Very strange issue, neighbors router showing up on my PC?

[grebgonebad]

Hi everyone!

Okay, so for the last few days I've been experiencing severe speed loss, both download and upload, from my ISP, Virgin Media. I checked their status page and it appears that there is a webmail issue in my area, but if my understanding of the word 'webmail' is correct, this shouldn't be the cause of the many issues I'm currently experiencing.

For starters, when trying to log on to my router, I can use the same logon information 100 times, and maybe 10 times I'll successfully log on, 20 times the page will time out stating that it could not contact the server, 20 times it will state that my WPS Pin is incorrect, and the remaining 50 times it will somehow bring up an improperly loaded page displaying my neighbors Sky router homepage!?

Now, correct me if I'm wrong, I'm not the best when it comes to networking, but I thought each houses router was meant to be independent of everyone else's, requiring a unique IP address as well as a host of other security and login information in order to access it?

When I say it will somehow bring up an improperly loaded page displaying my neighbors Sky router homepage, I mean it shows a whole host of information, including a list of connected devices (This is how I know it's my neighbors router as their names are there), Status information about their Sky Broadband network, and some links to other advanced settings pages. Now I can't actually change anything, and if I click on one of the links to other pages I immediately get a 404 error (I'm not clicking these links in order to actively try and change anything, just to see how much I can actually access from my side of things, my intentions are not to cause trouble).

I'm currently going through the steps of contacting Virgin and asking them what they can tell me from their end, but I thought I'd also put the feelers out here and see what I can find out. =)

If anyone has any suggestions please do let me know, and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. If you require more information ask away and I'll do my best to supply you with what you need. I want to get this sorted as quickly as I can not just for myself, but for my neighbors, I'm sure they wouldn't be best pleased knowing that someone outside their IP somehow has access to their router's basic information...

 

[R_1]

Wireless? Are you sure that you are not connected to your neighbors access point?
If you connected to his access point and login to the router, you would get the situation described.
Both have same router and ISP, I'll bet the login and passwords are the same on both devices.

If you are wired into your router and getting his setup, I have no Idea sorry.

 

[Ralston18]

Concurring with R_1.

Remember if you are getting into the neighbor's router/network they may be getting into yours.

Especially if you have not changed the default settings.

Best approach is to download and read the user guide/manual for your router.

Use a wired connection to log into your router. Then change your login ID and password. Establish your own SSID, channels, etc.

Then configure all of your devices accordingly.

Once you are all set and all seems well you might let the neighbors know that their network seems unsecured.

Give them the same advice.

 

[grebgonebad]

Thanks for your replies!

I use a wired connection anyway for the somewhat lower latency and higher speeds, my desktop doesn't even have a wireless card anymore. XD

I find it strange that I'm on Virgin Media and they're on Sky, it seems like the two shouldn't conflict at all really?

I've tried logging onto my router again this morning and I seem to be having no issues in that regard, touch wood. However When I view the list of connected devices, my neighbors phones are listed as wired devices? The only thing wired to our network is my PC and Xbox, nothing else?

 

[Ralston18]

Is it possible that your neighbors have physical acccess to your network somewhere? I.e., they are knowingly or unknowingly tapping in?

The neighbors may have set up an access point of their own and are grabbing your wireless signal. Especially if your router was not secure.

Check the ethernet wiring as best you can and if all wiring is internal to your apartment (meaning no place that they could tap in) then you can take another approach.

Continue with all wired connections for your network. Change the router login and password. Disable wireless completely.

Try the above and please post accordingly. Also include the router make and model. Thanks.

Beyond that, for the moment, I am with R_1.

 

[grebgonebad]

We live in detached houses, so short of them running a line from my house to theirs I don't see how they could be tapped in. Plus it is worth mentioning that they're nice people, and they're a bit old timey as far as tech goes anyway, I doubt they know much about networking past logging onto their WiFi (I mean this in the nicest way possible of course).

I haven't spoken to my neighbors yet as I'm currently waiting for a status report from Virgin highlighting any issues that they may be having in my area first (They did mention a couple of things that might be affecting my connection), but I do know that their WiFi is secured, as is mine. I'll try changing my login and password as soon as I am able to actually login to my router in the first place. It's still touch and go whether I can actually access it or not at the minute. Virgin did state that their issues may be having an adverse effect locally (As in router side), so I'll wait and see what they can come up with.

 

[Ralston18]

Yes it will be interesting to hear what Virgin has to say....

Sort of thinking about what kind of an error by some poor, overworked, undertrained technician could create the situation described thus far.

Also had the afterthought of suggesting that if/when you can see their devices try to collect the assigned IPs. Especially any routers....

May be possible to set your router to a DHCP IP range outside of the neighbor's range. Might help if no other solutions become apparent.