Internet Troubles: Is Someone Siphoning My Connection?

Is it possible for someone to tap into your internet connection without your knowledge? This question looms large for many users, especially after experiencing dramatic speed reductions like I have with my CenturyLink fiber internet. Since installation nine months ago in my Pacific Northwest home, my connection has been rock solid, maintaining speeds near the 950 Mbps mark for downloads, with upload speeds typically hovering around 450 Mbps. Suddenly, everything changed.

One day, I noticed a staggering drop in my download speeds, plummeting to a mere 4 Mbps. At times, it fluctuates, showing speeds of 20 Mbps, then peaking at 100 Mbps, before dropping back down to 1.5 Mbps. Interestingly, my upload speeds continue to be impressive, sometimes reaching up to 900 Mbps. This inconsistency has left me baffled.

After several speed tests confirmed the problem, I reached out to CenturyLink for assistance. A technician arrived and carried out various diagnostic tests, asserting that everything appeared to be functioning correctly. He replaced the modem, updated the Optical Network Terminal (ONT), and even ran new Cat6 cables. Unfortunately, the results remained unchanged. The issue persists, especially when using Wi-Fi, and the technician kept asking if I was using a VPN. Admittedly, my understanding of VPNs is limited, and I do not believe I am actively using one.

To make matters worse, while browsing on Chrome, I’ve started receiving CAPTCHA prompts indicating suspicious activity. This raises the question: could someone be impersonating my internet connection? Is it possible that a third party has configured their own VPN and is inadvertently causing issues with my service?

I’m not technologically savvy enough to pinpoint the source of the problem or identify whether my internet may indeed be “stolen.” Meanwhile, as a Mac user, I wonder if there are specific settings I should be checking.

I appreciate the insights many of you have already shared, and while I haven’t resolved the issue yet, I’m hopeful I’ll find clarity. I plan to continue exploring the problem and will provide updates as the situation unfolds. Your comments and advice would be invaluable as I navigate this perplexing internet ordeal.

If you’ve experienced similar issues or have tips on what to investigate next, please share your thoughts!