Found a Strange computer in my workgroup?

[sljack63]

I was attempting to fix my son's computer and when looking at the
network config, I noticed that there was a strange computer hooked up
to our wireless home network: PimpDad (D10kzz71)

What has happened here? We four computers in our house and none are
named "PimpDad."

FYI:

Wireless netgear Router, Firmware Version 4.04 Jan 15 2004
All computers are assigned automatically.
I also have a Tivo hooked up to my home network.

This computer is somehow connected via my son's computer. When I
rebooted his computer, and checked the the attached devices, this
computer was no longer connected, but still showed up as a computer in
the workgroup. Should I just change each computer's workgroup? My son
plays World of Warcraft. Could somehow somebody have accessed our home
network via this game and was using our IP/network?

How can I make our home wireless network more secure?

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

I was attempting to fix my son's computer and when looking at the
network config, I noticed that there was a strange computer hooked up
to our wireless home network: PimpDad (D10kzz71)

What has happened here? We four computers in our house and none are
named "PimpDad."

FYI:

Wireless netgear Router, Firmware Version 4.04 Jan 15 2004
All computers are assigned automatically.
I also have a Tivo hooked up to my home network.

This computer is somehow connected via my son's computer. When I
rebooted his computer, and checked the the attached devices, this
computer was no longer connected, but still showed up as a computer in
the workgroup. Should I just change each computer's workgroup? My son
plays World of Warcraft. Could somehow somebody have accessed our home
network via this game and was using our IP/network?

How can I make our home wireless network more secure?

Changing workgroups won't help. A computer in any workgroup can
access a computer in any workgroup.

To prevent outsiders from connecting to your wireless network, enable
the highest level of encryption that your wireless networking
equipment supports. From highest to lowest: WPA2, WPA, WEP.

How do you know that the other computer connected via your son's
computer? What exactly did you see, and where did you see it?
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Malke]

I was attempting to fix my son's computer and when looking at the
network config, I noticed that there was a strange computer hooked up
to our wireless home network: PimpDad (D10kzz71)

What has happened here? We four computers in our house and none are
named "PimpDad."

FYI:

Wireless netgear Router, Firmware Version 4.04 Jan 15 2004
All computers are assigned automatically.
I also have a Tivo hooked up to my home network.

This computer is somehow connected via my son's computer. When I
rebooted his computer, and checked the the attached devices, this
computer was no longer connected, but still showed up as a computer in
the workgroup. Should I just change each computer's workgroup? My son
plays World of Warcraft. Could somehow somebody have accessed our
home network via this game and was using our IP/network?

How can I make our home wireless network more secure?

It sounds like your wireless network is not secured by good encryption
and that someone who probably lives close by is "borrowing" your
wireless connection. This has nothing to do with World of Warcraft.

Here are some links to help you in securing your wireless network:

Wireless - Basic Security - http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Security.html

MVP Barb Bowman on wireless security - http://tinyurl.com/56fc5

The six dumbest ways to secure a wireless LAN -
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Ou/index.php?p=43

Malke

 

[sljack63]

How do you know that the other computer connected via your
son's
computer?

When I rebooted my son's computer, it disconnected the PimpDad computer
from the network.

What exactly did you see, and where did you see it?

I saw it when I logged in by router and checked Attached Devices.
After rebooting my son's computer, this computer was no longer
attached. My son told me that he has never used "PimpDad" as a screen
name on any online game (I believe him).

I checked the router's settings. Under security options, I have three
choices: Disable (which is currently checked), WEP, WPA-PSK. Which
one should I enable and if I do so, could this affect online game play
for other members in my home network? (World of Warcraft, Battlefield
2).

Also, each user is assigned an IP Addy automatically. Should I give
them static address?

P.S. I just checked attached devices and the computer is attached
again! How do I block this computer?

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

Changing workgroups won't help. A computer in any workgroup can
access a computer in any workgroup.

To prevent outsiders from connecting to your wireless network, enable
the highest level of encryption that your wireless networking
equipment supports. From highest to lowest: WPA2, WPA, WEP.

How do you know that the other computer connected via your son's
computer?

[/QUOTE]

When I rebooted my son's computer, it disconnected the PimpDad computer
from the network.

I think that's a coincidence, and that rebooting your son's computer
had nothing to do with disconnecting the other computer. I think that
the other computer connected to your wireless router, not to your
son's computer.

I saw it when I logged in by router and checked Attached Devices.
After rebooting my son's computer, this computer was no longer
attached. My son told me that he has never used "PimpDad" as a screen
name on any online game (I believe him).

That proves that the other computer connected through the router, not
through your son's computer.

I checked the router's settings. Under security options, I have three
choices: Disable (which is currently checked), WEP, WPA-PSK. Which
one should I enable and if I do so, could this affect online game play
for other members in my home network? (World of Warcraft, Battlefield
2).

There's the problem: your wireless network isn't encrypted, so anyone
can connect (and someone already has connected) to it.

If all of your wireless networking equipment supports it, use WPA-PSK.
Otherwise, use 128-bit WEP.

Also, each user is assigned an IP Addy automatically. Should I give
them static address?

There would be no benefit to a static address.

P.S. I just checked attached devices and the computer is attached
again! How do I block this computer?

By enabling the highest level of wireless encryption that your
wireless networking equipment supports.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[sljack63]

Thanks. We've enabled WPA-PSK. Restarted my laptop and saw that I had
to enter the passkey to log onto the wireless network. Thanks for your
help.

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

[snip]
There's the problem: your wireless network isn't encrypted, so anyone
can connect (and someone already has connected) to it.

If all of your wireless networking equipment supports it, use WPA-PSK.
Otherwise, use 128-bit WEP.

Also, each user is assigned an IP Addy automatically. Should I give
them static address?

There would be no benefit to a static address.

P.S. I just checked attached devices and the computer is attached
again! How do I block this computer?

By enabling the highest level of wireless encryption that your
wireless networking equipment supports.

Thanks. We've enabled WPA-PSK. Restarted my laptop and saw that I had
to enter the passkey to log onto the wireless network. Thanks for your
help.

You're welcome. It's unfortunate, but there are hackers driving
around looking for wireless networks to break into, so encryption is a
must.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com