Security :: Windows 8.1 - Unknown Network Devices Appearing Despite Firewalls
Jul 24, 2014
I'm a new Windows 8.1 user. Over the past two days two separate unknown network devices have appeared under 'This PC' in Windows Explorer (see screenshot below for the current one, along with its properties window). It appears people are able to access this computer - so a big problem!
As far as I can tell, all my security settings are in place (password on wireless network, all sharing disabled in Network and Sharing Centre, Windows Firewall is active, Windows Media Sharing is off).
How to close what I assume is a security loophole?
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Feb 7, 2012
My friend happened to look in Devices and Printers, and in the Multimedia Devices section he had about 10 devices showing up that he never heard of. Six of them were computers with names that he had never heard of, the others were devices that we could not tell what they were.
I expect that these entries mean that at some time they were on the same network that he was on. Would that be correct?
If so, then it is a matter for concern because he never goes on public networks. He only goes on his network at home, and a network in a small office that he rents and shares with one other person. They have their own router with security set up on it, and that router is connected to an Ethernet jack that most likely goes to a switch on a network that also provides internet service to some other offices in the same building.
This computer is only about 2 months old, so these entries can't be too old.
When I looked at his computer, he was on his home network and all those other devices showed as Offline. I right clicked on them all and removed them. Would it be a good guess that perhaps the security of the network at his office was compromised, and those devices were connected to that network at some point?
I told him to monitor and see when they reappear, but he won't be back in that office for 2 weeks.
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Sep 15, 2014
I was transferring files from one external drive to another, I found a problem with a set of folders that I could not transfer with permission which should have been fine as I have administrator rights.
Looking at the folder permissions I found an unknown user account
Looking for solutions I tried to delete this account but was not allowed unless I turned off inherited permissions
I tried turning off the inheritance but this resulted in an error saying it failed to enumerate the number of objects in the container access denied.
Looking at some individual files (in one of the offending folders) properties showed 'Unable to display current owner' selecting the 'Change' option allowed me to change the file ownership to Everyone - Full Control and I could then move or delete the file.
There are quite a lot of files to do so is there a way to change all the affected folder & file permissions in one move?
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Feb 22, 2013
In XP you used to be able to pull up a CMD Prompt and ask: net config server and this would tell how many machines/devices (other computers, printers NATs, NASs etc.) that you could hook to a machine.
they removed this function (as far as I can tell) in win7 but you can find references to the maximum number of devices that you can hook up (10 for Home , 20 for Pro) . How many devices that is for Windows 8?
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Oct 12, 2013
I'm not truly the best with computers, and this is a new pop up for me. I just purchased this new dell laptop in May and have had no problems with it. However, in the last few weeks I've been getting a new pop up in the right hand corner. My house hold have a wireless router that is password protected. I have McAfee Security Center updated, and shows that all my firewalls and security systems are on and active.
However, this is the message I get and I'm concerned about my networks safety:
"Unknown PC or device detected
This PC or device has connected to your network:
IP Adress xxxxxxx"
I've opened my action center to make sure everything is okay, and the only thing I find that isn't turned on is the "Network Access Protection" - which is something I haven't touched before, nor does it provide a link in which to turn it on.
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May 24, 2014
I have the following:
Desptop PC running windows 8.1, W8_1, cabled
Laptop running windows 8.1, W8_2, presently cabled
Laptop running windows 7 Home Premium, W7, wireless
Asustor AS-202T, NAS
Netgear router.
W8_1 can see itself and the other devices.
W8_2 can see itself and W8_1
W7 can see itself, W8_1 and NAS
This is the present situation after I followed the instructions in this link: W2K3 Server can access W8 W8 computer cant see W2K server.
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Oct 23, 2013
Any way to remove network devices from under "This PC" in the navigation pane?
These showed up automatically after installation.
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Feb 22, 2014
Is there a way to hide devices connected to LAN port 4 on a modem-router from devices connected to the other 3 ports? And also in the other direction: hide all devices on ports 1 2 3 from anything attached to port 4 ?
Instead of specifying by LAN port, the white list of things to see each other could be selected by MAC address, as I only have three things I want to see and be seen on my home network. A black list system is no good because unknown new things might get connected to LAN port 4.
I have an unusual networking situation... I disabled wireless in my modem-router, so only the 4 ethernet ports work.
I have a desktop (Win 7) a laptop (Win 8.1) and a NAS connected to the router's ports 1 and 2 and 3. They are networked by a password protected homegroup.
I share my internet service with a friend in the next apartment, by one ethernet cable attached to port 4 on my modem-router. Now her friends are staying there while she is away for a few months. They are not easy to negotiate with and I can't ask them to make any changes to their computers.
