Windows 10: Unknown phone devices in my home network

For many months now I have been noticing unknown phone devices that keep appearing in my home network. They are most often always different but I have noticed some of the same ones reappearing. It seems like they may be bogging down my computer.

I am so frustrated about this because I have found no way to stop these devices from connecting to my network. I been looking on the internet for answers but find no answers. There are many people who say they have the same problem.

I have talked to my internet provider and they say that they know nothing about it and that it is not possible for anyone else to be using my internet. I have talked to maker of my computer and they say that I have to talk to my internet provider. Microsoft is not saying anything about it at all.

See these attached pictures I made showing these devices. Does anyone have an answer for this? I am beginning to think that my computer is being sabotaged against my control.

:)

 

Unknown Device On Home Network.

Hi,

Have an ADT/Pulse or iSmartAlarm or similar alarm system? Do you neighbors have one?

Have an IPhone - if so check it.

You can block a device in your router - check with your router maker's support, their on-line help and documentation, and ask in their forums.

Hope this helps.

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Rob Brown -
Microsoft MVP <- profile - Windows and Devices for IT : Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.

 

Unknown Device On Home Network.

Could be an App loaded on any phone or device you have. Do you have kids?

Could be a neighbor's alarm cam, maybe mounted outside.

Check with router maker's support, documentation, and forums for the method to block the device. Having a password for router is one step. You can also block that specific device.

Rob - SpiritX

 

This isn't a problem.

What you are seeing is (presumably your neighbors) phones which are in range of your Wi-Fi router. These phones have Wi-Fi turned on (to save cellular minutes presumably) and will therefore try to connect to your network or in fact any other that is in range.

However if your router is broadcasting BIGBEAR as the network ID when the phones try to connect the router will ask for your password. Assuming you have not told them and have default security set up these phones will not know the password to the BIGBEAR network and so they will not be able to connect.

 

Oh, I hope you are right. But why does it seem like my computer gets so bogged down every time I see these phones appear?

My computer keeps slowing down. I most certainly do have a password set up on my network. However, the internet provider (Comcast) installed a new router for me a few months ago and with the new router they gave me a password and said it was best NOT to change it but to use the one issued to me. No one knows my password except me (and Comcast). Seems strange to me that they prefer I not change my password. I forget what reason the installer gave me when I asked about this.

 

The only problem with that is if the routers all have the same SSID & Passphrase, anyone can then find said information & use your wifi, that's why it's always recommended that the user change what information they can on the router's settings page.

 

I agree. I tend to think that we Americans are being setup to have our computers hacked on purpose. Anytime any personal information is left in the hands of any business that information is being exposed to a whole lot of people and always at risk of being compromised.

However, I noticed these phones showing up on my network even with my old router so I know this is nothing just happened with the new router. I do not like seeing these unknown phones on my computer at all. And it just seems like every time that my computer starts slowing down that I find one of these phones showing up in my network.

Comcast even offers a guest pass which I disabled for this reason. I disabled the free hotspot too and yet I still see these phones. I do not mind at all if people use the free hotspot. It's just that I do not understand why I should see unknown phones in my network at all. I do not think that other people's phones in the neighborhood should be showing up on my computer at all.

 

You could disable the SSID broadcast on your router. Then set it up so that only certain MAC addresses are allowed on the network. This is how I have mine set up & the only devices that can get on the network are the allowed MAC addresses I have put in.