Unknown devices keep appearing in my network tab

ricecrispies · 16 Apr 2020

I frequently see unrecognised devices in the network tab of Explorer (Windows version 1909). These include smartphones, printers, TVs and "generic network" devices. They come and go very quickly. I have changed my wifi password a number of times, most recently to one generated by Lastpass that ought to be very hard to guess and which I have not disclosed to anyone else, yet these devices keep coming back. My router (known as a Bbox) is provided by my ISP (Proximus). It has a public hotspot function, but I have disabled this, yet these mysterious devices keep appearing. However when I log into my router and look at the list of connected devices, I only see devices I recognise as my own. In other words these devices only seem to appear in Windows Explorer, but not in the Router itself.

I have started a thread in my ISP's own forum (it's in French), but not got any plausible explanation. How are these devices appearing on my network, and does this indicate that I have a security problem?

Samuria · 16 Apr 2020

If your using WiFi then anything on the same IP range will show up if it's close as most devices use the 192.168 range lots may show up in some areas

ricecrispies · 16 Apr 2020

But I don't understand why they appear if they can't connect to my wifi, which they shouldn't be able to do if they don't have the password. Isn't the IP stuff supposed to happen on top of the wifi layer, so if the wifi connection isn't there, there can't be any IP traffic?

Try3 · 16 Apr 2020

It's not that they are connecting to your network, your router detects them and connects to them because their security is rubbish / tries to connect to them, fails & gives up.

Denis

Frabnkhs · 16 Apr 2020

It may be that "disbable" function on your WiFi router has been "disabled" by your ISP

It may also be that I'm overly suspicious of ISPs but maybe not

Berton · 16 Apr 2020

I get half a dozen and the Wi-Fi is just showing them available and whether secured or not. Usually the signal is too weak to connect. The list may also include printers that use Wireless Direct or Wi-Fi, one of mine is on the list even though I use an Ethernet connection to my Router and its control panel shows wireless as Off.

Unknown devices keep appearing in my network tab-wi-fi.png

AndreTen · 16 Apr 2020

ricecrispies said:

But I don't understand why they appear if they can't connect to my wifi, which they shouldn't be able to do if they don't have the password. Isn't the IP stuff supposed to happen on top of the wifi layer, so if the wifi connection isn't there, there can't be any IP traffic?

Don't worry about this. They are not connected to your network, nor they present any danger to your network security. It simply shows any device trying to connect (advertising signals). This is known behavior.

Will check around and try to find some relevant pages...

Some users report that switching off WPS (in router) helps

ricecrispies · 16 Apr 2020

Berton said:

I get half a dozen and the Wi-Fi is just showing them available and whether secured or not. Usually the signal is too weak to connect. The list may also include printers that use Wireless Direct or Wi-Fi, one of mine is on the list even though I use an Ethernet connection to my Router and its control panel shows wireless as Off.

I think you've misunderstood. I'm not talking about wifi networks. I'm talking about devices that appear on my own network, such as the "generic network connected device" in this screenshot, which is certainly not one of my devices:

Unknown devices keep appearing in my network tab-image.png

Berton · 16 Apr 2020

There's usually only 2 ways of networking, Wired by Ethernet cable to the Router or Wireless/Wi-Fi to the Router and called LAN/Local Area Network. A WAN or WWAN is going out to a Wide Area Network such as the Internet.

Unknown devices have to be connecting by one way or the other, try looking around your environment for devices that may include either type connection, could be a refrigerator, stove, TV, a lot of newer things "smart" could be available.

AndreTen · 16 Apr 2020

OK, try this.

Click on Start and type services, and run it.
Scroll down to Windows Connect now, and disable it, or stop and set to Manual. I have it set to Manual.