Unlimited internet with router? Curious.

triggersad19 · 03-24-2008, 12:00 PM

Hey. I'm new. Thanks for having me. :) I'm not the best or smartest when it comes to computing, so excuse me.
So, here goes it.
I had a broadband connection, and connected my WRT54G (1.1) Linksys router to my modem so I could use my PS3 online. Since that time my ISP has disconnected my service. ..and I'm still getting unlimited internet.
The DSL on my router is still lit up, and everything seems to be working fine.
I don't live in a "wi-fi city", (yet.) I know there are a few, now.
Also, when I try to log onto my IP address, (If that makes sense, don't know how to word it.) I'm supposed to leave it blank as the user name, and put 'admin' as the password, and this doesn't work.

So, anyone have any ideas how this is working...? Where the connection is coming from, or how I can figure it out myself?

Any help is appreciated.
Love the forums, btw. :)

oldmn · 03-24-2008, 12:08 PM

Hi triggersad19 Welcome to TSF
Could possible you be using a neighbors wireless?

**Cellus** · 03-24-2008, 12:23 PM

The easiest and surefire way to test this is to unplug the power from your router and see if you still have wireless Internet. If you do, then you are probably hooked up onto someone else's wireless Internet.

This is not unusual behaviour - Windows Zero Configuration (the default wireless connection handling program with Windows) and many other wireless clients are configured to automatically connect to another wireless signal if they lose their current one, even if your current one is labeled as preferred.

Using someone else's wireless Internet without authorization is technically illegal and can be unsafe to use. This is because an unsecured wireless connection can be listened into and sensitive information which is transmitted to and from your PC can be intercepted and/or manipulated. This is even true of a wireless connection which you would normally trust, as being unsecured it is all transmitted "in the open" and can be easily picked up on.

triggersad19 · 03-25-2008, 11:43 AM

Thanks for the info, I'm sure it has to be a neighbor around here,
I'll check it out, thanks for the help. :)

03-24-2008, 12:00 PM	#1 (permalink)
triggersad19 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 2 OS: Windows Vista Home [ugh.]	Unlimited internet with router? Curious. Hey. I'm new. Thanks for having me. :) I'm not the best or smartest when it comes to computing, so excuse me. So, here goes it. I had a broadband connection, and connected my WRT54G (1.1) Linksys router to my modem so I could use my PS3 online. Since that time my ISP has disconnected my service. ..and I'm still getting unlimited internet. The DSL on my router is still lit up, and everything seems to be working fine. I don't live in a "wi-fi city", (yet.) I know there are a few, now. Also, when I try to log onto my IP address, (If that makes sense, don't know how to word it.) I'm supposed to leave it blank as the user name, and put 'admin' as the password, and this doesn't work. So, anyone have any ideas how this is working...? Where the connection is coming from, or how I can figure it out myself? Any help is appreciated. Love the forums, btw. :)

03-24-2008, 12:08 PM	#2 (permalink)
oldmn Hardware Tech Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Gig Harbor Wa Posts: 2,137 OS: XP Pro SP3 X 3 My System	Re: Unlimited internet with router? Curious. Hi triggersad19 Welcome to TSF Could possible you be using a neighbors wireless? __________________ AVG \| MEMTEST86 \| Zone Alarm \| XXCLONE \| Adaware \| Beyond Compare \| Everest If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Sorry no PM's for problems. Last edited by oldmn : 03-24-2008 at 12:11 PM.

03-24-2008, 12:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
Cellus Moderator Networking Team Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 2,499 OS: Windows Vista Business SP1 My System	Re: Unlimited internet with router? Curious. The easiest and surefire way to test this is to unplug the power from your router and see if you still have wireless Internet. If you do, then you are probably hooked up onto someone else's wireless Internet. This is not unusual behaviour - Windows Zero Configuration (the default wireless connection handling program with Windows) and many other wireless clients are configured to automatically connect to another wireless signal if they lose their current one, even if your current one is labeled as preferred. Using someone else's wireless Internet without authorization is technically illegal and can be unsafe to use. This is because an unsecured wireless connection can be listened into and sensitive information which is transmitted to and from your PC can be intercepted and/or manipulated. This is even true of a wireless connection which you would normally trust, as being unsecured it is all transmitted "in the open" and can be easily picked up on. __________________ TSF Networking Team HijackThis 5 Step Process Donate!

03-25-2008, 11:43 AM	#4 (permalink)
triggersad19 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 2 OS: Windows Vista Home [ugh.]	Re: Unlimited internet with router? Curious. Thanks for the info, I'm sure it has to be a neighbor around here, I'll check it out, thanks for the help. :)