VERY Weird. Why would VBForums want to snoop my local network???!!!

[Elroy]

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Just today, I'm getting this popup when visiting various threads on VBForums:
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This doesn't seem right at all. In fact, it's rather scary.
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[dday9]

That's pretty sketchy. I've personally never gotten that request before. If anyone else has, could you please chime in.

[Shaggy Hiker]

I've never seen that, either.

[Steve R Jones]

I've never seen it either.... But when I GOOGLE:

look for and connect to any device on your local network

I get the impression it's rather common....

Starting with the release of Chrome version 142 on October 28, 2025, Chrome and all Chromium-based browsers will introduce a new Local Network Access (LNA) permission prompt.

When connecting to certain websites (including service now instance) Chrome can prompt you to grant permission to access local network and devices. This approval is required only once per device to ensure seamless sign-in going forward, if you click "Allow" at the prompt.

Continued here:
https://support.servicenow.com/kb?id...icle=KB2634180

[dday9]

That makes sense why I never received it, I use Brave, although I think it's Chromium under the hood.

[Elroy]

First time back since I saw that popup. Not getting it today, so I've got no idea what was going on.

[Elroy]

I just figured out a symptom. If you're on a new computer that hasn't visited VBForums before, you get the popup. But, once you click 'Block', the popup goes away for good. I guess it sets a cookie or something once you block. But still, I did some research and this is something that Google Chrome allows, but on VBForums is the only time I've ever seen it, and it seems strange that VBForums needs to snoop around on my LAN.

[Steve R Jones]

3. If the site is trusted, click 'Allow' to grant access, which prevents future prompts for that site.

4. If the site is not trusted, click 'Block' to deny access, though this may limit functionality.

Elroy - are you using a VPN when you see the message?

[jdelano]

I just got it as well. I'm using the browser I have always used. I blocked it of course.
https://imgur.com/a/eKZVkCc

[Elroy]

Elroy - are you using a VPN when you see the message?

No, no VPN. And I'm using an unmodified fiber router/modem from my ISP, hooking directly to it via WiFi, at least that's the configuration on this Windows Surface (Win11 Home) I just saw that popup on. The prior time I saw it, it was on a home-built gamer's tower (Win11 Pro) that had a direct ethernet connection to that same router/modem, and also no VPN.

I can check my IP, and it tells me the exact name of my ISP, so there's no VPN anywhere on the path.