someone using our wireless network?

Can you help please? We are on Blueyonder Broadband and have a wireless network so my son can use his computer upstairs.Recently we have had real problems with the internet crawling and at times my son has not even been able to get onto the internet.No problems with provider and no problems with computer however we have noticed that the house by us has had a "thing" dangling out of his bedroom window with a blue flashing light on it (I can hear all those dirty thoughts already!!) I am not technical,though you would never guess, but my son said that it is a netgear wireless or something that is trying to pick up on other peoples internet for his own use.. what a cheek!! I have looked through the instructions to try to stop this and it talks about wap & wip and something else and I honestly do not have a clue what they are going on about.Can anyone tell me how I can stop this cheapskate using our broadband..short of getting up a ladder and chopping his thing off. I wouldn't mind but he's the type that wouldn't give you the droppings off his nose!
If there is a remedy that will not get me 5 yrs in clink for GBH I would be really grateful but I need to still be able to let my son network off the main computer downstairs.
Thanks
Ghollum

 

Hi Ghollum Can your server not deal with this problem or even the police. This is surely against the law Hope you get this sorted out quickly. I don't think he would appreciate you cutting his thing off ha! ha! Jazz :eek: :( :(

 

Check the manual that came with your wireless network. In it there will be a section on security and how to set up a list of users or how to set it up so that you have to give a password before you can connect to the internet. That will stop him.If it doesn't- :D :D

 

Hi Ghollum

Mr HB says go to your installation guide and look up the WEP key - its an encryption key & it will do the stuff for you..... (very technical!!!! )

 

Yikes,,, I have just had a look at the manual and gone to the relevant place on the computer to do what needs to be done ,chickened out and got the ladder out!!How complicated is it? :confused: We have had so many crashes on this computer that I am scared to do anything new.Will have to wait until number one son has day off work and get him to do it
I just keep thinking if it ain't broke don't fix it otherwise its a pound a minute on the PC helpline :eek:

 

Ghollum if you have a wireless router anyone with a PC with a wireless modem can access it unless you do what Beefy suggests and set up the security options on it.
You'll have to configure each of the PCs in your home to access your router but once done the router will automatically recognise the PCs trying to connect to it and you shouldn't have to manually enter passwords.
BTW - If you switch your router off when you think the neighbour is linking to the web through you, you'll cause him a bit of grief

 

Turned the router off last night and his thingy is now pointing the other way no doubt looking for another sucker :D
Really having to resist the urge to go into the garden and shout GOTTCHA
Thanks to everyone for their help, will be looking at modifying settings on router to make things a bit easier
Ghollum

 

setting up a sercurity on a wireless router is very important.........obviously they are using your wireless router conection......call out a engineer who knows how to set it up for you.....shouldn't cost more that �£50.

 

This is quite a common practice- a lot of laptop users in towns rely on the availabilty! I think it's regarded as a side benefit rather than theft!

 

my computer guy came out set my netgear router connected to my pc and lap top and he charged me �£38