Removing a PC from the network?

Gornot · 05 Apr 2011

I have finally decided to ask for help here, despite the fact that I haven't had any problems.
Here's the thing: my home has 3 PCs. One is mine, one is my sister's, and the third one is my mom's. Both of them are connecting to my home network via Wireless (I connect to my router via cable-LAN), but recently I have realized there is a 4th PC connected to it.

Removing a PC from the network?-network.png

I looked in my router's settings, and the DHCP table looks like this:

Removing a PC from the network?-dhcp.png

There is only one folder shared with this "HOTSPOT" PC, including tons of cracks, patches, and other illegal goodies, so I'm concerned about the safety of my own PC.
So I was wondering if there is a way to (forcefully if needed) remove this PC from my home network and what are the neccesary steps I need to perform to prevent the owner of this PC to join again.

P.S: I am sure that the PC actually has a connection and is not an earlier connected PC which doesn't have access anymore; I found the latest version of Open.SUSE in one of the folders and tried transfering it to my PC... It was a success, so that's that.

/noob mode on
OMGZ pls halp I getz teh er00rZ!
/noob mode off

DarkXeno · 05 Apr 2011

The first thing I would look at is are you running any type of security on your router or is it open?
If its an open net work then it could be any one out there using your wifi.
I would change the default password on the router make it a password protected wifi then see if it dissappers.

acurasd · 05 Apr 2011

Under your Administrator Tab in your Router... It will divide by Router / LAN / Wireless

Does the HotSpot come from LAN or Wireless

If it is Wireless... I really suggest that you change your password and put on MAC filtering.

Hotspot is definitely a hardware device since it has its own MAC address.

The first 6 digits of the MAC address is the VENDER... I checked on it.. Anywhere in your house do you have this:

0015AF AzureWave Technologies, Inc.

Gornot · 05 Apr 2011

Both my sister and my mom use Wireless LAN (all three PCs are regular desktops) and need to join the network by providing a password, so I'm pretty sure the network should be secured.

If I change the network password (and perhaps the name itself) out of the blue what will happen? Will all PC's (except mine, I guess) lose the connection? Can I expect the same from the "alien" PC? And would it only be a matter of discovering the new-named network and providing a different password?

EDIT: The HOSTPOT PC can only connect via Wireless, I am sure of that. Only I connect through cable.

acurasd said:

Anywhere in your house do you have this:

0015AF AzureWave Technologies, Inc.

Nope, I don't think so.

I keep editing this, lol... so Wireless MAC Address Filter is disabled

acurasd · 05 Apr 2011

Well that is true.. If you change the password then they will be kicked off until they change the password for the wireless also it would be a good ID to put the MAC Filtering on so that only your sister and mom's computer will be able to use the router.. no other MAC address can access it.

Gornot · 05 Apr 2011

Alright then... To bad I don't have time to change all that now, I'm late for a date lol
But I will definitely try it out first thing in the morning and keep you posted. Thanks for the help

acurasd · 05 Apr 2011

No problem... Remember.. Dates come and go... computers will always be there for you.

Shootist · 05 Apr 2011

Forget MAC filtering, it is hackable.

From what it looks like you have not setup Wireless security in the form of WPA or WPA2.
If you have any wireless security protocol at all setup it's probably WEP. WEP is very hackable. WPA or WPA2 is not.

When you say "All PCs need to supply a password to join the network" are you talking about sharing files between the computers? Because the wired desktop, yours, does not need to supply anything to go out to the internet or access the router. There is no password authentication for wired computers. So if that is the case you do not have any security setup on the wireless side. You need to do that NOW not later.

acurasd · 05 Apr 2011

I was thinking of combining them both... I wouldn't know why anyone would ever use WEP anymore. I think they should just take that out of Routers now and days.

I am always hardwired with my gear... I don't trust wireless. I trust it as much as I trust time warner helping me with my networking solutions.

Shootist · 05 Apr 2011

acurasd said:

I was thinking of combining them both... I wouldn't know why anyone would ever use WEP anymore. I think they should just take that out of Routers now and days.

I am always hardwired with my gear... I don't trust wireless. I trust it as much as I trust time warner helping me with my networking solutions.

Wireless is fine and secure if set up correctly. If you own and use a notebook wireless is the only way to go. Who wants to be tied to a cord/wire when you have everything else portable.
I've had a wireless network setup in my home for the last 8-9 years and have never been hacked.
I personally only use it if I'm using one on my notebooks around the house, which isn't that often. And if I need to transfer files to one of my notebooks I do plug in a ether net cable.