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Thread ID: 140016 2015-08-07 06:13:00 Random device on my network - general question 8ftmetalhaed (14526) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1406080 2015-08-07 06:13:00 Hey guys, long time no post.
It's almost like working in IT has completely killed my need to browse tech support forums (and my spirit, waistline and free time, haha):badpc:

In any case, I've installed Windows 10 and I'm tinkering with it on an old work machine.
I've noticed I randomly get a phone appearing in my network list.

I've set up mac filters and whatever so I don't think it's actually connecting, I'm just wondering why on earth it's sitting there at all - I've also previously seen a printer there.

6655


TL;DR - why's this phone appearing in my network list and should I be worried about it?
8ftmetalhaed (14526)
1406081 2015-08-07 08:38:00 Seen this a couple of times on my network and others. Generally its devices that are in range of your wireless, could be a neighbors phone or someone elses phone in the building or some other device. These are generally showing up as network connectable devices, and quite harmless.

BUT with Windows 10 new default feature to allow people/devices that are in your contacts to attach to your wireless without permission or knowing the password, it wouldn't surprise me its some sort of ghost device.
wainuitech (129)
1406082 2015-08-07 09:44:00 Cheers wainui, I do think that even if it had tried connecting the router would've blocked it, but wanted to check. Ever since I swapped from the netcomm to the orcon netcomm (that's been shot in the leg with a bullet from orcon's firmware lol) I've been not so sure about certain configuration options. 8ftmetalhaed (14526)
1406083 2015-08-07 22:24:00 Seen this a couple of times on my network and others . Generally its devices that are in range of your wireless, could be a neighbors phone or someone elses phone in the building or some other device . These are generally showing up as network connectable devices, and quite harmless .

BUT with Windows 10 new default feature to allow people/devices that are in your contacts to attach to your wireless without permission or knowing the password, it wouldn't surprise me its some sort of ghost device .

It is not default - a user has to choose to share out their WiFi connection .

The key benefit to Wi-Fi Sense is that it is more secure than the current options and practices used today .

1 . To share your existing WEP, WPA, WPA2 network today, you have to communicate your passphrase to someone else .
a . If you are sharing your passphrase, my assumption is that it is less than 63 characters and likely fairly dictionary friendly secrete

2 . Once you share your passphrase with someone, you have no real method to revoke access or monitor whom or where they share this secrete with others .

3 . Unless you use some form of Wireless Device Isolation, the wireless devices on your network can access other resources and machines on your network . *

Wi-Fi sense addresses all three points .
nmercer (3899)
1406084 2015-08-07 23:38:00 It is not default - a user has to choose to share out their WiFi connection .

. Errrrr yeah it is, by default its Automatically connect to networks shared by your contacts is turned on when you run through the setup . You can disable it by selecting the customize options . Most people use defaults .

Heres what I'm talking about . Its been posted before:
6659
wainuitech (129)
1406085 2015-08-08 00:25:00 Errrrr yeah it is, by default its Automatically connect to networks shared by your contacts is turned on when you run through the setup. You can disable it by selecting the customize options. Most people use defaults.

Heres what I'm talking about. Its been posted before:
6659

that is connecting to, not sharing from.

the owner of a wireless SSID has to choose to share it.

which is not what is stated above.
nmercer (3899)
1406086 2015-08-08 00:52:00 that is connecting to, not sharing from.

the owner of a wireless SSID has to choose to share it.

which is not what is stated above.You're right, no one said it was sharing.

It was said
I've noticed I randomly get a phone appearing in my network list.


I replied:

These are generally showing up as network connectable devices, and quite harmless.


Thats totally different to actually sharing.

The wording "Automatically connect to networks shared by your contacts" Is whats written in MICROSOFT W10 description.
wainuitech (129)
1406087 2015-08-08 02:41:00 When you first connect to a password-protected Wi‑Fi network, you choose if you want to share access to that network with your contacts

this is not true:

"BUT with Windows 10 new default feature to allow people/devices that are in your contacts to attach to your wireless without permission or knowing the password"

Also the device appearing in the original post cannot be caused by Wi-Fi sense, as Wi-Fi sense only works with Windows 10 devices. So its something else.
nmercer (3899)
1406088 2015-08-08 02:58:00 When you first connect to a password-protected Wi‑Fi network, you choose if you want to share access to that network with your contacts
So by sharing your network access with a Win10 user, you are also sharing it with all their contacts (FB, Skype, Outlook etc.) - at their discretion, not yours?
fred_fish (15241)
1406089 2015-08-08 03:04:00 So by sharing your network access with a Win10 user, you are also sharing it with all their contacts (FB, Skype, Outlook etc.) - at their discretion, not yours?

No, you can share it with your contacts if you choose. Those contacts cannot share it with their contacts at all.

Think of this as a more secure way than handing your WiFi password around on a piece of paper when friends come to visit.

Wi-Fi sense also only allows Internet access, your friends cannot access anything else on your LAN
nmercer (3899)
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