Amazon Device randomly showing up on Network.

Anonymous
2017-10-08T00:11:54+00:00

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Original question:

I've got a random Amazon KFAUWI device showing up on my network as a device beside my driver for my router. Can anyone help? I am sure it is not a device in my house, as everything is set to something we've done or one of our names. Can anyone tell me if i'm stupid or if this is a general happening?

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Security and privacy

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  1. Anonymous
    2018-08-07T11:17:39+00:00

    Michael: Thank you for contacting me. NO I don't live anyway near Iowa. I live in New York State. But I do appreciate your time and effort in trying to answer my question......Frank.

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-08-10T16:56:53+00:00

    For some reason the amazon echo does this, it will change names too, but the mac address matches the mac on the echo... Im currently researching why echo keeps changing names, I have been noticing this for months on my network... for now i'll just blame it on the NSA or Obama :-) I have not found any solutions as of yet for this.

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-08-10T18:27:18+00:00

    I have come across the same issue on multiple networks, both as phantom Computers and phantom Phones. 

    It is caused by a combination of WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup Config) setting on your router and (Windows Connect Now - Config Registrar) service on your PC.

    Disabling either will make the phantoms go away (ie stop showing up in Widows explorer).  I suggest disabling both especially if your are not using them.  Most security conscious people will recommend  turning off WPS for pure security reasons anyway.

    The Following link gives a good detailed explanation of the issue.

    https://appuals.com/fix-unknown-strange-devices-showing-network/ 

    It should only show up if you have an active windows WiFi adapter, since this is WiFi device trying to locate a WiFi network with WPS.   Since you router is not allowing it to establish a connection it will not be seen on your Ethernet network.

    Without an enabled WiFi adapter windows will not even start the WPS config service.

    Don't worry about not seeing it in router it only briefly contacts router just trying to locate a WiFi network with WPS.  It's windows that is keeps showing it.

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  4. Anonymous
    2018-08-11T20:03:17+00:00

    I have Windows Connect Now service and WPS disabled, and these random phones/tablets still show up.

    So your theory about those is wrong. I also have UPnP disabled (UPnP host service in Windows, and UPnP in my router).

    It's still a mystery, to be honest. But I can say for sure that it's not (just) Windows Connect Now and/or WPS.

    My current theory is that one or more of our Amazon devices is popping up a hot-spot, or a server or something similar, finding it can't connect, timing out and shutting down. The obvious thing to do would be to turn them all off and wait a few days to see what happens, but that idea isn't practical.

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