Random devices on my network displayed in Windows explorer under the network section

Random devices that i did not connect to my network are popping up under the Network section of Windows Explorer. However, when i check on my Netgear Router settings, none of these devices appear anyw...

R0BBYMALZ
Feb 08, 2019

I do believe I found a potential solutions after doing some research about this issue. "Research" was in fact suggested by another user so here's what I found

Here is the link to another forum on Netgear Community of a user who also experiences this issue as well as someone's response to their question

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Nighthawk-WiFi-Routers/Random-device-appearing-under-Network-in-Windows/m-p/511457#M15445

Re: Random device appearing under Network in Windows?

That is a WINDOWS bug... All my computers would show a phone connected to the network. Router access list would not. Explorer wouldn't show it on the network either.

Others have posted about this as well on the web, http://www.eightforums.com/network-sharing/12630-someones-phone-connected-my-network-why-how.html.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_8-networking/unknown-phone-appears-as-a-con...

http://community.virginmedia.com/t5/Wireless-Networking/Unknown-devices-showing-in-windows-8-network...

As the last one shows, it is probably due to Windows Connect Now Service:

===========
WCNCSVC hosts the Windows Connect Now Configuration which is Microsoft's Implementation of Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) protocol. This is used to configure Wireless LAN settings for an Access Point (AP) or a Wi-Fi Device. The service is started programmatically as needed.
===========

I just disabled that service and no longer see this. I can only surmise that it senses a phone nearby and 'remembers' it. In my case they tend to disappear within minutes and properties only show a MAC address, it never connects.

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Random devices on my network displayed in Windows explorer under the network section