Unknown device connected to my network

Ammie

I've just set up a wireless connection for my Orange Livebox and while looking at my routers configuration page I noticed that under Devices Connected To Your Network there are two items. The first one is my PC but the second one doesn't have a device name and the connection type is wifi.

Is this something to be worried about? I'm pretty much clueless when it comes to wireless connections as my old PC didn't support it.

Thanks.

espresso

Ammie wrote: »

I've just set up a wireless connection for my Orange Livebox................

Did you set up WPA encryption with a long random passphrase?

elvch01

I 2nd the sugegstion of a long passphrase, but I also believe that the Orange liveboxes come with a default setup which has a very long random passphrase. They also require "button 1" to be pressed to allow new connections to be established (I think the box will then accept new connection requests for about 10 minutes or so)

Obvious question...
are you still connected to your livebox via your network cable? If so, remove the cable

Even if not, what you are seeing maybe a "remnant" of your old wired connection. Try turning the livebox off and on & then look to see if you still see the extra connection

JasX

Another option if your router is next to your PC is to just use a cable to connect to the router and turn the wireless off entirely

Ammie

espresso wrote: »

Did you set up WPA encryption with a long random passphrase?

I changed the settings to WEP security only as I wanted to use my DS and eventually my wii online.

I changed the password from the default 'admin'

elvch01 wrote: »

Obvious question...
are you still connected to your livebox via your network cable? If so, remove the cable

Is that the Ethernet cable I used for my wired connection? mines is still plugged into my Livebox.

espresso

Ammie wrote: »

I changed the settings to WEP security only as I wanted to use my DS and eventually my wii online.

I changed the password from the default 'admin'

It's quite likely that someone else could connect to your network then as WEP is next to useless, which is why it was replaced by WPA/WPA2 years ago.

elvch01

Yes - that's the ethernet cable

Unplug it entirely so your only connection to the livebox is via wifi, reboot your livebox & hopefully you will see only a single wifi connection i.e. your computer

I believe thatwhat is happening is that the 1st connection you see is the one via the ethernet cable & the 2nd is from the same computer but via wifi

elvch01

espresso wrote: »

It's quite likely that someone else could connect to your network then as WEP is next to useless, which is why it was replaced by WPA/WPA2 years ago.

I agree 100% that if at all possible, use WPA rather than WEP. I can generally break into any WEP secured wireless network in a matter of minutes. If you have no alternative but WEP, then I woudl also sugest consulting your router's manuals to see if you can limit connections by MAC address too.

The livebox's feature that will only allow new connections for a short period after pressing "button 1" will all bar eliminate the chance of a hijack though, because even if somebody can "crack" the WEP passkey (and I can) the livebox will still refuse my connection unless somebody happens to press butrton 1

Ammie

espresso wrote: »

It's quite likely that someone else could connect to your network then as WEP is next to useless, which is why it was replaced by WPA/WPA2 years ago.

I've changed the settings back to WPA.

elvch01 wrote: »

Yes - that's the ethernet cable

Unplug it entirely so your only connection to the livebox is via wifi, reboot your livebox & hopefully you will see only a single wifi connection i.e. your computer

I believe that what is happening is that the 1st connection you see is the one via the ethernet cable & the 2nd is from the same computer but via wifi

Will try that now thanks.

espresso

elvch01 wrote: »

I agree 100% that if at all possible, use WPA rather than WEP. I can generally break into any WEP secured wireless network in a matter of minutes. If you have no alternative but WEP, then I woudl also sugest consulting your router's manuals to see if you can limit connections by MAC address too.

Waste of time because anyone who can hack WEP can also spoof MAC addresses!

:rolleyes:

elvch01

espresso wrote: »

Waste of time because anyone who can hack WEP can also spoof MAC addresses!

:rolleyes:

Good point, well made