Hi – I'm on a mid-2014 Macbook Pro, Big Sur 11.4. The dropdown 'Recent' menu shows two servers, one called 'notebooks', the other called [myname]'s Public Folder. Clicking on the server names doesn't give any more information.
I'm not aware of ever having connected to more than one server and am wondering if this is anything to be concerned about – maybe a hacking attempt? Is there any way to find more info on each server?
Earlier Mac models
Not to worry. The names in that list are attempted OUTBOUND connections that you have attempted, whether successful or not. There is no reciprocity in making a connection TO a Server.
Inbound access to your computer is completely blocked at all times unless/until you authorize Sharing.
system preferences > sharing > File Sharing (or Screen Sharing)
"Sharing" means making available for others to use, only AFTER they have provided credentials, which are identical to the credentials required to log in as that user.
No usernames and password means no access to your files at all ever.
ftp:// attempts would not show up in that list, as you are negotiating that with Safari or equivalent, and these Server connection attempts are using Finder.
It could be something very simple and completely trivial.
if you hit the (connect to server) button by accident in Finder, and typed the word "notebooks" without looking, it would end up on that list. As I said Recents lists attempts, NOT successes.
Thanks for the fast and helpful response! File sharing has always been turned off. Do you have any idea what what might explain an outbound attempt to connect to a server called 'notebooks'? I don't have any memory of attempting something that would cause this to show up. Might it be trying to upload files to an ftp server or something of that kind? Any theories appreciated!
Thanks again, reassuring to hear
'Recent servers' contains unknown server
