Unauthenticated Network

Hi Everyone,

I have one user with a Vista Business Notebook, whose network (in Network
and Sharing Center) keeps changing to Unauthenticated.

Once it changes to Unauthenticated, they are unable to access any network
resources, including the internet.

After a reboot, the Unauthenticated part goes away again - But it seems to
come back a few times a day.

Has anyone else seen this before?

The Notebook was added with the wizards.

Bill
Wed May 07 04:29:10 PDT 2008

Does this laptop have both wired and wireless network connectivity?

Whether or not the intended business network has wireless portions, check on
what WIRELESS networks this machine is automatically connecting to. If it
is connecting to unsecured wireless networks, I believe you will see this
appearance. Disconnect from those networks, so that a manual reconnection
will be necessary.

"Bob" <Bob@bobsyouruncle.com> wrote in message
news:eCcJ$l$rIHA.4840@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Hi Everyone,
>
> I have one user with a Vista Business Notebook, whose network (in Network
> and Sharing Center) keeps changing to Unauthenticated.
>
> Once it changes to Unauthenticated, they are unable to access any network
> resources, including the internet.
>
> After a reboot, the Unauthenticated part goes away again - But it seems to
> come back a few times a day.
>
> Has anyone else seen this before?
>
> The Notebook was added with the wizards.

Cliff
Wed May 07 11:28:46 PDT 2008

Bob,

Vista will shift to this mode if *any* network is detected that isn't the
domain. This includes wireless networks. If you have a laptop that browses
for wireless connections, disable this 'feature' and make sure it isn't
configured to sign on to other access points that may be in range.

-Cliff


"Bob" <Bob@bobsyouruncle.com> wrote in message
news:eCcJ$l$rIHA.4840@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Hi Everyone,
>
> I have one user with a Vista Business Notebook, whose network (in Network
> and Sharing Center) keeps changing to Unauthenticated.
>
> Once it changes to Unauthenticated, they are unable to access any network
> resources, including the internet.
>
> After a reboot, the Unauthenticated part goes away again - But it seems to
> come back a few times a day.
>
> Has anyone else seen this before?
>
> The Notebook was added with the wizards.

Cliff
Wed May 07 11:29:16 PDT 2008

oh...oops...already answered. I feel redundant.

I feel redundant.

-Cliff


"Bill Sanderson" <bill_sanderson@msn.com.plugh.org> wrote in message
news:76B5F958-3257-42F8-A231-465C22BF671C@microsoft.com...
> Does this laptop have both wired and wireless network connectivity?
>
> Whether or not the intended business network has wireless portions, check
> on what WIRELESS networks this machine is automatically connecting to. If
> it is connecting to unsecured wireless networks, I believe you will see
> this appearance. Disconnect from those networks, so that a manual
> reconnection will be necessary.
>
> "Bob" <Bob@bobsyouruncle.com> wrote in message
> news:eCcJ$l$rIHA.4840@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> Hi Everyone,
>>
>> I have one user with a Vista Business Notebook, whose network (in Network
>> and Sharing Center) keeps changing to Unauthenticated.
>>
>> Once it changes to Unauthenticated, they are unable to access any network
>> resources, including the internet.
>>
>> After a reboot, the Unauthenticated part goes away again - But it seems
>> to come back a few times a day.
>>
>> Has anyone else seen this before?
>>
>> The Notebook was added with the wizards.
>

Bill
Wed May 07 12:05:22 PDT 2008

I tend to post before reading myself...
It's nice to have the answer validated--both for me, and for the O.P, and
future readers.
Thanks for adding redundancy to the quality of the advice offered
here--surely that's a good thing?

"Cliff Galiher" <cgaliher@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:%235ZyBBHsIHA.4848@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> oh...oops...already answered. I feel redundant.
>
> I feel redundant.
>
> -Cliff
>
>
> "Bill Sanderson" <bill_sanderson@msn.com.plugh.org> wrote in message
> news:76B5F958-3257-42F8-A231-465C22BF671C@microsoft.com...
>> Does this laptop have both wired and wireless network connectivity?
>>
>> Whether or not the intended business network has wireless portions, check
>> on what WIRELESS networks this machine is automatically connecting to.
>> If it is connecting to unsecured wireless networks, I believe you will
>> see this appearance. Disconnect from those networks, so that a manual
>> reconnection will be necessary.
>>
>> "Bob" <Bob@bobsyouruncle.com> wrote in message
>> news:eCcJ$l$rIHA.4840@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>> Hi Everyone,
>>>
>>> I have one user with a Vista Business Notebook, whose network (in
>>> Network and Sharing Center) keeps changing to Unauthenticated.
>>>
>>> Once it changes to Unauthenticated, they are unable to access any
>>> network resources, including the internet.
>>>
>>> After a reboot, the Unauthenticated part goes away again - But it seems
>>> to come back a few times a day.
>>>
>>> Has anyone else seen this before?
>>>
>>> The Notebook was added with the wizards.
>>

Bob
Wed May 07 16:18:49 PDT 2008

Thanks Bill and Cliff,

The notebook did have wired and wireless connections on at the same time.

