Windows 7: Hiding Host Name from Router

Hi,

I've noticed that when connecting to a router the host name of my computer is published, along with the mac address.

I am not getting in to mac spoofing here; that is not my intention.
I simply generally do not like displaying more information than I must.

When dealing with public access routers (often that have no security and also default admin passwords) I would rather not display such information.

Using ubuntu, it was simple enough to not publish my host name (the mac address is of course still logged).



However, how can I do this in windows???

Hmm, if what you want is to make that your computer doesn't show up in "Network" pane in explorer, disable SSDP and Network awareness. But to be honest, there's no need to hide hostname, since it's tied to your IP address, doing a simple scan throughout the network will reveal many hosts, some may have hostname, some will show as IP address... I mean, hostname is just a "humane replacement" for IP address, nothing more.

zzz2496

I am already hidden with regard to Network computers. However, when logging on to the router, it displays a table of 'Connected Clients' where the host names are listed.

True though that it represents the ip. However, my ip will change when connecting to different wireless networks; whereas the host name will stay the same, given that windows uses the computer name as the host name.

I would rather not publish such information.
Please don't get me wrong. It's not like I have anything to hide. Granted, if I did, I would have to do a lot more than hide a host name. I simply have a thing where I dislike giving out any more info than I truly have to; particularly involving the internet...

What about you delete the computer name? Maybe that's what you want... Other than that, I don't see how Windows can hide it's hostname...

zzz2496

Seems that may be the only way. I realise this may seem a strange request...hope am not wasting your time.

Interesting though that this is something that I found quite easy to do in ubuntu, but not windows (good ol' Linux).

Thanks for the help though Much appreciated.

You're welcome...

zzz2496

For reference, windows won't let you have a blank computer name...

Will have to think of other solution to sustain some level of anonymity

From what I have read about this you need to enable the "block wan request" option in your routers set up page. This blocks all requests sent to the router. It will not respond to a ping or an ICMP request. Your IP address will appear to not even exist.

Not all firmware's have this option but some do.

Thank you.
However, I am actually wanting my laptop host name to be invisible to any router that I connect to (for instance in coffee houses, etc) - as a lot of these, even if they use a passkey (given when you buy drink for example), only use default router password, thus anyone can get in and play with settings, see who else is online, etc...

Not that this could lead to anything, but still, this is why I prefer to hide my details.

You can hide your computer from the DHCP list in the router by just changing your IP to static.