Rogue devices showing up on windows 8 network in file exporer.

A device cannot connect to a network without an IP address.

Yes, not wirelessly. But they can wired. See Ethernet and Internet Protocol. They were designed somewhat in parallel but Ethernet was in commercial use before the Internet Protocol was. Ethernet does not use Internet Protocol but the Internet Protocol definitely uses Ethernet in the bottom layer. In other words, an Ethernet network can exist without the Internet Protocol and then no device in the network would have an IP address.

Theoretically, a hacker might have figured out how to create a virtual device that Windows is tricked into seeing as if it is real. I just want the experts to ensure that is not happening.

Here is a little off-topic and useless trivia. I can remember when people began using existing phone lines instead of coax for networks. The advantage was to be able to avoid running new cables when there were existing phone lines. It was controversial; initially many electronics engineers said that phone lines were not capable of network signals. Now the cables we call Ethernet cables is essentially phone line cables. The latest and greatest development is Moca that uses coax for Ethernet and TV.

Um, I don't know why we should be not worried about random devices trying to connect to the router, because that means that someone daily is trying to get into my router. According to Mr Dave

So is your phone! It's attempting to get into other people's routers all the time. Frequently when you are out. Are you not worried about that? That's right, you shouldn't be. It makes no sense to worry about the way proven, reliable wireless things work. They have always worked this way. The only difference now is that you finally know (something, a little bit) about it. While before it was happening behind the scenes, you were unaware of the processes taking place.

Every time you walk down the street with your device's Wi-Fi on, your phone touches every router in every home you walk near. You, yes you, are trying to get into random people's routers with your phone all the time.

Have you ever been to a public place with free WiFi? And have you connected to said network? What did you see when you try to connect to that free wifi?

Something like this:

There is the free open wifi, and then there are hundreds of other routers listed below it.

Your phone has touched all of those routers. And more. Just to ask what their display name is, whether they require a password, to measure their signal strength, etc.

The guy behind TP-LINK_C75B...whatever is probably running Windows 8 or 10 and can see your phone on his network list right now. But he cleverly doesn't care. And you shouldn't either.

MrDave_007 is smart. Refer to his explanation a second time.

My recommendation to Microsoft: Educate users. Or if that fails, hide the list of unknown devices from network like you used to. This proactive outreach is helping no one but conspiracy theorists.

Sincerely,

Daniel "3ICE" Berezvai

/I'm not worried about any of the so called "rogue" devices that show up in my network. They are all benign.  They have always been there, just ignored by Windows until now./

None of that explains why the devices are showing up in our "Network". Network means they are connected, not trying to connect.

OK, for the people who are scared for no reason, please read this.

All wired and wireless devices have MAC Addresses.

Any wireless device has to be able to touch any wireless router, that's how things work. However, that does not mean they are given access into your network. The only way they are given access into your network is after authenticating your SSID with the correct passphrase and only then will they be given an IP address.

Your Windows computer can sense these devices 'touching' your wireless router by their MAC address. That's about where it all ends. Your computer see's devices out there that are close enough to touch the wireless signal your router is putting out in the world. That in no way means they have been authenticated onto your network.

What could Microsoft do about this? Well perhaps they could install an option in networking to "Not Display Wireless Devices until authenticated through the router".

Just know that for Wi-Fi to work, every wireless device has the ability to ATTEMPT to connect to every other wireless device. That does not mean they are authenticated on that Wireless Network connection. Windows is so smart that it see's these devices and puts that information in the "Network" devices page.

I see a neighbors Vizio TV and HTC phone randomly in my "Network Devices" and when I right click and choose properties only the devices "Brand Name and/or Model" and "MAC address" are listed. This is perfectly normal. It is my PC seeing wireless devices out there through my router, NOT wireless devices out there seeing into my network.

Even if you block that MAC address from connecting to your network in your router settings, that device still has to "Touch" your router, once that happens it will be blocked from obtaining an IP address even if it has the right credentials to connect. Windows will always be able to see devices touching your router.

Just remember to never leave your Wi-Fi "OPEN" without passphrase protection and you're going to be ok.

There is no evidence anywhere that wireless or WiFi is relevant here. Any explanation that uses wireless or WiFi is not relevant. Hackers get in when they can be smarter than the rest of us.

is everyone here using a legit copy of Windows!? A reddit thread says that these issues could be to do with installing dodgy copies !

My Windows is definitely valid. I have Windows 10 and Windows Update has updated it.

Mobile phones appear on my home network. Originally, I thought the problem was the WPA Key was enabled, but it is not. I have WPA2,  MAC filtering and I do not broadcast my SSID. The Fall Creator's Update, v1709 did not fix this problem.