My computer can disable networks.

OS: Windows XP

My laptop suddenly has the ability to disable any network it's connected to, whether or not I have the password to it. What I mean is that as long as I have access to the network, but even if I DO NOT have access to the router config, I can still disable the network. Here is the video of it in action (but please read the caption below before watching the video):

Also please note, I have the "Magnifier" application up only because it stays on top and blocks people who watch the video from seeing my personal info (IP, MAC address, etc).

Here is the video:

http://www.box.net/shared/dbkzk0dgks

I've always had an icon in the lower right called either "Local Area Connection" or "Wireless Network Connection" depending on if I'm hardwired to the router or wireless. About a week ago, a second icon started appearing alongside either of the other two. It's called "Internet Connection" and when I look under the networking section of control panel, it's located under "Internet Gateway". So I went through the network connection wizard and told the wizard that I connect through a router, and NOT directly to the internet like it seems to think. This has done nothing, no matter how many times I went through the wizard, the icon stayed even after I restarted the laptop. Even worse: if I try to disable that specific connection, everyone on the network loses internet.

Infact, I was sitting in class one day when I didn't know what the icon did. I tried to disable it because I was afraid people might be connecting through my computer or something, and when I disabled it, half the building (whoever was connected to that router) lost internet access. The technicians had to come in, and I felt obliged to speak up, and I actually got in a lot of trouble because they thought I "hacked" the network. Mind you, I don't have the password to the router, only the WEP key, not the admin login password.

Upon further investigation, I found that disabling "Internet Connection" released the DHCP of the router, and in order to get internet access back, you would need the password for the router, login and renew the DHCP, as shown in the video.

Is this normal for my laptop to be able to do this?

 

I don't know what it is but that sounds pretty cool..

 

Your machine may be compromised. I have seen hardware bring down networks but not what you describe. Some hacker may be using your pc as a host to do their dirty work. I would contact MS and see if they have any info or idea what is happening.

 

To the OP, I use to see the Internet Gateway connection under Network Connections some time back, and did the same thing that you did and disabled it and noticed that my Internet connection would be lost...but I never thought any thing of it. Now that you've created this thread i've done some quick research on it and the links should kinda give you a little info. about it and how to disable it.

Link | Link | Link

I guess you can go ahead and disable the SSDP service as well...BTW if you click on "My Network Places" and click on "Show icons for networked UPnP devices", after inserting the XP installation disc you should see your router as the UPnP device. All in all, I guess if you don't need this service you should disable/uninstall it as it may likely just be a security risk.

 

Thanks, looking into it now. Even knowing how to disable it, I don't think it should be able to do what it does... theoretically I can walk into the library of my university, disable everyone's internet, and walk out in 2 minutes using a windows provided feature...

 

So I ran literally 7 different antivirus programs, then a bunch of antispyware programs including spywareblaster, spybot S&D, spyware doctor, and spysweeper, none of which detected anything unusual. I have zonealarm firewall running now, and the "problem" still remains. I can still disable networks.

I spoke to microsoft, they said not to disable anything as it could cause other services not to work, he said the upnp migth have been enabled so that a service or process I'm using can work. I let him remote connect and look around and he found nothing unusual (other than my custom theme and modified uxtheme.dll which he frowned upon).

Any other takers? I'm about to sell this thing off to a hacker or something! (just kidding of course)

 

Yeh it could be possible..my two friend had same problem in past...but that hacker was his friends so not worried..

 

How about running "ipconfig /all" (without the quote marks) in a cmd console window, and then posting the results so we can see what your NIC's config is reporting?

 

I'll offer you $5000 for your computer. And could I get it by 2 pm (MST) tomorrow before my meeting with my bank's financial manager?

 

looks like your connected to an unsecured router which allows anyone to come in an disable it. i noticed that you showed 2 sets of network icos, which leads me to believe that one is the upnp for the gateway. so when you think your disabling your card, your in fact disabling the network router and not your network card at all. i bet if you disabled just your card, the network would still function. not disabling the gateway.(definition=linksys router) (speculation of course). and when it came up as internet connection is now enabled. this is typical for upnp gatways. try doing that when clicking the network icon closest to the clock..the one that actually says lan. you'll get a different result. that's why most admins disable that feature so *cough* users like *cough* you..don't go messing with the network. *LOL*

they got their nerve blaming their mistake on you....now that is way too funny!! thumbs up on killing another unconfigured network...hahaha

 

Sounds like its an issue with the DHCP release somehow being attributed to the router instead of your laptop - the routers will be used DHCP relay. This should not happen unless your laptop somehow uses the MAC of the router in the CHDDR DHCP fields . I suggest you use wireshark to do a capture on the NIC in question and seeing whats in CHDDR.

 

I was wrong when I said any network. It only works with unsecured networks as someone posted. Still, it's bad that I can still disable unsecured networks even if their router config is passworded.

 

I'd rather be able to connect to any network regardless of access but killing unconfigured networks sure sounds like fun.

Keep us tuned in on how this goes hehe