Concern over IP addresses

2Ialtag

Hello,
I have installed a program called 'IP scanner' from the Mac App Store which analyses the network to give all the machines connected to the LAN, but I'm confused as to what an LAN is.

As well as detecting my computer and the network router, it comes up with a third machine, with the name of one of my neighbours and a Windows flag next to it (indicating it is running Microsoft Windows, so I know it isn't my own computer), which presumably means that my neighbour is connected to my LAN. Their IP address is only one digit away from my network router's - I'm not sure if this is the reason it is coming up on the list?

Is this anything to worry about, and what can I do about it?

lloydd

LAN Stands for "Local Area Network" and is a small group of devices connected to a router that can also communicate with each other. If your router does not require the use of a password to join to its wireless network then it means your neighbour may be using your internet!

If this is the case then you will need to log onto your router and then enable secure log on - commonly known as something like WEP or the newer more secure WPA(2).

thescouselander

Basically your LAN is the local network in your house - ie everything connected to your router. It is possible your neighbour could be connected to your network but this may or may not be an accident. The best thing to do is to secure your network by using a password for your wireless connection and possibly turn on MAC address filtering.

If you tell us what sort of router you have I'm sure someone can give you directions.

cootuk

some devices automatically try to connect to an open network, so maybe it's accidental if your router has an open wifi

amcluesent

Yep, without any encryption key on the wi-fi, it's possible a neighbour has connected to your network

smos585

Above advice is good. If you have the instructions for your router (or google them) you can sign into yr router via safari, by inserting the router's IP address which yr IP Scanner should tell you, a pop-up will appear asking for the router user name (admin?) and password (often default is password or admin, but can be others). Go to wireless settings and apply wireless security, WAP is better/stronger than WEP. Just enter a password which you can limit to those you wish to permit to use your LAN. Overall the procedure is quite straightforward.

2Ialtag

Thank you very much for your replies. My homehub is giving out an encrypted signal as well as an open signal, and since I'm connected to the encrypted signal hopefully there isn't a problem.

GunJack

the openzone and BT fon elements that your HH is broadcasting need to be opted out of by you manually, IIRC by logging into the router and turning them off. This will stop your broadband being used by others.

jayme1

your personal home LAN and BTfon should be completely separate so IP addresses of devices connected to Fon should not be showing up on your personal home LAN side.
I would if I were you give a quick change of your wifi password while at the same time check you are using WPA2-AES, that will make sure that only you are connected to your LAN.

Owain_Moneysaver

2Ialtag wrote: »

Thank you very much for your replies. My homehub is giving out an encrypted signal as well as an open signal, and since I'm connected to the encrypted signal hopefully there isn't a problem.

Your neighbour is connecting to the unencrypted signal. They might not even be aware of it if they disconnected from their own wifi and automatically reconnected to the first available signal.

Figment

If the neighbour is connected to the BTFon wifi, then AFAIK the allocated IP address would not be in the 192.168 range.