Laptop guest account logged on

[Dickminer]

So I have an old laptop (Win10) at home that I still occasionally use (though my main home machine is a desktop PC).

The last time I was using it, when I shut it down, I got the message that another user was using the machine. I was confused, but then noticed that there was an active session for the guest user.

Could this mean that my home network is hacked or am I overreacting? I haven't booted the old laptop since then, but if that device might be compromised, I guess the rest of my home network could be too?

Any advice? And could there be an innocent explanation as to why there was suddenly an active session for the guest user?

[Shylock]

Normally when you reboot any device the guest user will no longer be there. There are only 2 exceptions: 1) your device has a malfunction in the softwware or hardware, or 2) a root kit has been installed on your device. Boot up your laptop and check if there is a guest user. Then run a scan to check for any new files or folders that were created on the date when it was discovered that there was a guest user. After that run a scan for any malware on your laptop.

It is unlikely that your network was compromised since modems and routers can only be accessed by connecting a wire to a specific port since they both are devices that only log specific data. All other access or traffic passes thru them. If you have the address and login information for the modem or router you can login to check the logs that they are designed to record. Some of these logs are deleted after a few days while other logs are retained for a longer period of time. Rebooting a modem or router will clear the logs so if you want to check these logs don't reboot this device. Sometimes these logs may give you an indication of what transpired for a guest user to appear on your device; provided the log was not deleted or cut.

[Dickminer]

The Windows guest user was enabled but password protected. It was not actively used though. I did disable it again following this incident (before I shut down the laptop).
The only reason it was enabled is because a while ago I had a house guest who would use the laptop to check her email and I did not want her to use my user.
Though apparently it's a bad idea to activate the built-in guest user for this purpose? Seems most online guides I have since checked suggest you best leave it disabled and just create a secondary user when and if you need one (that you then disable once you don't need it any more).

But the thing I wondered about: is it possible for the guest user to have an active session unless someone actively logged in?

[alexora]

Change your Internet login account.

[Dickminer]

Originally Posted by alexora

Change your Internet login account.

What do you mean exactly by that? You mean all my online users? Or something else?

[alexora]

Originally Posted by Dickminer

What do you mean exactly by that? You mean all my online users? Or something else?

I mean change your user name and password.

[Dickminer]

Originally Posted by alexora

I mean change your user name and password.

On the laptop itself you mean?