It seems they have added some kind of switch or hub at their end of that one cable, because I often see two or more strange PCs listed in Windows Explorer networks folder. It even lists the 3 usernames on their PCs.
I shouldn't simply disconnect their ethernet cable, or they won't have internet access, but I don't like how their PCs show up in Windows Explorer. Also I guess my three devices are shown on their computers (but probably none of my folders are actually readable by them)
It seems "network discovery" is not selective about what devices it finds. It is simply on or off, and it must stay on for my homegroup network to work.
Should I try a different kind of networking in Windows, instead of a homegroup?
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Apr 26, 2014
I own a Wifi connectivity from an ISP whose login method is to 1st connect to the wifi network and then login to its own website, after which only it allows to surf the net..
A couple days ago, there was a big storm outside my plcae and the connectivity was down for 1 day.. When the connectivity was restored, i found that the IP address generally used by my laptop was changed somehow..
To test it, i used another laptop in my house and tried to connect to the internet while already logged on from my own laptop to the ISP's website...
Since the spare laptop was connected to an IP address different than the one my laptop was using, It again threw me back to the ISP's homepage where i have to login again to surf the web...
However, when i try to login there, it gives out the error that the user id is same but the ip is different and hence i am not allowed to login in... All this while i can use net on my own laptop...
Similar is the case when i try to connect it to my iPhone... Same thing as here also, the ip address is different than the one used in my own laptop...
I tried to renew the lease by using command prompt and it gave me a message "No operation can be performed on Local area network/bluetooth device/ethernet while it has media connected!
My wifi router is of Linksys! Also, I reseted my router using the reset button.. Didnt work.. And when i say that the ip addresses are different on 2 laptops, i mean that the 1st two are same, but the 3rd and 4th are different1. And I am unable to login to my router's website of 192.168.1.1 ....
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Jun 4, 2014
My friend happened to look in Devices and Printers, and in the Multimedia Devices section he had about 10 devices showing up that he never heard of. Six of them were computers with names that he had never heard of, the others were devices that we could not tell what they were.
I expect that these entries mean that at some time they were on the same network that he was on. Would that be correct?
If so, then it is a matter for concern because he never goes on public networks. He only goes on his network at home, and a network in a small office that he rents and shares with one other person. They have their own router with security set up on it, and that router is connected to an Ethernet jack that most likely goes to a switch on a network that also provides internet service to some other offices in the same building.
This computer is only about 2 months old, so these entries can't be too old.
When I looked at his computer, he was on his home network and all those other devices showed as Offline. I right clicked on them all and removed them. Would it be a good guess that perhaps the security of the network at his office was compromised, and those devices were connected to that network at some point?
I told him to monitor and see when they reappear, but he won't be back in that office for 2 weeks.
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Feb 26, 2014
I am trying to use PS Media Server with Windows 8.1, but honestly whatever app I am using is irrelevant. The problem is, when I try to connect my PS3 to PS3 Media Server, it seems to require me to go into the right side menu, click settings, then change PC settings, then click network and then under connections, click my network connection and turn on "Find Devices and Content".
However, as you can see from my screen shot, that option is missing.
I am on my PERSONAL laptop, connected to a private network (it doesn't matter if I use my wireless or wired connection direct to the router it doesn't show up either way). I have tried enabling and leaving a homegroup, neither of which works.
Windows 8.1
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Jan 31, 2013
I just started playing with my new Windows 8 machine but I am having problems accessing <some> devices on the network: The Windows 8 machine can see: itself, Router, Win7 desktop, wireless printer, wireless camera It canNOT see: XP desktop, XP laptop, Print server, NAS All of devices on the network (including the Windows 8 machine) are visible from both XP machines and from my Windows 7 machine .
Things I tried / verified: All machines are in the same workgroup (no Homegroup) All machines have the same date / time I can ping Windows 7 machine, both XP machines, NAS, Print Server from Windows 8 machine Using "Wireless network watcher" from Nirsoft, I can see ALL devices from the Windows 8 machine EDIT: I just found out, the problem only occurs when connecting over Wifi (either 2.4 or 5GHz). When I connect with an Ethernet cable, all devices are visible.
Network sharing on Windows 8 machine is turned ON
Network discovery on Windows 8 machine is ON
Password-protected sharing on Windows 8 machine is turned OFF
File and printer sharing on Windows 8 machine is turned ON
Firewall on XP desktop machine is turned off (temporarily - for testing purposes only)
what else I could try to beat Windows 8 into submission?
