Neither hidden SSID nor MAC filtering: here’s what really stops WiFi squatters
Let’s be honest: who hasn’t, at some point, hopped onto a free public WiFi network? In a big city, even if you’re just trying to get to your couch with a baguette under your arm, you’ll detect dozens of WiFi signals, some with fortress-like protection, others as open as a book left in the rain. If you’re living in an apartment building or a residence, that digital jungle grows even denser.
But here’s the real wake-up call—no one is truly safe from a nosy neighbor (or a repeat-offender ex-flatmate) quietly mooching off their WiFi, whether by technical stealth or simply because you gave them the code ages ago. If you have the nagging suspicion that someone is riding on your bandwith, there are ways to reclaim what’s yours—without resorting to awkward hallway confrontations (unless you’re into that kind of drama).
First steps: Find out who’s connected
Regardless of your internet provider, your journey starts at your router’s admin page. Orange users, for instance, enter http://192.168.1.1/ or http://livebox/ in the address bar to access the customer interface. For SFR, look for the “Mon Réseau Local” section; Bouygues Telecom folks, hunt down the “Schéma de mon réseau” (Network diagram); Freebox users, head to the “Périphériques réseau” (Network Devices) section.
Once there, you’ll see a detailed structure of your local network. Every device that’s connected, whether by Ethernet or WiFi—desktops, tablets, smartphones, TV boxes, printers, the works—will be on display. Brace yourself: the list can be extensive, and you’ll need to play detective as you check every line to see which device is yours. Don’t forget to examine the connection history, too. The fend-off neighbor might not always be online in real time, so check for digital footprints.
Making your WiFi invisible: SSID hiding and its value
If you want to become a WiFi stealth master, you can hide your network’s SSID (that’s the WiFi name you see on your phone or laptop). This can be done right through your router’s admin page. Just be careful to jot down the actual identifier, because you’ll need it to connect your own devices later—better safe than locked out of your own home network.
That said, don’t get too excited. The crowd is divided: there’s a consensus that hiding the SSID is only marginally effective. A motivated WiFi squatter with enough knowledge can still uncover hidden networks. If you really want to be invisible, you’ll need to step up your game beyond this trick.
Strength in passwords—and changing them regularly
Let’s address the elephant in the digital room. The real protection for your WiFi isn’t hiding names or playing whack-a-mole with device filtering—it’s all about the password. Strengthen it. Go wild. Mix letters (upper and lower case), numbers, special characters. Use a long, randomized password (some go for a staggering 63 characters). You can use a password generator if you’re feeling uninspired. Don’t forget to change it from time to time, especially if you handed out the code to someone in the past (we’ve all been too friendly at some point).
Security through WPA2 or WPA3 is critical. If you’ve never given your neighbor your WiFi password, and your network is protected by WPA2/3, they simply won’t get in, full stop. No secret wrestlings with settings, no arguments—just digital peace at last.
MAC filtering and advanced tactics: The good, the bad, and the easily bypassed
If you’re still anxious—perhaps you’ve become convinced your neighbor is an international hacker—you might be tempted by MAC address filtering. In your internet provider’s interface, you can authorize only specific MAC addresses (basically, unique hardware IDs) to connect. It sounds solid and, for some, it feels neat to have a “whitelist.” With certain routers and apps, toggling this filter on and off is quick and easy.
- But here’s the catch—MAC filtering is easy to get around. Even on Windows, a determined squatter with the right network card could slip past. And we’re not even talking about specialized Linux security distributions that make life difficult for WiFi owners with only a basic handle on tech and lots of free time.
- So, while it sounds like a clever gate, it’s really more of a doormat for the truly motivated. Use it for light peace of mind, but don’t rely on it for serious protection.
Some users say they ditch the box’s WiFi entirely and use Ubiquiti access points with concealed SSIDs and complex passwords full of gibberish. It’s a choice—one that likely makes any snooper’s head spin, but remember: complexity is your real friend, not obscurity alone.
And for the philosophical among us, yes, there’s the lament that all these WiFi boxes—one in every apartment—bathe entire buildings in low-frequency waves. It might be better for those who are sensitive to such things if all these signals just stopped, but until that utopia arrives, you’re left with these practical steps.
The takeaway? Want to stop WiFi squatters? Don’t put all your faith in hidden networks or MAC filters. Use a solid, complex password and update it if you suspect it’s been shared. And if you want to have a bit of fun, perhaps quietly change the password and see who comes knocking at your door looking for connectivity—just don’t say we told you to enjoy it.
