My router suddenly started showing a device called something like Linux 2.6.x connected on 2.4 GHz.
As far as I know, I don’t own anything that should show up as Linux.
I do have some smart home stuff — TV, a few plugs, cameras, printer, etc. — but nothing new has been added recently.
Before I go nuclear and change the WiFi password on everything, is there a decent way to figure out what this actually is?
How worried should I be?
Don’t panic over the Linux name yet. Half the random smart crap in your house is probably running some flavor of embedded Linux and your router is just doing a bad job identifying it. TVs, cameras, smart speakers, hubs, printers… could be basically anything.
@Present-Implement42 That’s reassuring lol. The router isn’t giving me much besides the Linux name and an IP/MAC address, which is why I had no clue where to start.
Start with the router client list, but you can also scan the network separately. If you’re on iOS, NetSpot has a Device Discovery feature that shows devices on your local network with things like IP, MAC/vendor info and device name/type when it can identify them. Sometimes the vendor alone is enough to go “oh right, that’s the stupid air purifier.” It won’t physically locate the device though.
Low-tech method works surprisingly well too. Turn off your mystery IoT devices one at a time and refresh the client list. Device disappears when you unplug the camera? Mystery solved.
And if you genuinely determine it’s not yours: block it, change the WiFi password, disable WPS if it’s enabled, update the router firmware, then reconnect only devices you recognize.