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Sep 25, 2013
I can't share anything in home group. I have already walked through this "how to" HomeGroup problems in Windows - Microsoft Windows
It seams for me that nothing is wrong here except one thing. I can't turn on libraries and devices content. After closing window previously "shared" settings automatically are back to "not shared". And this strange behavior is on both PC. I have tried several times turn on sharing from control panel and from metro PC settings, but useless.
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Aug 9, 2013
today when i tryed to watch a youtube video i noticed i couldent play the video on my asus laptop even on 144p (useualy i can play 720p vids easily) i then i tryed with my iphone and then my macbook and it still wil not load i tryed a speed test and got about 0.05 mbps o have done everything in my power to fix it
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May 21, 2014
I've a problem with my computer. From a few day i expect a random BSOD on my computer. I don't have do nothing like hardware modify or software upgrade but the problem still persist.
Today I've try to reinstall my OS (Windows 8.1 Update 1) but the problem still persist. Try again without install any driver, but only following Windows Update and the problem appear again. I've 2 MiniDump and a FullDump ...
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May 14, 2013
First my computer when bought came pre installed with Windows 7. As soon as Windows 8 came out I upgraded to Windows 8. My system is BIOS not UEFI. I have about 3gb ram and 500gb hdd drive 2.20 ghz processor. Windows 8 runs really smoothly. So recently 2-3 days ago I decided to dual boot Ubuntu with Windows 8. Before when I had Windows 7 I dual booted it with Windows 8. So now I thought about dual booting with Ubuntu 12.04 LTS. The Installation process was fine until I take out the installation usb with Ubuntu and whenever I try to restart it the PC would hang on the oem screen for a while which is ridiculously long.
Then when I would boot into Windows 8 and sign in I would get a notification message saying the last storage device you plugged in isn't found. I went to the device manager in Windows and it would say an unknown device has been found and even if I tried to Uninstall it would come back again. I tried searching for updates but nothing came up. I googled it and got no results. What annoys me the most is the PC hanging on the oem screen. Right now I fresh installed Windows 8 so it's the only OS running at the moment. But I want Ubuntu 12.04 LTS because of git, ssh and all the server side stuff. I have also posted the error screenshot for more info.
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Aug 31, 2014
Message from device manager:
Windows encountered a problem installing the driver software for your device.
Windows found driver software for your device but encountered an error while attempting to install it.
NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M
Message from NVIDIA Installer:
NVIDIA Installer failed.
Graphics Driver 340.52 Failed.
Description:After my pc freezed all of sudden while running emulators (i also had an auto windows update few hours earlier), windows refuse to detect my GPU and NVIDIA installer keep failing...Luckily i have two GPU but i cannot use the NVIDIA one due to this issue.
ASUS Tech Support Little talk with ASUS Support and they asked if i had a critical windows update recently.They asked me to try a system restore, which seem to solve the issue (i could see the GPU card but only for some minutes).Now after that i being asked to format the pc.
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Jul 15, 2014
I have recently found out my Windows 8 has gone kinda strange. Check few of the screenshots out below.
Some folders won't open, is this a virus or a trojan on my PC? My PC seems to be running fine, starts-up and turns off fast.
This isn't just it though some folders have Desktop.ini in them. There's no unknown files running in the processor or anything either.
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Jul 10, 2014
I have a Asus pc, that has been crashing all the time due to unknown reasons. I have experienced that as soon as it hangs due to some process that is taking some time, it usually ends with a BSOD. I can let the computer alone and when I come back it has crashed, apparently for no reason, since I have not been using it for anything.
It crashes and gives the BSOD for many different reasons, I don't have the complete overview of all the reason, but above two listed reasons are the most significant. I have been using WhoCrashed, but does seem to get anywhere with the information provided by this. The PC is a new laptop.
I have followed the instruction and I'm uploading the zip file created by SF Diagnostic Tool.
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Jan 20, 2014
I have a 1TB HDD connected via the network. 90% of the folders on this drive are fine, but a few were created by previous Windows installs.
I needed to delete the folder but it won't let me do so. I've tried fiddling with the security settings but they wont "stick". See the attached for what I mean.
I can't do anything with this folder. I can rename the folder, but everything inside the folder and the folder itself cannot be removed.
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Nov 7, 2013
I have a Dell XPS 15Z, which I bought off a friend. They recently updated to Windows 8 and so now thats what I have. But when i go into my drivers its telling me that i have an unknown driver. no solutions online have answered my questions though some came close. So, this is what i know:
Unknown Device
Device Type: Other devices
Manufacturer: Unknown
Location: on PCI Express Root Complex
Hardware Ids:
ACPIVEN_SMO&DEV_8800
ACPISMO8800
*SMO8800
i don't know if this is related but my laptop also wont charge. I just bought a new AC Adapter to replace the one i had, and it still isn't charging. The light blinks red 4-5 times and blue/green once. ive searched online to see what the problem is but i cannot do some of the fixes as the computer is at 0% battery.
