Unknown device in my BT Home network?

Question

I recently upgraded to the BT Home hub, which after reading several forum posts about it was a bad decision.

I have now installed this and connected my PC (via USB) and XBOX360 (via ethernet) to the Home hub, l and although I have to wait for my line to be optimized, everything seems to be working well.

However, when I check on y network status, using the BT Broadband Desktop help utility, it shows I have an UNKNOWN DEVICE connected to the router along side my PC and XBOX360.

I have tried to obtain assistance from BT themselves but they simply told me to ignore the unknown device, as it will not cause any harm!!!!

Does anyone know how I might find out what this is or remove it from my network?

Thanks.

I have turned off the Wireless aspect of the hub and the device is still present.

The device does have a mac address and an IP address

Answer 1

I have home hub too, same thing, unknown device joined to ethport3. was told once by BT that this is a virtual port created for the USB A socket for printer sharing / usb memory stick? hence MAC address and IP assignment.

found this article online, hope it helps

"I seemed to get a third ethernet port appear (ethport3) that had an unknown device attached to it. A port scan revealed a Samba server running. Curious! The latest firmware, it would seem, runs a file/print server on 192.168.1.253. I just popped a Bytestor 512Mb USB pendrive in USB port A and restarted the BT Home Hub, and named the unknown device Bytestor."

Answer 2

Doesn't sound like someone trying to steal the internet as it would register an IP, computer name and MAC address from the computer/ device stealing it. So that shouldn't be issue anyway.
The problem could be that sometimes computers confuse themself and regonise things that simply aren't there. It might even just be regonising itself twice and getting confused. My computer does it whenever i connect to the internet through my mobile. It thinks the mobile is like three different devices and see it won't regonise one of them it gets funny.
It shouldn't cause any harm but if you are concerned then you could try reinstalling the hub but adding devices one at a time and at least that way you can find out what is causing the error.

Answer 3

i am the unknown device
please dont get rid of me
im enjoying the free connection
if you start fiddling about with security on wifi
you may spoil it for me
leave it,im no bother im helpful
i didnt get the last two letters of you r password
type it in again theres a good chap

Answer 4

It may be someone hijacking you network to get free broadband.
Enable security on you wireless network so only devices with the password can access it. That will stop cheeky neightbours freeloading....

Answer 5

Watch out it may be your Nosey Neighbour getting a freebie internet connection off you..

Answer 6

Sounds as though it could be a neighbours unsecured wireless?

Answer 7

have you or a neighbour got a wifi enabled nokia phone ??