Why Your Stolen Password Will Not Allow You to Access the Internet

Imagine that you have managed to obtain the Wi-Fi login credentials for a business's network. Your device connects after you enter the password, and you smile as though you have figured out a secret code. However, nothing happens when you attempt to access the internet. Only a frustrating error page—no social media, no cat videos. What is happening? Greetings from the strange world of business Wi-Fi security, where a password is not the only solution.

When it comes to Wi-Fi, businesses nowadays are more intelligent than your typical coffee shop. Anyone who knows the password is not granted access to the internet. Rather, they employ a cunning tactic known as IP address assignment. Each company gadget, including phones, laptops, and even smart coffee makers, is assigned a unique IP address. By telling the network, "Hey, this device is allowed to surf the web," this address functions similarly to a VIP pass. You are in Wi-Fi limbo without it, connected but not moving.

This is how it operates. The network's router verifies a company device's IP address against a list of authorised devices when it connects to the Wi-Fi. Your online hopes are dashed by the router if your device is not on that list. It is similar to arriving at a private party without a name on the guest list but with the correct password. This configuration prevents outsiders from accessing confidential company information or using up bandwidth, even if they have credentials that have been stolen.

Why make all this effort? Businesses want to keep sly hackers out of their networks. With access to Wi-Fi, a hacker could steal files, eavesdrop on emails, or cause mayhem. Businesses increase security by linking internet access to particular IP addresses. Although it is not infallible, it is a strong deterrent for potential Wi-Fi freeloaders.

What then should an outsider do? Not much, unless you are prepared to use some very sophisticated technical skills to impersonate an authorised IP address. Even then, contemporary networks frequently include additional gimmicks, such as firewalls or MAC address filtering. The lesson? It may feel good to get your hands on Wi-Fi credentials, but without that valuable IP address, you are simply a ghost in the network, haunting the signal with nowhere to go. The next time you are tempted to "borrow" a company's Wi-Fi, keep in mind that joining the group is more important than simply knowing the password.