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Oct 1, 2013
I am haveing some issues with windows 8. One of them is when i start my computer my desktop icons are not appearing... I have done a couple of things such as the sfc/scannow on cmd however it didnt work and has some files that could not be fixed during the scan... How do i fix the rest of the corrupted file?
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Jun 11, 2014
In the last day my computer has disappeared from my local network. i have itunes home sharing and folders i share from this computer but suddenly gone. It is a problem with the firewall because when i turn it off it works right. i DID NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES IN THE FIREWALL AT ALL. Running windwows 8.1 64 bit. The only AV i am running is windows defender
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Aug 2, 2014
I just formatted & installed Windows 8.1 on my laptop. I'm getting a lot of BSODs.
All of them "Critical Structure Corruption", can't quite pin-point anything specific. I've been installing some programs I use, etc.
Just now - it actually BSOD'ed while I was running the SF Diagnostic tool!
I have an Acer Aspire 5820, Core i3.
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Feb 28, 2013
Sometimes when I am playing a game in fullscreen with the 360 controller, the mouse cursor will appear on the screen where I last left it. I have to jiggle the mouse and it will go away, but it comes back periodically. In games where I am using a mouse with a special look during the game, I can see flickers of the regular white windows mouse cursor. At first I thought it was just happening in Steam Big Picture Mode, but it is happening in all games.
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Jan 5, 2014
This is a random issue, sometimes I can connect just fine, and usually a restart of my laptop lets me connect.
However sometimes when I try to enter the password it does not work. I get the error message 'the network security key is not correct. Please try again.'
I know for a fact that my password is correct, and sometimes it works, allowing me to choose whether I want to 'find PC's, devices and content on this network' etc.
Regardless of whether I click yes or no at this point I don't connect. And instead I am getting to this screen below. What to enter as my username and password. As nothing to do with my wireless network has this requirement.
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Feb 3, 2014
I can't create a simple text file and place it on my C: drive in Win 8.1 - says that I don't have permission. The properties of the drive show that I do - full control, every class of user. Am I missing something really simple?
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Nov 27, 2012
I recently installed Windows 8. I noticed that at some point the media tags stopped displaying in Windows Explorer for media files such as mp3 and m4b. I am talking about such tags as "title" , "bitrate" and "length" for audio files, for example. Previously this data always displayed for the same files.
This affects my collection of Music and Audio books which I am doing some housekeeping with. I can't sort mp3 and m4b them according to the tags that had been set in iTunes or mp3 tagger.
This has always worked previously and the tags have displayed fine.
I am using the "Detailed" viewing mode in Windows Explorer, but it is just empty in the columns where the tag should be, even for files which I know are tagged, and where the tag displayed previously, in Windows Explorer.
Here is what I found :
I ran sfc /scannow, but this did not solve the problem. I tried installing a shell extension called AudioShell135.exe which supposedly fixes problems with this, but it does not work for 64 bit OS. I read that a DLL called shmedia.dll is responsible for this functionality. Apparently some people re-registered this wisuccess when they had this problem. I did that, but it did not work either.
Could this be a regression in Win 8 or can others see the tag data for their mp3 files?
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Sep 15, 2014
The Desktop and Character Map icons are not showing in the windows 8 'all apps' view(when I press my win key).
How can I get them back?
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Mar 2, 2014
I'm running Windows 8.1 and I have an old version of photoshop elements in my x86 program files (it's elements 4.0). I have UAC on the next to last setting before disabling it altogether. When I launch elements, UAC asks me if I trust it because it's an unknown publisher. I don't want to disable UAC, but I want it to trust elements and not popup the "are you really sure" box each time.
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Dec 28, 2013
I have a 500 GB external USB drive that I can't access on my wife's Windows 8.1 laptop. I have confirmed that is in good operating condition on my XP PC where I can access all my files but in Computer Management on the Windows 8.1 laptop it displays as Disk 1 with a red arrow pointing down and it says Unknown and Not Initialized.
System Info Utility version 1.0.0.2
OS Version: Microsoft Windows 8.1, 64 bit
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4500U CPU @ 1.80GHz, Intel64 Family 6 Model 69 Stepping 1
Processor Count: 4
RAM: 7908 Mb
Graphics Card: Intel(R) HD Graphics Family, -1984 Mb
Hard Drives: C: Total - 940362 MB, Free - 902392 MB;
Motherboard: Dell Inc., Inspiron 5537
Antivirus: McAfee Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware, Updated and Enabled
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