I'm seeing an unknown device showing up on my hotspot, and it's driving me a bit crazy. At first, I thought it might be one of my PlayStations, but they're all unplugged right now, except for my PS3, which I don't think I've ever connected to the hotspot. What other devices could this be, and how should I handle it?
4 Answers
Honestly, if you want to secure your hotspot, you should set it up so that only devices that enter a password can connect. If you don’t have a password, it's possible that someone might be using your connection without you knowing. Keeping a list of MAC addresses can help you track this in the future too, just to see if any familiar devices start popping up unexpectedly!
The first thing you should do is check the MAC address. The first part of it identifies the manufacturer, so you might be able to figure out what type of device it is. But if it has a MAC address, it definitely has an IP; running a port scan on it might give you more info. If you're really concerned, consider blocking the device from accessing your hotspot.
But didn’t the original poster forget to share the MAC address? That would really help narrow it down.
It's definitely annoying to see unfamiliar devices on your hotspot! One tip is to just start unplugging things at home until you identify the culprit. In the meantime, consider changing your hotspot password and only allowing known devices to connect, which should help you keep track of what's on there.
Be aware that many newer devices randomize their MAC addresses each time they connect. Check your device settings to see if that's happening. If you're sure it's a device you own, you might want to turn off the randomization feature. Otherwise, blocking it might be a good idea.
Totally! Plus, if something stops working, you’ll know to look into it. Just a heads up, many phones can use 'ghost' MACs as a security measure, so they might look different every time they connect.