What are you views on WiFi Sense in Windows 10?

[jbjenterprises]

Windows 10 is said to turn on WiFi sense by default in the Home version of the OS. WiFi Sense stores your WiFi password in Microsoft's database and shares your password with your "friends" in a secure manner so that you do not need to share your password by giving it to them. It makes sense that this would seem more secure, but I do not like Microsoft being able to outright share my password with all of my "friends" and I do not like that my WiFi password is saved in a database on some server somewhere else.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Genesis]

For me this goes against all of the training we've been given about not trusting anyone with our passwords. Why would Microsoft be an exception? Particularly with its poor security and functional track record. The other day when I tried to register for a FileZilla Forum account it didn't want to except my hotmail e-mail address. Because of Microsoft's clumsy "security" rules.

Also what happens when you fall out with a friend (hopefully not of course but it does happen from time to time)? You'd probably have to go through the loops of changing passwords and "unfriending" them?

 

[strokerace]

I would have to agree. Its seems like a bad idea. They say its secure, but we all know how lack their security is. Now that everyone knows how its saved, it won't be long before someone finds a way to unencrypt it. Not that they really need to as they can always use tools to break into your wifi.

 

[Yozora]

What the heck? I can see how this would be useful for businesses, but do people really share their WiFi passwords with friends that often? Windows 10 really is looking more and more like a nightmare for people who like their privacy.

 

[strokerace]

I would like to know how they know who your friends are or which ones to share it with? Are they in with google now? I know my phone always syncs or add the email address to my contact list on my phone. I keep removing them.

 

[jbjenterprises]

I found the following on howtogeek.com:

This feature lets you share Wi-Fi network access with your Facebook, Outlook.com, and Skype contacts. It works in the background, automatically sharing networks you choose to share and downloading credentials for Wi-Fi networks your contacts have shared with you.

+

I found the following information on pcpatriotsmobileit.com:

You can turn off Wi-Fi sense by changing your Wi-Fi Settings.

1. Click the Windows menu icon and type Wi-Fi Settings.
2. Click on Change Wi-Fi Settings.
3. Click on Manage Wi-Fi Settings.
4. Under the section for "Connect to networks shared by my contacts" uncheck the boxes for Facebook, Outlook.com, and Skype.
5. Click on the ON/OFF switch (if it is on) for "Connect to networks shared by my contacts" and ensure that it indicates that it is OFF.


After doing this, I recommend changing your Wi-Fi password, because if your PC was up and running, your password has already been saved in the server database, even though supposedly it will no longer be shared.
___

Another option:
You may also change the name of your Wi-Fi network to avoid your password being saved. Just add "_optout" to the end of your Wi-Fi name, such as MyHomeWiFi_optout.

---

Also, consider what would happen if all of your contacts had access to your wi-fi network and downloaded copyrighted content.

I once had a problem with someone who had accessed my wi-fi network years ago. They downloaded a movie. The producing company noticed the download, traced the IP address, contacted my Internet service provider, and demanded that my ISP provide them with my personal contact information so that they could continue with legal proceedings. My ISP refused to provide the information, but they contacted me and informed me that I needed to secure my Wi-Fi. They also told me that the next time that this occurs they will provide the requested information to the requesting company. They informed me that there could be a fine of $20,000 and/or 5 years in prison for a single offense. My Wi-Fi was somewhat protected against this on multiple levels until Wi-Fi Sense accessed my password. I have now changed my Wi-Fi password after deactivating the Wi-Fi Sense.

If I had left it on, it would only take one so-called friend to access my network, download a song or movie, and with my luck the producer would notice it and try to take me to court. With your Internet connection, YOU are responsible for what your Internet connection is used for. YOU are responsible for ensuring that it is secure. Now Microsoft is destroying that security with Wi-Fi Sense.

 

[strokerace]

I found the following on howtogeek.com:

This feature lets you share Wi-Fi network access with your Facebook, Outlook.com, and Skype contacts. It works in the background, automatically sharing networks you choose to share and downloading credentials for Wi-Fi networks your contacts have shared with you.

+

I found the following information on pcpatriotsmobileit.com:

You can turn off Wi-Fi sense by changing your Wi-Fi Settings.

1. Click the Windows menu icon and type Wi-Fi Settings.
2. Click on Change Wi-Fi Settings.
3. Click on Manage Wi-Fi Settings.
4. Under the section for "Connect to networks shared by my contacts" uncheck the boxes for Facebook, Outlook.com, and Skype.
5. Click on the ON/OFF switch (if it is on) for "Connect to networks shared by my contacts" and ensure that it indicates that it is OFF.


