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Jerdon's avatar
Jerdon
Aspirant
Oct 16, 2022

WNDR4500v2 intruders

Netgear forum,

I have a WNDR4500v2 with a couple of intruders. The web site instructions on how to get rid of them don't match the menus on the router.
Specifically one instruction says, Select "Wireless Settings" from under Advanced. Click the "Setup Access List" button. I don't see the "Setup Access List" button.

 

Any suggestions?

Jerdon

3 Replies

  • michaelkenward's avatar
    michaelkenward
    Guru
    Oct 16, 2022
    Jerdon wrote:

     

    I have a WNDR4500v2 with a couple of intruders.

    Can you explain what you mean by that? Intruders into what?

     

    Where do you see these "intruders"?

     


    The web site instructions on how to get rid of them don't match the menus on the router.

    Where do you see these "web site instructions"? Do you mean the browser graphical user interface (GUI)? (That's not a website.

     

    What about the manual?

     

    Visit the support pages:

    Support | NETGEAR

    Feed in your model number and check the documentation for your hardware.

    You may have done that already. I can't tell from your message.

    I mention it because Netgear gave up on supplying paper manuals and CD versions some years ago and people sometimes miss the downloads.

     

    What firmware version do you have on the device?

    A number is more useful than "the latest". (It may not be by the time people read this.) There can also be newer versions, or "hot fixes", that do not show up if you check for new firmware in the browser interface.

    It might also help if you told people what the modem is in front of this router, if there is one. The make and model number could be useful. Is it, by any chance, also a router, with a set of LAN ports on the back?

    The reason for asking is that a lot of people turn up here trying to put a router behind a modem that is also a router. That can complicate troubleshooting.

  • Jerdon's avatar
    Jerdon
    Aspirant
    Oct 16, 2022

    michaelkenward,
    Thanks for the reply.

    Intruders
    When I log into the Router and click on "Attached Devices" it states: "2.4GHz Wireless Devices (Wireless intruders also show up here):

    I see some MAC addresses that don't match any devices in my house so these seem to be 'intruders'.

    I have read the manual and searched the web on how to get rid of these but none of the instructions match what I see on the NETGEAR menu.

    Firmware Version is V1.0.0.72_1.0.45

    Modem is an Arris TM722G/CT -8

    I hope this is all the information you requested.

    Jerdon

    • michaelkenward's avatar
      michaelkenward
      Guru
      Oct 16, 2022
      Jerdon wrote:

      When I log into the Router and click on "Attached Devices" it states: "2.4GHz Wireless Devices (Wireless intruders also show up here):

       

      OK. You see a set of "attached devices" and suspect that some are invading your wifi.

       

      One problem there can be that these are genuine devices that you just don't recognise. Some things make more connections than is apparent.

       

      Then there are things that you just don't recognise. That has cropped up here more often than you might think.

       

      Even MAC addresses can be misleading. Did you search for them on the usual places?

       

      This is a useful tool:

       

      MAC Address Lookup/Find Tool for Windows

       

      Some mobiles (iPhones, for example) Change their addresses to something random as a security measure.

       

      NETGEAR Mobile Applications and Apple Devices FAQ - NETGEAR Communities

       


      I have read the manual and searched the web on how to get rid of these but none of the instructions match what I see on the NETGEAR menu.

       

      I'm not clear on what you mean by "get rid of these". In what way?

       

      The most obvious first move is to change your wifi password. Then intruders won't be able to join your wifi network.

       

      Your router is now near on a decade old. Changes in the firmware may have altered the controls for the device. Unfortunately, Netgear doesn't keep manuals up to date. For example, you can ignore all mentions of parental controls. That got ditched a couple of years ago.

       

      Newer routers have access control here:

      • Setup
        • Advanced
          • Security
          • Access Control

      If you don't see that, then this isn't something that Netgear has added to your device with a firmware update. The manual says that it is there on the more recent V3 version of this router.

       

      If you really want this control over what may or may not be a security issue, then you could consider something more modern. That is a mere seven years old.

       

      Firmware Version is V1.0.0.72_1.0.45

      Modem is an Arris TM722G/CT -8

       

      The latest firmware, and what looks like a modem-only box.