Why Did a Random Security Camera Show Up on My New WiFi Network?
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CuriousNerd42
I recently set up a new modem from my ISP and needed to connect my Marmitek smart power plugs for my 3D printers. After disabling my smart WiFi to allow the devices to connect to the 2.4GHz band, I was surprised to see a random home security camera show up in the Marmitek Smart me app—even before I had connected any of my smart plugs! We don't own any cameras, and there was no setup or notification for this device. I found out it was from AltoBeam Inc., removed it from my network, and reset everything to smart WiFi. I'm puzzled about how this camera could connect to my network without any setup, especially since it's all brand new equipment. Can anyone shed some light on this?
Answers
It sounds like you might be dealing with a neighbor's device somehow connecting to your network. Do you have your WiFi password protected? That could explain how it showed up so quickly without your approval. Otherwise, it might be some glitch where random devices appear temporarily in the app without actually being connected.
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I just installed a Birdfy bird feeder camera and a device with MAC address assigned to Altobeam showed up. Do you have a device like that?
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CuriousNerd42: Yes, the WiFi is definitely password protected! The camera showed up within minutes of setting up the modem, so I'm sure it wasn't a neighbor connecting. It seems more like a protocol mishap or something. Really weird!