There was an unsecured wireless network in the building next door, which was
causing the issue. I went next door and help them secure it, killed 2 birds
with one stone...



"Bill Sanderson" <bill_sanderson@msn.com.plugh.org> wrote in message
news:76B5F958-3257-42F8-A231-465C22BF671C@microsoft.com...
> Does this laptop have both wired and wireless network connectivity?
>
> Whether or not the intended business network has wireless portions, check
> on what WIRELESS networks this machine is automatically connecting to. If
> it is connecting to unsecured wireless networks, I believe you will see
> this appearance. Disconnect from those networks, so that a manual
> reconnection will be necessary.
>
> "Bob" <Bob@bobsyouruncle.com> wrote in message
> news:eCcJ$l$rIHA.4840@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> Hi Everyone,
>>
>> I have one user with a Vista Business Notebook, whose network (in Network
>> and Sharing Center) keeps changing to Unauthenticated.
>>
>> Once it changes to Unauthenticated, they are unable to access any network
>> resources, including the internet.
>>
>> After a reboot, the Unauthenticated part goes away again - But it seems
>> to come back a few times a day.
>>
>> Has anyone else seen this before?
>>
>> The Notebook was added with the wizards.
>

Cliff
Wed May 07 17:57:37 PDT 2008

You should also look at setting up a group policy to prevent the laptop from
joining unsecured wireless networks automatically. It is one thing to join
when requested, fore example, a user takes a laptop to a coffee shop. I
could comment about a coffee shop running an unsecured network...but that's
another topic.

It is another to have it joining any old network willy-nilly...for example,
boss takes a laptop home and his next door neighbor has an unsecured network
and neighbor happens to have a 15-yr old kid throwing random script-kiddie
hacks at any and every machine that joins. It isn't as far fetched as it
sounds...

Either way, auto-joining is bad for security. I'd lock that puppy down.

-Cliff


"Bob" <Bob@bobsyouruncle.com> wrote in message
news:#BfU3iJsIHA.3716@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Thanks Bill and Cliff,
>
> The notebook did have wired and wireless connections on at the same time.
>
> There was an unsecured wireless network in the building next door, which
> was causing the issue. I went next door and help them secure it, killed 2
> birds with one stone...
>
>
>
> "Bill Sanderson" <bill_sanderson@msn.com.plugh.org> wrote in message
> news:76B5F958-3257-42F8-A231-465C22BF671C@microsoft.com...
>> Does this laptop have both wired and wireless network connectivity?
>>
>> Whether or not the intended business network has wireless portions, check
>> on what WIRELESS networks this machine is automatically connecting to.
>> If it is connecting to unsecured wireless networks, I believe you will
>> see this appearance. Disconnect from those networks, so that a manual
>> reconnection will be necessary.
>>
>> "Bob" <Bob@bobsyouruncle.com> wrote in message
>> news:eCcJ$l$rIHA.4840@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>> Hi Everyone,
>>>
>>> I have one user with a Vista Business Notebook, whose network (in
>>> Network and Sharing Center) keeps changing to Unauthenticated.
>>>
>>> Once it changes to Unauthenticated, they are unable to access any
>>> network resources, including the internet.
>>>
>>> After a reboot, the Unauthenticated part goes away again - But it seems
>>> to come back a few times a day.
>>>
>>> Has anyone else seen this before?
>>>
>>> The Notebook was added with the wizards.
>>
>

Bob
Wed May 07 21:42:05 PDT 2008

Hi Cliff,

Can you let me know where abouts the GPO setting is to prevent auto-joining
unsecured networks?


