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

In my case, I do not broadcast my SSID, so how does a device find my network? Also, why don't visitors' cellphones appear in File Explorer Network?

I tried to use Wireshark to get some information but I don't know enough to be successful with it. Without going into details, though, when I filtered using one of the MAC addresses I did see communications with our HP printer and that seems strange. Does anyone experiencing this problem not have a HP printer?

Also, if we all post the information we get and if any of us get the same MAC address then that is essential proof that something is not right. So the following are the devices I have seen. The following are the name, the manufacturer, the model and the MAC id for the devices I have seen in my system.

douglas

Amazon

KFDOWI

38:f7:3d:2e:5a:32

full_giza

Amazon

KFGIWI

50:f5:da:79:a4:0c

w7_tmo_us

LGE

LG-D415

50:55:27:ea:f6:d3

angler

Huawei

Nexus 6P

dc:09:4c:ed:fa:97

full_ford

Amazon

KFFOWI

44:65:0d:55:58:54

full_biscuit

Amazon

AEOBC

fc:65:de:b2:74:a4

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.

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.