After doing this, I recommend changing your Wi-Fi password, because if your PC was up and running, your password has already been saved in the server database, even though supposedly it will no longer be shared.
___

Another option:
You may also change the name of your Wi-Fi network to avoid your password being saved. Just add "_optout" to the end of your Wi-Fi name, such as MyHomeWiFi_optout.

---

Also, consider what would happen if all of your contacts had access to your wi-fi network and downloaded copyrighted content.

I once had a problem with someone who had accessed my wi-fi network years ago. They downloaded a movie. The producing company noticed the download, traced the IP address, contacted my Internet service provider, and demanded that my ISP provide them with my personal contact information so that they could continue with legal proceedings. My ISP refused to provide the information, but they contacted me and informed me that I needed to secure my Wi-Fi. They also told me that the next time that this occurs they will provide the requested information to the requesting company. They informed me that there could be a fine of $20,000 and/or 5 years in prison for a single offense. My Wi-Fi was somewhat protected against this on multiple levels until Wi-Fi Sense accessed my password. I have now changed my Wi-Fi password after deactivating the Wi-Fi Sense.

If I had left it on, it would only take one so-called friend to access my network, download a song or movie, and with my luck the producer would notice it and try to take me to court. With your Internet connection, YOU are responsible for what your Internet connection is used for. YOU are responsible for ensuring that it is secure. Now Microsoft is destroying that security with Wi-Fi Sense.

---

What they did was a scare tactic. They tried that with me years ago and even started a $10 million dollar law suit. It failed big time. Its called the smoking gun. They can find the gun, but they have to be able to tie it to someone. Sure, they have an IP, but they have to find the computer and the person who was operating the computer at the time.

 

[jbjenterprises]

I found the following on howtogeek.com:

This feature lets you share Wi-Fi network access with your Facebook, Outlook.com, and Skype contacts. It works in the background, automatically sharing networks you choose to share and downloading credentials for Wi-Fi networks your contacts have shared with you.

+

I found the following information on pcpatriotsmobileit.com:

You can turn off Wi-Fi sense by changing your Wi-Fi Settings.

1. Click the Windows menu icon and type Wi-Fi Settings.
2. Click on Change Wi-Fi Settings.
3. Click on Manage Wi-Fi Settings.
4. Under the section for "Connect to networks shared by my contacts" uncheck the boxes for Facebook, Outlook.com, and Skype.
5. Click on the ON/OFF switch (if it is on) for "Connect to networks shared by my contacts" and ensure that it indicates that it is OFF.


After doing this, I recommend changing your Wi-Fi password, because if your PC was up and running, your password has already been saved in the server database, even though supposedly it will no longer be shared.
___

Another option:
You may also change the name of your Wi-Fi network to avoid your password being saved. Just add "_optout" to the end of your Wi-Fi name, such as MyHomeWiFi_optout.

---

Also, consider what would happen if all of your contacts had access to your wi-fi network and downloaded copyrighted content.

I once had a problem with someone who had accessed my wi-fi network years ago. They downloaded a movie. The producing company noticed the download, traced the IP address, contacted my Internet service provider, and demanded that my ISP provide them with my personal contact information so that they could continue with legal proceedings. My ISP refused to provide the information, but they contacted me and informed me that I needed to secure my Wi-Fi. They also told me that the next time that this occurs they will provide the requested information to the requesting company. They informed me that there could be a fine of $20,000 and/or 5 years in prison for a single offense. My Wi-Fi was somewhat protected against this on multiple levels until Wi-Fi Sense accessed my password. I have now changed my Wi-Fi password after deactivating the Wi-Fi Sense.

If I had left it on, it would only take one so-called friend to access my network, download a song or movie, and with my luck the producer would notice it and try to take me to court. With your Internet connection, YOU are responsible for what your Internet connection is used for. YOU are responsible for ensuring that it is secure. Now Microsoft is destroying that security with Wi-Fi Sense.

---

What they did was a scare tactic. They tried that with me years ago and even started a $10 million dollar law suit. It failed big time. Its called the smoking gun. They can find the gun, but they have to be able to tie it to someone. Sure, they have an IP, but they have to find the computer and the person who was operating the computer at the time.

---

Thanks for making that point Strokerace. I actually thought that they were trying to get me to confess to the deed. My statement that I did not do it, and that someone must have accessed my Internet without authorization caused them to drop it.

