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Why do i have TWO virtual direct wi fi networks listed in my device manager?

Anonymous
2021-03-06T20:59:26+00:00

Greetings

 I asked about this a few months ago, but had no idea there was a virtual direct wi fi from my notebook, and gee it would have been very very nice to be told.

  I have an hp probook

   I have windows 10 64 bit and after a lot of grief and I believe some improper accessing of my notebook, I learned by accident there was this virtual wi fi in addition to my own wi fi which I do use for my printer and firestick. I have it secured of course, and my notebook computer also is on it, all secured.

  But I have been going nuts seeing all wierd things in my computer network and whether they are just showing up or connected I DON'T CARE this is my notebook, I am very security conscience I don't live in the greatest area and I don't want anyone using my notebook if indeed this is what it is.

  SO............ I found online how to go to device manager, find the virtual direct wi fi and to disable it. 

  HOWEVER  I see TWO OF THEM and more research (i'm not a techie type) might show that this is something being used? If I see two? Anyway, when I was in the device manager I tried to disable both, but it seems only one is. 

so, 

  1. Can someone please tell me WHY i would see two of these virtual direct wi fi in my device manager AND
  2. HOW do i make sure both of these are disabled, gone, as i have no plans to be a hot spot ever.

 I also might add that this whole thing is really bad form from microsoft, not to at least put in a built-in safeguard or default setting that these are NOT ON or to even do this in the first place. Boy, this explains a lot.

Can someone please help? I am going to do my best getting this in the right category.

It is a shame no one responded to my last question about why I was seeing cameras, phones etc.  in my notebook's network (not the broadcast network)

you can't tell either by looking in the router, because what only shows there is what is on ethernet or my regular wi fi.

thanks so much in advance. pleasee help. this is a real problem.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Devices and drivers

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  1. Rodrigo Queiroz 77,500 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2021-03-08T00:09:07+00:00

    Based on the description you gave me I can tell you that both Virtual Adapters are disabled, and they will not work unless you enable them.

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  1. Anonymous
    2021-03-07T10:46:56+00:00

    Thanks for the screenshot. It helped me to understand better your issue.
    This Virtual Adapter is a kind of hotspot that activates when you need to project to an external display or device.

    To completely disable them, go to Settings > System > Projecting to this PC > Set the first option to "Always Off".

    After that, you can uninstall the adapters on device manager

    i don't know why you asked me for a screen shot. The things you suggest I already did, as I said in my initial post.

    What I asked was, why are there two adapters? I can see that the first is disabled as I disabled it, but there says #2 under it, and I am curious why there are more than one.

    There is no dearth of help on the internet for this, but you can't ask questions like, why are there two listed in my device manager. If the first one is disabled will that also mean the second is?

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  2. Rodrigo Queiroz 77,500 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2021-03-07T06:08:46+00:00

    Thanks for the screenshot. It helped me to understand better your issue.

    This Virtual Adapter is a kind of hotspot that activates when you need to project to an external display or device.

    To completely disable them, go to Settings > System > Projecting to this PC > Set the first option to "Always Off".

    After that, you can uninstall the adapters on device manager

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  3. Anonymous
    2021-03-06T22:57:23+00:00

    Hi gmt3010,
    I'm Rodrigo, Independent Advisor and I will help you.
    To understand better your issue and answer you correctly, can you send a screenshot of these virtual direct wi fi that shows on your device manager?

    Hi and thanks. I don't know how much this will help, but here it is. i probably could have made it smaller but i am not swift about this type of tech.

    well I guess this isn't the best view but I can try to make it bigger and get less of the background.

    I think I disabled the device, I just don't want anyone using MY notebook as a hot spot. I don't use it for that. I have my wi fi from Frontier and I pay for that and it is secured, so I do not intend for anyone to use my wi fi signal or have a chance at accessing my notebook, which I am certain happened over the past two weeks.

    thanks for your help,

    After I posted the photo, and made it bigger. I says adapter and adapter 2.

    gina

    Image

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  4. Rodrigo Queiroz 77,500 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2021-03-06T21:49:45+00:00

    Hi gmt3010,

    I'm Rodrigo, Independent Advisor and I will help you.

    To understand better your issue and answer you correctly, can you send a screenshot of these virtual direct wi fi that shows on your device manager?

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