Unknown WiFi device - IEEE Registration Authority

[maestro2]

My Quantum Gateway shows a WiFi host that I am not familiar with. I can see its IP address and MAC address, and connectivity test runs fine. I used a third party WiFi Analyzer to get more information on this device, and it shows IEEE Registration Authority as manufacturer. Any ideas what this device is? Thanks!

[CRobGauth]

Try googling the MAC address.
It will tell you the device manfacturer.

[CrowTRobot]

Answering for anyone that finds this post when asking google the same question.

IEEE REGISTRATION AUTHORITY is the official organization that issues the MAC addresses.

Companies sometimes buy a subset of a MAC address block, they share the same first 6 character of the MAC address with other purchasers. Therefore, when you look up the MAC address by the first 6 character, it shows “IEEE REGISTRATION AUTHORITY”.

Think of it as an apartment building. They bought one apartment in the building. If you look up the building address (without apartment number) , you get the building name. You have to look up the secondary information ( apartment number ) to see them.

Probably a security camera or something. 

[dslr595148 · Accepted solution]

While I mostly agree with your other helpers, here is my two cents.

About MAC/Physical/Hardware Addresses:

#1 They are always sent in the clear, regardless of encryption (think SSL or even WPA2).

#2 It is possible to spoof/clone them.

For a Linksys BEFSR41W, after logging into the NAT router you would click on Advanced and then click on MAC Address Clone

See the UI at https://ui.linksys.com/BEFSR41W/wanMac.htm

While I have no comments as how to spoof/clone the MAC Address on a normal computer (not a NAT router): So keeping in mind it is possible to spoof/clone them I have an idea.

#1 Change the password for the Wi-Fi link.

#2 Add one computer at a time that is/are authorized to use the Wi-Fi link. Ex If I had an iPhone, I would update the iPhone to what the new password is.

#3 As you add one computer at time (update what the password is), you should be able to figure it out.