen your network password. Using a virtual private network (VPN) is also advised if a hacker tries to penetrate your systems.
Before going to final recommendations, it is useful to inspect your router and identify the devices connected to it. Ask yourself: what are the signs of suspicious activity, and how to recognize when an intruder already has access to your network.
Conclusion
Monitoring your network to see which devices are connected is an essential habit. Thanks to tools built into routers or apps available on the Google Play Store, you can check every connection and quickly identify if a device has connected without your knowledge.
This vigilance allows you to detect unauthorized devices or computers and to see all the connected devices. When in doubt, don’t hesitate to check the active devices and compare their activity with real internet traffic. Also, some solutions guide you step by step and explain how to act: they let you see the devices, but also explain how to verify the legitimacy of connections.
In practice, here’s how to proceed: keep your systems up to date by applying all updates, because they fix the vulnerabilities exploited by hackers. This way, you will reduce the chance that someone could use your connection for free. In case of an anomaly, always ask yourself whether a person outside your household may have already compromised your digital security.
Check the security of your DNS configuration
A bad DNS configuration can expose your network to silent intrusions. Scan your DNS records now:
👉 Analyse my DNS with our free tool
