Unwanted device on Network Security map - NIS 2012

Norton Security | Norton Internet Security
1

A neighbour (don't know who) has a wireless printer which keeps showing up on my network security map.  I can see the MAC address.  How do I block this device from appearing?

2

Hello dispencer and welcome!

 

Can you tell us a bit about your home network setup?

 

Is your wireless router using WPS?  ('WiFi Protected Setup' or quick set up)

 

Thanks!

3

Thanks for the response.

 

Yes, WPS is enabled on my wireless router, a Netgear WNR2000v2.  Wirelessly connected to that is a Netgear extender WN2000RPTv2.  I am using WPA-PSK security.  Should I turn WPS off until such time that it is needed?

4

I would give that a try.

 

Although WPS is very handy for quickly connecting to WiFi, this feature is known to allow other devices using WPS to appear on your Windows 7 network map and consequently on your Norton Security Map.

 

If you read through this thread, it is suggested that turning off the 'WiFi Protected Setup' will prevent the unknown devices from being recognized.

 

Once you have turned off WPS, delete the unknown printer from your Norton Security Map. 

 

Restart your computer and then Refresh the map to confirm that the device no longer appears.

5

Thanks, but it seems there is no way to 'disable' WPS on my Netgear router.  The phantom printer still keeps appearing in the NIS Security map -- I keep deleting it from the map but it keeps reappearing.  I don't see anything in Win7 that will let me turn off WPS.

 

I have set the status of the phantom printer to 'restricted' in the map.  I guess there is no security exposure so, although it is a bit annoying to see the printer, I guess I'll just live with it.

6
dispencer wrote:

Thanks, but it seems there is no way to 'disable' WPS on my Netgear router.  The phantom printer still keeps appearing in the NIS Security map -- I keep deleting it from the map but it keeps reappearing.  I don't see anything in Win7 that will let me turn off WPS.

 

I have set the status of the phantom printer to 'restricted' in the map.  I guess there is no security exposure so, although it is a bit annoying to see the printer, I guess I'll just live with it.


Hi, dispencer.  Being unable to disable WPS on a router is a known security hole.  Many router manufacturers have released firmware updates to their routers to address this problem.  Check your router manufacturer's website for more info on this subject.  Google "WPS Security Vulnerability" for more info.

 

Note:  There is a website that tracks this problem, and shows a list of routers with/without the problem.  There is also info regarding which routers have had the problem in the past - what firmware update is required to solve the problem - and whether or not disabling WPS on the router actually closes the security hole or not.

 

See:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/lv?key=0Ags-JmeLMFP2dFp2dkhJZGIxTTFkdFpEUDNSSHZEN3c

 

For Linksys/Cisco Routers see:  http://www6.nohold.net/Cisco2/ukp.aspx?vw=1&articleid=25154

 

 

Hope this helps.