What does this mean?

I don't usually look at the sytem log that often (Billion 7800n) but just did and saw a few entries I hadn't seen before (first few):

Jul 27 08:52:58 daemon DHCP SERVER: DHCPDISCOVER from Jul 27 08:52:59 daemon DHCP SERVER: DHCP offer to
Jul 27 08:53:00 daemon DHCP SERVER: DHCP request from
Jul 27 08:53:00 daemon DHCP SERVER: DHCP ack to
Jul 27 09:27:03 daemon DHCP SERVER: DHCP request from
Jul 27 09:27:03 daemon DHCP SERVER: DHCP ack to

Just wonder if it's something to do with wireless - wireless was enabled a few weeks ago for our son to use on his phone when he visits (I use it wired), but no-one was here at that time and the computer was switched off.

Edited by deleted (Fri 27-Jul-12 17:26:49)

You need to find out which devices have MAC addresses xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx & xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx Different network cards have different ways to find it - but those numbers are unique.

Edited by MHC (Fri 27-Jul-12 17:36:09)

According to this site the first device (deleted) is made by Apple and the second (deleted) is from Asus.

Mean anything, maybe an iPhone and a netbook?

Edited by billford (Fri 27-Jul-12 18:06:51)

I found a site that gives some info - http://hwaddress.com/?q=Apple+Inc

Company Apple Inc
Prefix C0:
Address space
Address
1 Infinite Loop
Cupertino CA 95014
United States



Company ASUSTek COMPUTER INC.
Prefix 48
Address space
Address
15,Li-Te Rd.,Peitou,
Taipei 112
Taiwan, Republic Of China

Did someone try to use my wireless - and was it denied? I've never used the wireless part before, so know very little about it.

Edited by deleted (Fri 27-Jul-12 17:27:50)

They appear to be computers obtaining IP addresses from your router. They could be wired or wireless.

Information about what specific DHCP messages signify can be found at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc958940....

One thing that is worth checking is that the router clock is actually telling the right date and time. It may be way off.

If you are sure these devices are nothing to do with you make sure the router isn't using a defualt admin password, change the encryption key and consider MAC address filtering on the wireless network as described at http://billion.uk.com/esupport/index.php?/Knowledgeb...

Edited by caffn8me (Fri 27-Jul-12 17:34:09)

Thanks Bill - Wasn't sure if that info was relevant when I found it. Son has an iphone but I'd thought he was nowhere near at that time - he arrived around 10am, but I just had a thought ..the time on the Billion seems to be an hour behind (I had a disconnect an hour ago, and it was shown as 2.50pm instead of 3.50pm.

Would it be that as soon as his phone was in range, it picked up the connection ? - he's the only person apart from me that has the password.

So, one is an Apple device, Ipad, Iphone &c and the other an ASUS PC or tablet.

What PCs and phones do you have? It is the actual device that matter not the company that is allocated the range.

I have a desktop computer (Chillblast with Asus motherboard), and no mobile switched on (only use it if I go out) - son has an iphone.

The Asus motherboard would account for the Asus entry in the logs and your son's iPhone the other.

So, when you speak to your son, ask him for his MAC:

Start at the home menu. Select Settings -> General -> About. Scroll down that screen and you’ll see a setting called “Wi-Fi Address”, that is your iPhone MAC address.

It should be te same as te one you are seeing and that will put your mind at rest.

I should edit out all those MAC addys if you don't want to be hacked.

Thank you all very much - I learn something new every day!

I hadn't even realised that those sets of numbers were actual MAC adresses.
...nor that the motherboard designated the type of computer!

Yes, I will check his MAC next time he's here - thanks for the info!

All just me never been used to seeing wireless entries.

Good idea - thanks!

MHC, Billford and caffn8me - would you mind editing your posts to remove those MAC addresses please

Done, but I would not be too worried as a hacker would need to know your location to start with and possibly your WAN IP before he could do anything!

In reply to a post by MHC:

Done, but I would not be too worried as a hacker would need to know your location to start with and possibly your WAN IP before he could do anything!

Yep, MAC's are only useful when you're attached to the local network. No security issue posting them here.

Agreed, but I've edited my posts anyway to set Trisha's mind at rest

Thanks both of you - easy mind

Thank you too Bill

Edited by deleted (Fri 27-Jul-12 18:09:42)

[ I find] the original post is now incredibly difficult to make sense of first time its read,
rather than delete the information, would be better to obscure it. (as MHC and Bill have done)
edit: I find

Edited by ggremlin (Fri 27-Jul-12 18:36:13)

In reply to a post by billford:

Agreed, but I've edited my posts anyway to set Trisha's mind at rest

I'm sure setting it at ease is preferable Bill .

Oh my - hadn't exactly got that one earlier!

My mind is at ease thanks to all of you, but pretty tired now so perhaps that bit of me is 'at rest' just for the time being