What's Actually Connected to Your Home Network?
Most people assume they know what is connected to their home network — their phone, laptop, and maybe a smart TV. The reality is usually much more interesting.
Why you should scan your network
Every device connected to your WiFi can potentially communicate with every other device. Unknown devices on your network could be neighbours using your connection, old forgotten devices, or in rare cases, something more concerning. Knowing what is on your network is basic digital hygiene.
What you will typically find
A network scan typically reveals: your router, any computers on the network, smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, game consoles, smart home devices such as thermostats and doorbells, printers, and network storage drives. Many people are surprised by how many devices are connected.
Understanding IP addresses
Every device on your network has a local IP address, typically 192.168.1.xx or 192.168.0.xx. The router is usually .1. Devices are assigned addresses automatically by DHCP when they connect. Seeing unfamiliar IP addresses does not necessarily mean something is wrong — it could be a device you forgot about.
What to do if you find something suspicious
If you find a device you genuinely do not recognise after checking all your own equipment, the safest response is to change your WiFi password. This will disconnect everything and require all your legitimate devices to reconnect. Any unauthorised device will be cut off.
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