When I am connected to my network via WiFi and either open up the Genie application, or go to routerlogin.net on a browser, I see a neighbor's R4500, rather than my R8000. When I connect to my R8000 via Ethernet, everything looks like it should. His SSIDs and mine are different. What is more disturbing is that I have admin access to his router and network, and I can see all his devices, as well as my own. I am sure hoping that this doesn't go both ways, and he has admin access to my router and my whole network. I have tried changing my SSIDs, disabling broadcast of them, and rebooting the router multiple times. Nothing fixes this strange and disturbing security breach. What should I do?

lennyr wrote:Yes, that is the problem. I connect to his router, rather than mine, even though I am on my wireless network. His signal is way weaker than mine, and regardless of that routerlogin.net (and the Genie application) should resolve to my router when I am on my SSID. He has a password set, but for some reason I am able to get on his router as admin. Clearly, there is a significant problem with the way routerlogin.net / Genie work. You can't get on his router UNLESS you are ON his network, period. You are CONNECTED to 2 different networks from your description. Your own from a hard wired PC and HIS via wireless. Genie is working as it should, opening a browser on your PC and going to 192.168.1.1 (assuming that is your router IP address and it is the same as his) or using routerlogin.net will put you on YOUR router. Doing the same on a wireless device will put you on HIS router as that is what you are connected too. If he is using the DEFAULT UID and PW (admin and password) then that is why you can get onto his router on wireless. If he has NO Security set then you can connect to his router via wireless. If he HAS security set then you need the passphrase to get on. If it happens to be the same as yours then it is possible the wireless devices can get on, but you must have the same SSID's as well. Have you tried Acrylic? Did you run from a Command prompt IPCONFIG /ALL and compare results between the PC hard wired and a wireless device? Another question, HOW do you know you are on his router using Genie?

A guy using R8000 should know better. LOL! Your neighbor is not any better either, LOL+!

lennyr wrote:As to how I know I'm on his router rather than mine, it is because mine is an R8000 and his shows as an R45000, because we have different SSIDs for our networks, and differnet passowrds (which I can all see, since I'm Admin).Lenny, I don't think ANYONE is disputing your wireless devices are on HIS network. We get that. What the root cause is your devices CONNECTED to his network. When a device connects to a network (wireless) somethings have to happen. It must see SSID's (UNLESS none is broadcast but you know the SSID and tell the device to connect to that one).It has to be selected to connect (and usually there is a check box to 'always connect to this SSID) to that SSID.Depending on Security level of the SSID a PASSPHRASE might be required. Once provided the device will connect.Some devices will retain the SSID and PASSPHRASE and connect to that SPECIFIC SSID if it sees that SSID using the stored values. Some will even do it if the SSID signal is stronger that the SSID signal it is on. All I can guess is that at one time you did use your neighbor's network, maybe when you were at his house, I don't know, but you are on it. The fact that you can use Genie to view his router doesn't mean much. Probably MOST people do NOT change the UID or P/W required to logon to thier router. The DEFAULT is ADMIN and PASSWORD and I'm sure you used that. That is NOT the same as the SSID and PASSPHRASE needed to CONNECT a device to the router (unless he set it to that). A couple of screen captures might help here. When on of your wireless devices is using Genie and shots of the first screen, Wireless settings, and the LOG if enabled. You can blank out the PASSPHRASE so as not to disclose that.Same as above when on your Router connected to via a wire from your PC.IPCONFIG /ALL from the wired PC.Assuming you can capture a screen on a wireless device (iPhone/iPad's are easy) get screenshots of the NETWORK connection data.Alternatively you can just get a screenshot of the ADVANCED tab blacking out some data, that looks like this (I assume all NG routers look similar, I'm on an R7000 for instance): With screenshots of the two networks you appear to be on we should be able to see possibly what is going on. Although I've blacked out my INTERNET IP ADDRESS, you can leave the LAST octet as they MUST be different if you are on two different networks. Bottom line, no one I don't think thinks you are NOT connected to your neighbor's network with your wireless devices. However YOU had to do that, not Genie, but MANUALLY selecting that SSID and providing the PROPER PASSPHRASE. Once that has been done, devices USUALLY re-connect to the LAST connection they had. Easy FIX, DISCONNECT and then CONNECT to the proper one. Also FORGET your neighbor's network after you do that and you'll be fine and not connect to it again unless YOU manually choose to do that.

