how to check wireless security

Hi everyone, I'm knew here.

can anyone tell me how i can check that my wireless is secure and that no one else is using my bandwith?

thank you!

Use WPA2 and a long random passkey!

Given that even with the best encryption methods if someone guesses your wireless key they will have access it is very hard to know.

Therefore never user easy to figure out stuff, like name/address/date of birth etc

If you key looks like ejOeehqYqjqDiu12J49Wjwwkq then its probaby hard enough to guess, if it is usal2010 then change it now.

Apart from what has already been stated go to your router settings and have a look at your DHCP Table. That will tell you whats connected by MAC Address at that time and IP address that has been allocated by the router. It should show whats not connected also.
You will probably know how many devices you have in your house that connect so its just a process of elimination. Any extra ones that shouldnt be there I would change your passphrase to a good strong one ie numbers and characters

Problem with this is that on some routers if you use a static IP it does not show the computer

Though this is where command line tools like arp -a come into play

Never even thought of static IP

As for command line talk you're on your own there

MrSaffron,

I can never seem able to connect wirelessly if I blank the SSID on my TG585 v7 - any name will do, but not broadcasting a network name just doesn't seem to work.

Using WPA2 and AES Encryption, 802.11b/g PCI wireless card and Win7 32bit.

Cheers, 4M2.

Thanks guys.

I will check all that tomorrow. my wireless connection is WAP security enabled and does have a long weird passkey like mentioned.this should be secure enough right?

I'm, asking because BT keeps saying that i use up 7GB of my 10GB within the first week of the month! and that i exceed my 10Gb by going up 30Gb in a month which is impossible! the net is only used for emails, browsing and occasional youtube. So i want to make sure that no one is stealing my bandwith.

what else can i do to double check this?

In reply to a post by usal:

my wireless connection is WAP security enabled

Not good enough, if you mean WEP! WEP is not WPA2!

In reply to a post by 4M2:

MrSaffron,

I can never seem able to connect wirelessly if I blank the SSID on my TG585 v7 - any name will do, but not broadcasting a network name just doesn't seem to work.

You have to have an SSID, but you can untick the option to broadcast it