Windows 10: What is this network device?

I woke my desktop PC from sleep this morning, clicked on Network and immediately spotted a Phone in the device list that doesn't belong to anyone here (a Blu brand phone which is unusual enough that I would know about it).

I clicked on the device and was able to view the MAC address, but nothing else useful. A couple minutes later it disappeared from the network list.

Then a few minutes later I went and looked at another PC on the same home network and saw the same phone in its Network list. It also disappeared a couple minutes after I clicked open 'Network'.

Scanned both PCs with various anti-malware programs including Malwarebytes - they look clean.

Any suggestions on what I was seeing, and if it's malicious how to deal with it?


UPDATE: It popped back up again. I checked my router's connection list and don't see it there. For now I blocked the MAC address in my router but would still like to know where this is coming from.

:)

 

Atheros Smart Net - what is this and what is it for?

I updated from Windows 7 Pro to Windows 10 Pro (10 days ago). I found Atheros Smart Net (asav) in my apps list. What is it and who/how or when was it installed? What is it good for? What will be affected if I uninstall it? Did Dell add it to my new
Inspiron desktop last summer?

 

Atheros Smart Net - what is this and what is it for?

Atheros provides Network Adapters for computers,so I think it is something related to the network controller.I would suggest you asking the same with Dell for more information

 

Could it be a neighbors phone with Wi-Fi turned on?

 

That was a thought but my WiFi has a pretty strong WPA2 password so I don't think he should be able to jump onto my WiFi and show up in my Windows network list.

I was wondering if it's some kind of hack.

 

I think that just stops them from access. I don't think that stops them from showing up on your network. If I'm wrong someone will come along that knows for sure.

 

This is a weird problem I've been seeing in windows for years now (not just windows 10). I've been unable to figure out what it is, but we're not alone in this, I did some research a while back and a lot of other people were seeing it as well.

Some suggest it's a bug in the network stack. Some suggest it's neighbors who are connecting somehow, but not able to use the network. Regardless, it's not an uncommon problem and doesn't seem to be anything worry about. Here's some examples:

Solved Strange phones in network - Windows 10 Forums
Strange phones listed on Network heading

 

Thanks Mystere, that is strange but helpful.

I haven't seen that phone make another appearance since I blocked its MAC address in my router. Based on those previous threads I'll keep an eye on it but not worry too much for now.

 

One other issue some folks have is with computers [usually Notebooks] that have a Bluetooth adapter and are seeing cellphones when they get within range, usually not a problem if they don't get paired.

 

Doesn't the pairing have to be OK'd on both devices?

 

I've had a cellphone show up in Devices and Printers without having been paired, apparently just telling me it was available.

 

Those are probably just devices on discoverable mode. The owner of the device should be worried. Not you.

 

In my case they are desktop PCs with no bluetooth capability.

 

This happens all the time to me in my neighborhood, too. The phone is visible but you can't access meaningful properties or interact with it. I believe the poster who indicated this just comes from being discoverable is correct. Here's a screen cap I took just now from the Network listing in File Explorer:



If I try to dig further into properties I get exactly nowhere. To me, that means the network can "see" the phone, but that it's not really connected or interacting with the network.
HTH,
--Ed--