Is Someone on My Home Network?

manbearpig on 23/09/2019 - 03:18

I was watching YouTube on my LG smart TV when all of a sudden a window popped up saying that 'DESKTOP-VAAOFLD requests screen sharing to your TV. Do you want to continue?'

https://ibb.co/2cBrpg3

For a device to screen share, it would have to be on my network. I live alone in an apartment building. I have a laptop, so there's no device called that in my household. I checked my router settings to see what devices are connected, but no such device is shown as connected.

Could this have been someone in my apartment building?

Internet

Comments

  • AustriaBargain on 23/09/2019 - 04:57
    +2

    you should have accepted it to see what happens

  • Yummy on 23/09/2019 - 06:42
    +3

    Noice! Time to fired up those pr0n vids.

    Get Fing app from Google Play to see who is in your network.

    • manbearpig on 23/09/2019 - 22:29

      Thanks. Though the router app also shows who's on my network too.

  • whooah1979 on 23/09/2019 - 06:47
    +3

    Did you change the default router and wifi password?

    • manbearpig on 23/09/2019 - 22:28

      Yes, I changed the name and password when I first bought it.

  • playswithfire on 23/09/2019 - 07:54
    +7

    DESKTOP-VAAOFLD
    I have a laptop

    My daughter's Windows 10 laptop name by default was DESKTOP-143214 - check your computer's name in the system control panel, hold the windows key and press pause-break to open it directly.

    • awhiskin on 26/09/2019 - 11:55

      Upvoting purely for this super handy keyboard shortcut!

  • hbspark1 on 23/09/2019 - 08:41
    +6

    I would change the WIFI password on your router to be safe. This will kick everyone off the WIFI and require them to put the new password in. Are there any hard-wired connections to your modem?

    If you type the model number of the modem into google you can get the manual and find out how to change the WIFI password, or let me know and I can help

    • manbearpig on 23/09/2019 - 22:41

      Cheers. Though I changed the router name and password when I first bought the router.

      • hbspark1 on 24/09/2019 - 12:14

        Potentially since you bought it someone has hacked into your WIFI. Another password change will force them out.

  • Randxyz123 on 23/09/2019 - 09:05
    +1

    As per above, FING is excellent.

    But I’d just change your password and be done with it

  • UFO on 23/09/2019 - 09:15
    +4

    Reset your router. Make it forget all known devices and reset any potentially changed settings on it.
    If you suspect someone has had unauthorised access to your network, I'd be doing that as a minimum.

    Then… turn off WiFi until you can lock it down properly.
    Connect directly up to it via wired connection and set up a nice long complex passcode (upper and lower case with special characters) to both the router itself and also the WiFi passcode.

    Then and only then turn WiFi back on, and one by one add the devices you want to add.
    Once you've connected everything you think you'll need on WiFi, go into the settings of your router where you can prevent any new devices connecting.
    It'll only allow known devices to connect. That way, even if an intruder somehow finds your passcode in the trash or whatever, they STILL won't be able to connect.

    Lock it all down mate. The above sounds like overkill, but if you've got snoops in your building, it needs to be done.
    Every 3 months set a reminder on your phone to change the WiFi passcode.
    If you make the first passcode long (20-30 characters), it'll take at least a few months for someone with a passcode cracker to hack it… and by that stage you'll change it on them before they gain access. You can get random generated complex passcodes online. Better than trying to type one yourself (you'll subconsiously make patterns).

    • manbearpig on 23/09/2019 - 22:29

      Thanks for the tips!

  • Ryanek on 23/09/2019 - 10:49
    +3

    Don't be so quick to assume your neighbours are hackers. Your TV/Chromecast could be in guest mode which allows all connections.

    • manbearpig on 23/09/2019 - 22:42

      If so, anyone can see my TV?

      • ReverseBias on 24/09/2019 - 12:24
        +1

        Someone can choose to cast to "Nearby Devices" which uses Google's geolocation database to show nearby Chromecasts with Guest Mode turned on, regardless of WiFi connectivity. When they cast it will ask them to confirm the PIN shown on the screen. Without that PIN nothing will actually be cast.

        Turn off Guest Mode if you're not using it.

  • Love a bargain on 23/09/2019 - 16:38

    You can see all the devices that are connected to your network in the router's settings

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join