"Cliff Galiher" <cgaliher@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:OpQlBaKsIHA.1200@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> You should also look at setting up a group policy to prevent the laptop
> from joining unsecured wireless networks automatically. It is one thing
> to join when requested, fore example, a user takes a laptop to a coffee
> shop. I could comment about a coffee shop running an unsecured
> network...but that's another topic.
>
> It is another to have it joining any old network willy-nilly...for
> example, boss takes a laptop home and his next door neighbor has an
> unsecured network and neighbor happens to have a 15-yr old kid throwing
> random script-kiddie hacks at any and every machine that joins. It isn't
> as far fetched as it sounds...
>
> Either way, auto-joining is bad for security. I'd lock that puppy down.
>
> -Cliff
>
>
> "Bob" <Bob@bobsyouruncle.com> wrote in message
> news:#BfU3iJsIHA.3716@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> Thanks Bill and Cliff,
>>
>> The notebook did have wired and wireless connections on at the same time.
>>
>> There was an unsecured wireless network in the building next door, which
>> was causing the issue. I went next door and help them secure it, killed 2
>> birds with one stone...
>>
>>
>>
>> "Bill Sanderson" <bill_sanderson@msn.com.plugh.org> wrote in message
>> news:76B5F958-3257-42F8-A231-465C22BF671C@microsoft.com...
>>> Does this laptop have both wired and wireless network connectivity?
>>>
>>> Whether or not the intended business network has wireless portions,
>>> check on what WIRELESS networks this machine is automatically connecting
>>> to. If it is connecting to unsecured wireless networks, I believe you
>>> will see this appearance. Disconnect from those networks, so that a
>>> manual reconnection will be necessary.
>>>
>>> "Bob" <Bob@bobsyouruncle.com> wrote in message
>>> news:eCcJ$l$rIHA.4840@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>>> Hi Everyone,
>>>>
>>>> I have one user with a Vista Business Notebook, whose network (in
>>>> Network and Sharing Center) keeps changing to Unauthenticated.
>>>>
>>>> Once it changes to Unauthenticated, they are unable to access any
>>>> network resources, including the internet.
>>>>
>>>> After a reboot, the Unauthenticated part goes away again - But it seems
>>>> to come back a few times a day.
>>>>
>>>> Has anyone else seen this before?
>>>>
>>>> The Notebook was added with the wizards.
>>>
>>

Cliff
Wed May 07 23:32:02 PDT 2008

Vista and network GPO's is a pretty expansive subject but I'd start here:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/cc162468.aspx

-Cliff


"Bob" <Bob@bobsyouruncle.com> wrote in message
news:OXW8eXMsIHA.4848@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Hi Cliff,
>
> Can you let me know where abouts the GPO setting is to prevent
> auto-joining unsecured networks?
>
>
> "Cliff Galiher" <cgaliher@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:OpQlBaKsIHA.1200@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>> You should also look at setting up a group policy to prevent the laptop
>> from joining unsecured wireless networks automatically. It is one thing
>> to join when requested, fore example, a user takes a laptop to a coffee
>> shop. I could comment about a coffee shop running an unsecured
>> network...but that's another topic.
>>
>> It is another to have it joining any old network willy-nilly...for
>> example, boss takes a laptop home and his next door neighbor has an
>> unsecured network and neighbor happens to have a 15-yr old kid throwing
>> random script-kiddie hacks at any and every machine that joins. It isn't
>> as far fetched as it sounds...
>>
>> Either way, auto-joining is bad for security. I'd lock that puppy down.
>>
>> -Cliff
>>
>>
>> "Bob" <Bob@bobsyouruncle.com> wrote in message
>> news:#BfU3iJsIHA.3716@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>> Thanks Bill and Cliff,
>>>
>>> The notebook did have wired and wireless connections on at the same
>>> time.
>>>
>>> There was an unsecured wireless network in the building next door, which
>>> was causing the issue. I went next door and help them secure it, killed
>>> 2 birds with one stone...
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "Bill Sanderson" <bill_sanderson@msn.com.plugh.org> wrote in message
>>> news:76B5F958-3257-42F8-A231-465C22BF671C@microsoft.com...
>>>> Does this laptop have both wired and wireless network connectivity?
>>>>
>>>> Whether or not the intended business network has wireless portions,
>>>> check on what WIRELESS networks this machine is automatically
>>>> connecting to. If it is connecting to unsecured wireless networks, I
>>>> believe you will see this appearance. Disconnect from those networks,
>>>> so that a manual reconnection will be necessary.
>>>>
>>>> "Bob" <Bob@bobsyouruncle.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:eCcJ$l$rIHA.4840@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>>>> Hi Everyone,
>>>>>
>>>>> I have one user with a Vista Business Notebook, whose network (in
>>>>> Network and Sharing Center) keeps changing to Unauthenticated.
>>>>>
>>>>> Once it changes to Unauthenticated, they are unable to access any
>>>>> network resources, including the internet.
>>>>>
>>>>> After a reboot, the Unauthenticated part goes away again - But it
>>>>> seems to come back a few times a day.
>>>>>
>>>>> Has anyone else seen this before?
>>>>>
>>>>> The Notebook was added with the wizards.
>>>>
>>>
>