Hello,
I just scanned my network and the software told me that there are two other devices, unknown to me that are connected to my network. How can I learn more about those two devices please ?
Also I am not very techsavvy.
Regards,
Hello,
I just scanned my network and the software told me that there are two other devices, unknown to me that are connected to my network. How can I learn more about those two devices please ?
Also I am not very techsavvy.
Regards,
Hi Pampam,
Hereâs what Microsoft Copilot (i.e., Bing AI) suggests with step by step instructions.
Caveat: the forum wouldnât let me post the source / reference articles because new users canât post links apparently.
So, I saved the links to a document as well as my email. If youâd like them, feel free to send me a direct message & Iâll give them to you that way.
Hope this helps!
For someone whoâs not tech-savvy and wants to investigate unknown devices on their home network, hereâs a simplified step-by-step guide:
Check the Device List on the Router:
Access the routerâs web interface by typing the routerâs IP address into a web browser.
Log in with the routerâs credentials.
Navigate to the âDevice Listâ or âConnected Devicesâ section to see all devices connected to the network.
Identify Devices by MAC Addresses:
Every device has a unique identifier known as a MAC address.
Compare the MAC addresses listed in the routerâs interface with the MAC addresses of known devices.
Use Network Scanning Tools:
Turn Off Known Devices:
Check for Unauthorized Access:
If an unknown device is still connected, it might be using the network without permission.
Change the Wi-Fi password and monitor if the device reconnects.
Update Security Settings:
Ensure the routerâs firmware is up to date.
Use strong, unique passwords for both the Wi-Fi network and the routerâs admin interface.
Consider enabling network encryption (WPA2 or WPA3) and disabling WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup).
Consult the Community or a Professional:
ALSO: To investigate unknown devices on your network, you can follow these steps:
Check Devices Using Your Routerâs Web Interface:
Open a web browser and enter your routerâs IP address.
Log in with your credentials.
Navigate to the âDevice Listâ or âConnected Devicesâ section.
View a list of connected devices with details.
Use Command Line Tools:
For Windows, open Command Prompt and enter arp -a
.
For Mac or Linux, open Terminal and enter arp -a
or arp -n
.
This will display the ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) table, showing IP addresses and corresponding MAC addresses of devices on the network.
Identify the Unknown Device Hostname Using its IP Address:
Use Network Scanning Tools:
If an unknown device is still not identified after following the steps I provided earlier, you might want to consider these additional actions:
Check the MAC Address:
Change Your Wi-Fi Password:
Disable DHCP:
Monitor Network Traffic:
Consult Your ISP or a Professional:
Remember, maintaining network security is crucial to protect your personal information and devices from unauthorized access.
I purchased a very inexpensive tablet running Android 14. I donât think the following has anything to do the Android version. I turned out listed an an IP address and MAC on both GW network scanner and my broadband router. Before I figured out what was going on I thought there was some bad guy using my WiFi.
I looked at the connection settings of this âinexpensiveâ Android tablet. It showed the mystery IP address and MAC address. So there was no bad guy using my Wifi . It was just a new device I bought and connected to my Wifi. Look at all your devices you might have overlooked one. Even my printer uses an IP dished out by the DHCP of my router.
some devices donât have any identifying text in their Wifi slot.