Slow connection, theft of sensitive data, criminal liability in the event of abuse… Sharing your WiFi connection, voluntarily or not, is not without danger. Here’s how to unmask a neighbor who is using your Internet subscription without your knowledge.
Sharing your WiFi code with a new neighbor who has just moved in and who does not yet have Internet access is a very nice gesture… which is however not so trivial. Because how do you know when this new arrival will stop using your connection? And besides, how can you be sure that another neighbor is not using WiFi without permission by simply having discovered the password on their own?
Because in addition to benefiting from your subscription for free, this neighbor exposes you to real risks, often underestimated. For example, there is the possibility of seeing your connection significantly slowed down if the person downloads large files or plays video games online. But the threat lies above all in their activities: if your neighbor consults illegal sites, sends fraudulent messages, or simply downloads content protected by copyright, it is your responsibility that will be engaged. Because yes, in the event of an investigation, it is the IP address of the owner of the Internet router that will be identified. Concretely, in the eyes of the law, the latter is considered an access provider. The most IT-savvy will also be able to take advantage of your WiFi to steal sensitive data, ranging from your personal files to your passwords or banking information, and could even access your camera.
Luckily, there is a simple trick to finding out if someone else is using the network. Simply turn off all connected devices in the house, and check if the wireless activity light is still flashing on the box. If this is the case, it is very likely that an unwanted person is taking advantage of your WiFi. To be completely sure, it is also possible to directly check the list of connected devices in the router settings. And above all, to prevent a dishonest person from starting again, the simplest solution is to change the name of the network (avoiding putting the brand or model of the box), and also to change the password.
In addition to the risks incurred by the owner of the Internet access, you should know that the neighbor is also responsible! Yes, using someone else’s WiFi connection without their permission is a crime. The Penal Code provides that “the fact of fraudulently accessing or remaining in all or part of an automated data processing system” (an Internet box in particular) is punishable by three years of imprisonment and a fine of 100,000 euros.
