Can someone trick my router in to thinking their computer is one of mine?

Question

I asked a few days ago about my laptop being connected to the internet despite it not being used and did get a good answer.

Pretty much, my router says my laptop is connected to the internet still. I had a password on my internet at the time, but under one user's suggestion, I changed my password which temporarily corrected the problem.

Well, today when I got home, i noticed that my internet was running slow, so i checked my router and there, again, it says my laptop has open sessions even though my laptop is completely off. It's like someone's tricking my router in to thinking that their computer is my laptop. I'm also thinking that maybe my laptop is a 'zombie' but have no idea how to figure that out.

I've disabled the internet on my laptop and have it completely off and even unplugged from the wall, yet still it says that my laptop is connected to the internet with 30-40+ sessions open. 

My question is this: Can someone trick a router in to believe their computer is really my computer? And if so, anyone got a way to stop this? Also, as a precaution, is there any way to detect if my computer is indeed a zombie computer or not? 

I could change the access key again, but to change it every 3-4 days because of this would be inconvenient as this Wifi is used by 3 computers and a video game console in my home and to constantly change it on every thing would be a hassle. 

Tonight I'll install Avira and Avast on that computer, but as it stands, the main reason I don't have certain types of anti-virus software on that laptop is because it's a netbook, unfortunately. It's processing power is rather low and using most anti-virus software heats that thing up to near burning temperatures...

Silent · Accepted Answer

the dhcp address is probably still there, you can go into the command prompt and do a 

ipconfig/release  than

ipconfig/renew

youll have a new ip address see if it shows up in the router..


windows assigns an automatic address and usually cuts the connection off once the machiene is off..

in the long run, you might want to consider getting a regualr laptop

. especially if running an anti virus program heats your pc up, that is not a overall good sign 

i would guess, that you didnt have much ram on that pc?

as long as your internet connection is secure, and your not sharing any files, and you have anti virus.. noones trying to mess with your computer, its not a zombie

but i do reccomend "adaware" by lavasoft as a spyware removal tool, its not full blown antivirus, so it shouldnt heat up your pc too much, and theres a free version i use it all the time

good luck

tseng · Answer

You didn't point out which laptop running approach that you're utilising, which could be handy in diagnosing your concern. However, Go to manipulate panel, then click on on Network and Internet, then click on on Network and Sharing Center, then click on on Troubleshoot Problems, then comply with the activates and take it from there. Even regardless that you have been ready to ping, this doesn't imply that your laptop is attached. There is an IP cope with that a ping will go back, despite the fact that no Internet connection is there. There could also be a reputation for it, however I fail to remember what it's known as, on the second. I additionally fail to remember the IP cope with such an blunders returns, however I understand it exists. Anyway, comply with the stairs I recounted above, and I feel you'll be ready to solve your connectivity concern. I have Windows 7 running approach, so my directions have been from that standpoint. If you may have an additional running approach, then your certain direction to happiness might range relatively, however the directions and system I recounted nonetheless must paintings by means of main you down the correct direction. Happy computing!

Anonymous · Answer

I believe what you are seeing is the IP address assignments. If your laptop has been on since the last assigning it will be in that list regardless of that computers state.

 It is called a DCHP Lease.

Can someone trick my router in to thinking their computer is one of mine?

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