Random MAC Addresses Appearing on My Network

[rjbinney]

I was troubleshooting a few unrelated things when I noticed in my Windows Explorer, under "Network", random phones appear.

Every time I Refresh, it seems it's a different phone, with a different MAC address.

I disabled MAC filtering on my router a few years ago (I believe on advice from this board, although I will never find that post). But I do have a pretty solid password on my router.

My router's interface is pretty crappy - it actually doesn't show active users, just "approved" users. (It's a Netgear CG3000-DV2).

I am presuming that this is just people in/around my building with WiFi turned on on their phones - the phones are pinging my network, but not actually connecting.

Or do I have a bigger problem?

And if I do, what do I do about it?

Thanks,

[camerongray]

Phones in the vicinity of the WiFi network wouldn't show up on the network.  Does your machine support Bluetooth?  This sounds like it's probably just picking up phones that have bluetooth turned on and is listed there to give you the option to pair to them.

[rjbinney]

Hm. I *do* have Bluetooth on. Nothing is showing up now - I'm presuming it spikes when lots of contractors are working on my building. Will play with BT tomorrow when they're here and see what happens.

In the meantime, what are some fun things I can download and torment them with? Surely there's something out there where I can punch in their MAC address and change their homescreen to a a grumpy cat picture or send there Contacts to Russian Facebook or something!

[BC_Programmer]

Surely there's something out there where I can punch in their MAC address and change their homescreen to a a grumpy cat picture or send there Contacts to Russian Facebook or something!

This is analogous to asking if there is something where you can punch in a person's street address and cause all the milk in their refrigerator to spoil.

[rjbinney]

Oh, like Zuckerberg isn't working on that right now.