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General discussion

Getting multiple devices shown under 'My Computer'

by jack_sparrow007 May 26, 2014 3:32AM PDT

Hi, Lately I have observed that whenever I connect my computer through WiFi, I see various other devices visible under 'my computer', like network gateway, mobile phones, and other devices.
Is it because the network settings had network visibility option checked 'on'.
Also, would that mean someone may have accessed the files on my computer.

I want to know who else can access my computer through the same WiFi that I am connected to.

Discussion is locked

5 Posts
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If you don't have file sharing enabled.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator May 26, 2014 3:36AM PDT

Then the answer is no. However there are so many exploits today that I can't be sure of your choices to date.
Bob

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You can encrypt and turn off SSID broadcasts
by wpgwpg May 26, 2014 4:23AM PDT

If people can't see your SSID, they're much less likely to attempt access. Then if you use WPA encryption, they'd have to know your key to get access to anything you're sharing. These of course are set in your router. If you've turned file sharing on, you still don't have to share your whole C: drive. I only share selected folders and a couple of printers.

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The Wifi router is a public router
by jack_sparrow007 May 26, 2014 6:52AM PDT

The thing is that the Wifi Router is a public router which is accessed by more than a dozen people.
When I checked the "network and sharing settings", I found that the "turn off password protected sharing" radio button was selected. This would mean that people who don't have a password to access my computer can also access it.

What is SSID and WPA encryption

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Such is the nature of public networks unfortunately
by wpgwpg May 26, 2014 7:00AM PDT

Whenever I connect to a public network, I get a warning that this exposure exists. All you can do when this is the case is to limit what you share.

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SSID is the name of the
by orlbuckeye May 27, 2014 9:44PM PDT

network. Typically when you get a wireless router the SSID is usually by default the manufacturer's name like Trendnet, Linksys, Netgear. You can change it to whatever you want. Typically if you type in a specific IP address 198.162.1.0 for some you get to the configuration settings. You'll usually get prompted with an administration login.

WPA is probably the most common type of security used to setup security on your wireless network. You set up and password and anyone that trys to use this Network (which identified by the SSID) will have to enter the password to use the wireless network.

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