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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...
- 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:
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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.
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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.Message 5 of 5
> Random devices that i did not connect to my network are popping up
> under the Network section of Windows Explorer. [...]
I doubt that. (The "i did not connect" part.)
> I don't understand how these devices are on my Network.
That, I can believe. Most likely, you connected them. For example:
> 2) Sitara
> Manufacturer: TI, manufacturer webpage unavailable
> Model: Wilink, model webpage unavailable
> Model number: wl18xx
If only there were some practical way to search this new Inter-Web
thing for terms like, say:
Sitara wifi
No, wait! There is!!!
https://www.google.com/search?q=Sitara+wifi
http://www.ti.com/lit/ml/sprt721/sprt721.pdf
Apparently, this gizmo is a generic computer-with-network
building-block which could be incorporated into almost any device
designed by almost any suitable engineer, and made by almost any device
manufacturer.
If you want to track it down, then you might need to run some basic
tests, like, for example:
1. Start disabling your smart devices, and watch for the
device-of-concern to disappear.
2. Disable your wireless router (or at least its connection to the
device-of-concern), and see what you own that stops working.
It's not complicated. (Tedious, perhaps.)
> [...] I am turning on Access Control and blocking the above macaddrs
> but one cant do that unless you've id'd the macaddrs. [...]
Or you could do that. The only MAC addresses you'd need to identify
are the ones of known-permissible or known-impermissible devices. (See
"2", above.)
> [...] I think this is potentially a very serious problem. If somebody
> is manufacturing things which can just "sneak in" whenever they want,
> [...]
Yes, if somebody _were_ doing that, then it would be a very serious
problem. But you have no actual evidence of that. All that you know is
that you don't know what these devices are, not that they joined your
network without your cooperation.
> Crickets. What's the solution to this?
Do a little basic investigation? If these gizmos have a wireless
connection to your router, then the most likely explanation is that you
gave them your wireless-network credentials. If you want to avoid them,
then stop buying (and configuring) Internet-of-Junk (IoJ) gizmos.
Haha very funny bud. You would be that guy.
If I gave my WiFi credentials to such devices, I wouldn't have posted this question some time ago because unlike you, I am not a troll.
So what if I told you now that I only keep one device connected to my router yet these mysterious devices are connected, and yes.. WITHOUT MY CONSENT.
Don't you think I did a search. I know what these "gizmos" are but that doesn't answer my questions. How did they and why are they connected to my network EVEN AFTER FACTORY RESETTING AND RE CONFIGURING my router and only allowing ONE(1) device to connect. Due note that the ONE(1) device is in fact the original device I was using when I discovered these "gizmos"
A word to the wise, please do not be sarcastic on these questions as there are plenty of people out there who actually have no clue about computers. Remember, there was once upon a time where you didn't know anything and sought to ask questions.
If I gave my WiFi credentials to such devices, I wouldn't have posted this question some time ago because unlike you, I am not a troll.
So what if I told you now that I only keep one device connected to my router yet these mysterious devices are connected, and yes.. WITHOUT MY CONSENT.
Don't you think I did a search. I know what these "gizmos" are but that doesn't answer my questions. How did they and why are they connected to my network EVEN AFTER FACTORY RESETTING AND RE CONFIGURING my router and only allowing ONE(1) device to connect. Due note that the ONE(1) device is in fact the original device I was using when I discovered these "gizmos"
A word to the wise, please do not be sarcastic on these questions as there are plenty of people out there who actually have no clue about computers. Remember, there was once upon a time where you didn't know anything and sought to ask questions.
> Don't you think I did a search. [...]
I don't know what you did, or what you would or wouldn't do. With my
weak psychic powers, my response was based only on what I could read.
For example, I have no idea which router you have, or its firmware
version. Or did I miss something?> [...] under the Network section of Windows Explorer. [...]
Assuming that your (unspecified) router offers an Attached Devices
report, do these devices appear there, too?lol again with the sarcasm
no one said anything about your "weak psychic powers". Obviously you don't seem to think because being psychic, weak or strong, is totally different from thinking...
but nonetheless since you now wish to be helpful, the unspecified routers are WNDR3400v3, R6400, and N600. i decided not to specify as it seems to be an issue among several models. They do offer an Attached Devices report and these "gizmos" do not appear in the list but do appear in Windows Explorer Network section