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

Anonymous
2013-01-02T19:49:18+00:00

Hi everyone,

When I connect to my wireless network (very secure and complex WPA2 password), I go to File Explorer and the click on the "Network" at the bottom left of the window.  There continues to be a wireless device or phone that shows detected on the network.  I have seen three different devices and mac addresses since logging on this morning.  I have also checked the router and there is no record of these mac id's or devices on the router.  Where would these be coming from?  This doesn't show on my Windows 7 machines.  And also, I do not own any of these phones that are appearing on the network.  Any help would be appreciated. 

Thank You in advance for any help,

Phil

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Internet and connectivity

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-07-14T03:26:32+00:00

    Did that and works swell. Thank you. Still am curious about the MAC addresses and my internet search findings..

    But thanks again!! It does stop devices from appearing!

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-07-14T12:37:04+00:00

    yes but it turn on after install new os remember do that every new os on pc

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-08-18T20:45:25+00:00

    I know this is an old thread, but I had this happen today---a phone showing up in my network. My network is passworded, but it still worried me, so I turned off my wireless and just plugged in the ethernet for all my computers which connect to my router.

    My wife, who usually isn't at all tech-savvy, blew my mind when she suggested "Honey, maybe it's your TextNow app". You know, the app from the Windows Store? I have it and use it often. I thought her suggestion was pretty darned cool, especially for someone who is usually not into tech at all.

    I still don't know whether-or-not the TextNow app is responsible for the rogue phone showing up with only a MAC address in my wireless, but it doesn't show up in the network when I'm ethernet-only, so I'm actually doubtful that it's the TextNow app. But not 100%. I mean, with TextNow you are assigned a phone number....so it could be the culprit. I'm curious if the OP had that app installed when he noticed the phone in his network....

    Anyone have any thoughts?

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-08-19T01:06:06+00:00

    I know this is an old thread, but I had this happen today---a phone showing up in my network. My network is passworded, but it still worried me, so I turned off my wireless and just plugged in the ethernet for all my computers which connect to my router.

    My wife, who usually isn't at all tech-savvy, blew my mind when she suggested "Honey, maybe it's your TextNow app". You know, the app from the Windows Store? I have it and use it often. I thought her suggestion was pretty darned cool, especially for someone who is usually not into tech at all.

    I still don't know whether-or-not the TextNow app is responsible for the rogue phone showing up with only a MAC address in my wireless, but it doesn't show up in the network when I'm ethernet-only, so I'm actually doubtful that it's the TextNow app. But not 100%. I mean, with TextNow you are assigned a phone number....so it could be the culprit. I'm curious if the OP had that app installed when he noticed the phone in his network....

    Anyone have any thoughts?

    ^ Nonsense.

    This phenomenon is explained already on the previous pages.

    Modern apps have no low level control over the computer, they are very limited. They can't touch the network devices list.

    Whether you are connected via a wire or without one, as long as your router itself has a Wireless component (most of them do nowadays) you will see the phones in your network.

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  5. Anonymous
    2015-08-19T17:46:01+00:00

    I must have missed that explanation (Windows Connect Now, right?) in the thread. I know that the phone disappeared when I turned off the wireless and had only ethernet running, which is still the case, so you saying that the phone(s) will still show, whether connected by wireless or not, isn't accurate at least in my case.

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