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Community => Non-audio hobbies and interests => The IT Crowd => Topic started by: Tweaker on 27 Sep 2020, 06:43 pm

Title: Mysterious device briefly connected to my network
Post by: Tweaker on 27 Sep 2020, 06:43 pm
I would post this over at xfinity but their forum seems pretty non responsive so I thought I would try here first.
I got a notice from my xFi app that a new device connected to my network named minint-xxxxxxx. I was not able to get any device info and it has not connected since. I googled and found that Minint stands for "Minimum Windows NT - It is a preinstallation name used by things like WinPE". Googled WinPE and now I know what that is but I'm still in the dark as to what happened. Any ideas?
Title: Re: Mysterious device briefly connected to my network
Post by: aldcoll on 27 Sep 2020, 07:27 pm
If you have a xfinity box/wifi it has public sharing turned on by default.  You have to turn it off and periodically check that it is. 

They say that this public or xfinity customer sharing doesn't affect speed and data used.   It did get the kids to collect on the side of my house at night.

Alan
Title: Re: Mysterious device briefly connected to my network
Post by: srb on 27 Sep 2020, 07:41 pm
They say that this public or xfinity customer sharing doesn't affect speed and data used.

These xfinitywifi hotspots that Xfinity creates may not use your data allotment, but it still uses resources and overhead in your modem and router that you may want to avoid.

In Comcast-serviced apartment buildings I have seen a dozen xfinitywifi hotspots show in the wireless connection list.  Their ideology is to create free wireless hotspots across the country accessible to all Comcast customers.  It used to be enabled by default, but customer blowback may have nixed that as a default.

You need to log into your Xfinity account to enable or disable (not accessible in your gateway admin login).
Title: Re: Mysterious device briefly connected to my network
Post by: Tweaker on 27 Sep 2020, 07:55 pm
Thanks, I just disabled it. Says it will take 24 hours to take effect.
Still wondering about what it was that connected. Seems sketchy but my knowledge of such things is limited.