Neighbor keeps inserting his wireless router into my network infrastructure?

Anonymous
2011-08-10T13:09:02+00:00

neighbor keeps adding his router to my network infrastructure. Not sure how this is happening. Have deleted network profile and re installed with just my router, added/changed passwords, and within a few days here is this other router listed in addition to mine as part of the network infrastructure again. How do I prevent this? How much of a security risk is this vs. just really annoying? I have cable internet, and a Linkseys modem and wireless router.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Internet and connectivity

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Anonymous
2011-08-17T15:29:17+00:00

If someone hacked into your router, they could well have hacked into your computer also and you may have something running in your computer that is doing this.  Its very hard to diagnose over this forum.  But if you are losing bandwidth, it suggests hacking.  And that is illegal and it might be used for illegal purposes, so if you knew it was someone hacking, you can contact local law enforcement, as it is more than someone accessing your internet capability (such as might be the case if you had an unsecured network).  This is robbery by tampering with your system, so that is clearly not kosher.  They could also be using your bandwidth for illegal purposes and the cops would come after you, as its your account.

I would scan your systems for malware and viruses.  Then also go to Start | Run and type msconfig and see what programs are running at startup and its possible there is a program that is resetting the "Belkin thing" or is opening a back door to your system.  For diagnostic purposes you might also try turning off the wireless features completely and just running the router hard-wired and then see if you get the "Belkin thing" coming back in. 

Its likely someone very close to you as the wireless signal doesn't transmit over the entire neighborhood.  It could even be someone in their vehicle out on the street.  If you are friendly with the neighbors, you can ask them.  Otherwise I'd ask law enforcement for their advice.

steve

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  1. Anonymous
    2011-08-22T15:54:41+00:00

    OK and did you do what Barb Bowman recommended in that thread and  open an administrative cmd prompt and run

    netsh wlan show all

    ?

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-08-22T13:57:28+00:00

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-08-22T13:50:49+00:00

    Make sure also that you change the factory defaults for the username and password on the router to ensure that it doesn't get hacked.  You might try resetting the router to its factory defaults and then change the credentials prior to connecting to the internet to ensure there is no outside hacking going on. 

    Also in msconfig, check the Services as well as the startup items to ensure a non-Microsoft service is not being started that could be responsible.

    steve

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  4. Anonymous
    2011-08-22T12:42:52+00:00

    Okay, this opens up another can of worms.  It could be a fake -- that is something is inserting this into the system and its not supposed to be there.  Unless you are a neighbor of the original poster, then I think its quite unlikely you have experienced the same thing, unless there is some sort of run on Belkin Routers and a trick some group is playing.  Rather it appears that there may be a software infiltration (such as a virus) that is potentially causing this.  Try scanning your system for viruses and malware (try www.microsoft.com/security_essentials and www.malwarebytes.org) to ensure that you are not infected with something.  Also go to Start | Run and type msconfig and check the startup items, which you can selectively disable to see if something there is doing it.

    Also look at some of the other suggestions I gave, such as turning off the wireless aspect of your router and only use the wired and see if the Belkin comes back again.

    steve

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