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Strange W10 networking issue/mystery

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mpcook
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Strange W10 networking issue/mystery

#1 Post by mpcook » Fri Apr 30, 2021 8:15 pm

Strange W10 wifi network issue/mystery…

Last week my wife bought an HP Windows 10 desktop. A curious episode ensued. Possibly Windows 10 related. Maybe you have an idea of how this could have happened.

The desktop in question connects to our home network via wifi through our router (Norton Core). The router has ethernet to the local ISP (phone company) modem/router which is our source for internet connectivity. The ISP modem/router has wifi turned off. In addition to the wife’s HP, we have a number of other devices also connected via wifi including Rokus, many ThinkPads (duh), a Ring doorbell, plus Ethernet to two printers and my Dell desktop. No active Bluetooth is in the house. Don't like that blue stuff.

We have two hidden wifi networks set up on the Norton Core , a 2.4GHz and a 5GHz using WPA2. The HP has only been connected to the 5GHz wifi since it was set up out of the box. Let’s call it’s SSID “abc5”.

This morning, my wife booted up and clicks on “Hidden Network” as you might ordinarily do, deselects “Connect automatically” as she always does, types in the SSID of the 5GHz hidden network (let's say "abc5"), and then when prompted, types in the password and gets logged on to the internet.

As she is downloading her email, the wifi seems a bit slow. Reflexively, she hovers the mouse over the wifi icon on the task bar. Lo and behold, it is identified as the “neighbor-across-the street” wifi network SSID, NOT ours (which is “abc5”). Neighbor guy uses his initials as his SSID, which is broadcast as "JCC" and is one of many I can see from around the neighborhood. My wife freaks, thinking our neighbor is reading her email, takes a screen shot of the wifi network info in Windows 10, and then pulls the plug. Here is a portion of the screenshot:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/uf3qyubfa7r2n ... D.JPG?dl=0

I have seen the evidence (screenshot), it clearly looks like she was logged into our neighbor’s wifi based on the network name. His wifi is password protected by the way whenever I have checked it. It is not a terribly strong signal, but might possibly be strong enough to log into if we had the password, which we do not. In fact, we have met him briefly a couple of times, but that’s as far as it goes. Retired school teacher. Couldn’t guess his password if I tried.

How can this happen. Windows 10 fully updated. 802.11ac Wireless Adapter. New out of the box desktop.

Thoughts?
Current: 2 x W520 ET, 2 x X220 i7, T420, X230 i5, T420s, MacbookPro, Dell Venue 11 Pro, Dell XPS 8930, X1 Yoga 3GEN
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RealBlackStuff
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Re: Strange W10 networking issue/mystery

#2 Post by RealBlackStuff » Sat May 01, 2021 1:04 am

Possible causes:
- poor mouse movements (selected the wrong network)
- bad HP keyboard (not unheard of)
- wife made typo (known to happen)
- neighbour has same password as you (unlikely but possible)

Possible solution: ethernet cable between router and HP desktop.
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Re: Strange W10 networking issue/mystery

#3 Post by dr_st » Sat May 01, 2021 5:52 am

The picture shows that the JCC network is detected, not that you are actually connected to it. When connected it should say "Connected, Secured".

All in all it looks like the computer simply got disconnected from the local WiFi for a few seconds (maybe the network momentarily disappeared), and JCC was the first one that was picked up in this situation.

Just to be sure - go to "Manage Known Networks" and make sure JCC does not appear there. If somehow it does, delete it from the list and you should not connect to it, even by accident.
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mpcook
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Re: Strange W10 networking issue/mystery

#4 Post by mpcook » Sat May 01, 2021 10:44 am

dr_st wrote:
Sat May 01, 2021 5:52 am
The picture shows that the JCC network is detected, not that you are actually connected to it. When connected it should say "Connected, Secured".

All in all it looks like the computer simply got disconnected from the local WiFi for a few seconds (maybe the network momentarily disappeared), and JCC was the first one that was picked up in this situation.

Just to be sure - go to "Manage Known Networks" and make sure JCC does not appear there. If somehow it does, delete it from the list and you should not connect to it, even by accident.
Yes, thanks, I noticed it did not say "Connected". So, given that, it's not likely she was ever connected to JCC. However, it's not clear to me why it would even show up on this screen.
Current: 2 x W520 ET, 2 x X220 i7, T420, X230 i5, T420s, MacbookPro, Dell Venue 11 Pro, Dell XPS 8930, X1 Yoga 3GEN
Past: IBM5150-8088 500 600E 600X T20 T21 5xT23 X30 3xX31 X32 T40 T42 3xT43 T43p SL510 T60p X60T X60s T61 2xT400 T410si T400s T500-3.06GHz X200 X201 X220i5 X220i7 2xT420s

skx
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Re: Strange W10 networking issue/mystery

#5 Post by skx » Tue May 18, 2021 10:20 am

Hiding SSID is useless, people willing to, identify the hidden SSIDs in 5 seconds, and the normal non tech users get their life more complicated.

Why the neighbors SSID shows up is because you are close to his router. Normal behavior, your network adapter will show all available networks.
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