Your wireless devices connected to his router, not yours. You wired device connected to your router. The 'security breach' was on his end. Probably an unprotected SSID and the signal was stronger that your SSID and the wireless devices connected to his signal. Look at your wireless devices and see what SSID it is connecting to, and IF it even sees your SSID. You didn't detail what your wireless devices are? If Windows PC's or Laptops, you can get Acrylic (https://www.acrylicwifi.com/en/wlan-software/wlan-scanner-acrylic-wifi-free/) install and run it and you can tell what SSID's and thier power and channels are around. I doubt his SSID is the same as yours but it could be on the same channel and stronger signal. If you are worried he can connect to you, check YOUR router log, it should show (if enabled) who is connecting by IP Address and MAC Address. From your post it probably only is your PC.

Quite sad that a neighbors 4500 is being selected by your devices rather than the netgear flagship r8000.

MASSIVE SECURITY PROBLEM - Genie Logs Into Neighbor's Router

27 Replies

IrvSp
Master
Jun 01, 2016
Your wireless devices connected to his router, not yours. You wired device connected to your router. The 'security breach' was on his end. Probably an unprotected SSID and the signal was stronger that your SSID and the wireless devices connected to his signal. Look at your wireless devices and see what SSID it is connecting to, and IF it even sees your SSID.

You didn't detail what your wireless devices are? If Windows PC's or Laptops, you can get Acrylic (https://www.acrylicwifi.com/en/wlan-software/wlan-scanner-acrylic-wifi-free/) install and run it and you can tell what SSID's and thier power and channels are around. I doubt his SSID is the same as yours but it could be on the same channel and stronger signal.

If you are worried he can connect to you, check YOUR router log, it should show (if enabled) who is connecting by IP Address and MAC Address. From your post it probably only is your PC.
- Retired_Member
  Jun 01, 2016
  Quite sad that a neighbors 4500 is being selected by your devices rather than the netgear flagship r8000.
- lennyr
  Tutor
  Jun 01, 2016
  Yes, that is the problem. I connect to his router, rather than mine, even though I am on my wireless network. His signal is way weaker than mine, and regardless of that routerlogin.net (and the Genie application) should resolve to my router when I am on my SSID.
  
  He has a password set, but for some reason I am able to get on his router as admin.
  
  Clearly, there is a significant problem with the way routerlogin.net / Genie work.
  - IrvSp
    Master
    Jun 01, 2016
    lennyr wrote:
    Yes, that is the problem. I connect to his router, rather than mine, even though I am on my wireless network. His signal is way weaker than mine, and regardless of that routerlogin.net (and the Genie application) should resolve to my router when I am on my SSID.
    
    He has a password set, but for some reason I am able to get on his router as admin.
    
    Clearly, there is a significant problem with the way routerlogin.net / Genie work.
    
    You can't get on his router UNLESS you are ON his network, period.
    
    You are CONNECTED to 2 different networks from your description. Your own from a hard wired PC and HIS via wireless. Genie is working as it should, opening a browser on your PC and going to 192.168.1.1 (assuming that is your router IP address and it is the same as his) or using routerlogin.net will put you on YOUR router. Doing the same on a wireless device will put you on HIS router as that is what you are connected too.
    
    If he is using the DEFAULT UID and PW (admin and password) then that is why you can get onto his router on wireless. If he has NO Security set then you can connect to his router via wireless. If he HAS security set then you need the passphrase to get on. If it happens to be the same as yours then it is possible the wireless devices can get on, but you must have the same SSID's as well.
    
    Have you tried Acrylic?
    
    Did you run from a Command prompt IPCONFIG /ALL and compare results between the PC hard wired and a wireless device?
    
    Another question, HOW do you know you are on his router using Genie?
netwrks
Master
Jun 01, 2016
Hopefully you have changed your router login password (and wifi passphrases). Sounds like your neighbour hasn't..
VE6CGX
Master
Jun 02, 2016
A guy using R8000 should know better. LOL! Your neighbor is not any better either, LOL+!
- Retired_Member
  Jun 02, 2016
  VE6CGX wrote:
  A guy using R8000 should know better. LOL! Your neighbor is not any better either, LOL+!
  ROTFLMAO

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MASSIVE SECURITY PROBLEM - Genie Logs Into Neighbor's Router