How to Block Strangers from Accessing the Network

This wikiHow teaches you how to block strangers from accessing your home’s Wi-Fi. You can kick someone off the network on most router configuration pages, but the process will vary greatly from router to router. On a Windows computer, you can download the “NetCut” application to remove uninvited guests from the network. If all else fails, resetting the router to factory settings can clear out unwanted connections.

Table of Contents

Use the router’s page

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Disconnect from the Internet on all devices except the computer you are using. This is the easiest way to determine if anyone else is on the network besides you, the remaining addresses will belong to the current computer or uninvited guests.

You need to disconnect both wired network devices that are plugged directly into the router via an Ethernet cable (for example, a control panel).

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Determine the router’s IP address. To block someone from the network on the router configuration page, you need to know the router’s address. How to find the address:

On Windows – You open Start

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, click Settings

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(Settings), select Network & Internet , click Status , scroll down and select View your network properties , scroll down to the “Default gateway” heading. specified) and see the range of address numbers to the right of the header.
On Mac – You open the Apple menu

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, click System Preferences… , select Network , select the next Wi-Fi network and then click Advanced , select the TCP/IP tab and see the range of addresses on the right. header “Router”.

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Go to the router’s page. Open a web browser, enter the router’s serial number in the address bar at the top of the window, and then press ↵ Enter .

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Log in as needed. You’ll need to enter your username and password if prompted. If you haven’t set these up, look on the back of your router, in your router’s manual or online documentation.

You may be prompted to sign in after changing your router’s settings.

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Find the Wi-Fi connection menu. Most router configuration pages will have a section listing the names of all current connections. This section is usually titled Wi-Fi Connections , Connected Devices, or similar.

With some routers, you may need to look for the Parental Contrps section.

Using NetCut on Windows

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Disconnect from the Internet on all devices except the computer you are using. This is the easiest way to determine if anyone else is on the network besides you, the remaining addresses will belong to the current computer or uninvited guests.

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Open the NetCut download page. Go to http://www.arcai.com/downloads/ using a web browser.

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Click Download NetCut . This link is in the middle of the page.

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Click the “Netcut 3.0″ link near the top of the page. This is an optimized version of NetCut for Windows 8 and 10. After you click the link, the NetCut installation file will begin to download.

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Install NetCut. Double-click the netcut.exe setup file and follow the on-screen instructions. Note that NetCut will also install “WinPcap”; this is just a program that supports the user interface for NetCut.

You will need to restart your computer after setting up NetCut to continue.

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Open NetCut. Double-click the NetCut application icon. A new tab will open (or a new browser window if you haven’t launched the program).

Reset router

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Disconnect the router and modem. You need to unplug the Ethernet cable connected to the modem on the back of the router.

Skip this step if the router and modem are 2-in-1 devices.

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Find the “Reset” button on the router. This button is usually located on the back of the router and is deliberately designed to be difficult to find, so you need to look closely.

The “Reset” button is usually indented and no larger than the tip of a pin.

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Hold down the “Reset” button. Use a pin, straightener, or SIM stick and press and hold the “Reset” button for at least 30 seconds.

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Release the “Reset” button after 30 seconds. The router will have more time to reset. At this point, the device will start to reboot automatically.

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Wait for the router to start up. You need to wait a few minutes for this process to complete, maybe the router will reboot itself a few times.

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Plug the router back into the modem. Plug it back in with the Ethernet cable that originally connected the two devices.

Again, you can skip this step if the router and modem are 2-in-1 devices.

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Connect to Wi-Fi . You need to proceed with the default network name and password, which is usually listed on the bottom or back of the router.

Call the carrier

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Prepare information for the call. You’ll need to collect information such as an account number or billing address to help the operator confirm your identity.

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Explain the problem. Tell the operator that someone is using your home’s Wi-Fi. If the Wi-Fi modem/router is provided by the carrier, they can log in and remove the user from accessing it.

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Decide if you want to change your Wi-Fi password. If you think someone is using your password, ask a support agent to configure the new network. Note: password is a sensitive matter.

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Ask support about the right security settings for you. If the router has not been updated for a long time, the network operator can also help you with this problem.

Advice

Create a password that is hard to hack. Experts recommend that you set a long password (at least 15 characters) that combines uppercase, lowercase letters, numbers and special characters, and limit the use of words from the dictionary. ^{[1] X Research Source}
Some network providers, like Comcast in the US, may configure your router to act as a Wi-Fi hotspot for other customers. Users won’t share your connection, so you don’t have to worry about them using your family’s resources. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Warning

Only share your Wi-Fi password with someone you trust. If someone uses your home Wi-Fi to hack or download illegal content, you could be held liable.
Never download software that blocks Internet connections from any source other than the manufacturer’s official website.

Steps