I understand your point about the need to find out who actually committed a crime. However, I think that the law has changed in recent years. I read an article written in 2006 that stated that if you leave your connection open for everyone to use, then you are not considered liable because you are considered to be providing an Internet service. Internet service providers cannot be held liable for illegal activity that takes place on their network. But the laws governing Wi-Fi access are constantly changing. In a more recent article written in 2014 on legalmatch.com it states that if someone commits a crime using your Internet connection who is not authorized to use your connection, then you cannot be held liable; however, if you authorize the sharing of your Internet with others you can be held liable for the illegal activity that takes place on your Internet connection by those authorized persons. If this is true, then, by permitting Wi-Fi Sense to share your Wi-Fi password with others, you are thereby authorizing others to use your Internet connection, making you liable for all illegal activity that takes place on your Internet connection that is committed by your "friends" on Facebook, Outlook.com, and Skype. This is quite different from someone unauthorized downloading copyrighted material.

Microsoft has opened up a "can of worms" with this sharing of passwords because by participating in Wi-Fi Sense shared connections you are essentially authorizing others to use your Internet connection. Keep in mind that laws governing liability for crimes in situations related to authorized and unauthorized access to Internet connections vary by state as each state determines its own definition of the word "authorized."

 

[strokerace]

That is the point actually. They know people are downloading pirated stuff every day. They also know the current laws restrict them from coming after a person. All they have to say is someone hacked their wifi. Case closed unless they search the computers and find it. Now, if you are sharing with this wifisense, it now holds you totally liable for anything done on your connection. Whether it be your friend or someone who hacked your wifi.

I have stated awhile back, that is what windows 10 is designed for. To stop people from downloading illegal content. This is the first signs of what is in 10. Who knows what else is in there. What better way to trap everyone by giving it away for free and then only giving you 30 days to revert back. There will tons of people that won't revert. You will start to hear in about 6 months to a year law suits starting over pirated software and what not.

I knew there was trouble coming with windows 7 and the RDP was enable. There are tons of hackers out there scanning the net for this as we speak. People are selling these connection that they find. This is very dangerous if you leave your computer on 24/7. Majority of the users don't know that its open and people can connect to their computers and make outbound connects without being noticed by the user. This is why M$ is also making it harder and harder to tweak your systems and hiding the control panels. Cookies are already restricted. I had an issue last night and wanted to delete the cookie for that site. I could not access the cookies folder on win7. So I had to use ccleaner to wipe out all of my cookies. These are all red flags to me. I am the admin on the computer and should have access to every file and folder. Sure, they may sound good as a security stand point, no one can access your cookies and clone it. But, there is software out there to scan and record them as you broadcast with your wifi.

 

[jbjenterprises]

The more I think about it, the more I am afraid of using the Internet. What is Bill Gates up to?

Should we all ditch Windows and move to Linux. I tried to do that many times to avoid the complications with M$, but it seems that the rest of the world is not compatible with Linux. Whether it be a website that insists on Internet Explorer, a job that requires that your computer run a Windows OS, or a favorite software package or game that will not run on Linux, it seems that the world is pushing Windows, .. or even Mac.

I have been discussing the Windows 10 OS in other posts here and have been trying my best to find good things to say, but if the truth be told, I wish that everyone would just start using Linux and see what Bill Gates does next.

What would happen if every computer user in the world removed Windows and installed Linux?

 

[strokerace]

I am not a gamer. And I have not found any websites that force you to use IE. I was like this when XP came out. I stayed with w2k for as long as I could. The I bought a stupid mother board with onboard graphic card. There was no way of finding a driver to work in XP so I had to install windows 7. I was trying to run a program and it need some gpl for it to fun right. After I installed 7 and updated the drive. It kept telling me that I needed gpl 2. It turned out, my driver had GPL3 and it still wouldn't run. So now I run 7 on my laptops, well, one has 8.1 as again, it was hard finding drivers for windows 7.

I should start using linux again. Almost everything I do can be done on linux. I think why I have stayed away, I haven't found any good ftp clients for uploading files and editing them on the server.

 

[GigaBot]

Passwords are not suppose to be shared EVER! If in some particular situation you must provide your credentials, you should change them immediately after job is done. That is the only way you can secure your credentials.

Anyway MICROSOFT is down on my list of sharing my logins data.

 

[jbjenterprises]

I am not a gamer. And I have not found any websites that force you to use IE. I was like this when XP came out. I stayed with w2k for as long as I could. The I bought a stupid mother board with onboard graphic card. There was no way of finding a driver to work in XP so I had to install windows 7. I was trying to run a program and it need some gpl for it to fun right. After I installed 7 and updated the drive. It kept telling me that I needed gpl 2. It turned out, my driver had GPL3 and it still wouldn't run. So now I run 7 on my laptops, well, one has 8.1 as again, it was hard finding drivers for windows 7.

I should start using linux again. Almost everything I do can be done on linux. I think why I have stayed away, I haven't found any good ftp clients for uploading files and editing them on the server.

I had encountered websites in the past that actually stated that you must use Internet Explorer to view this website. I do not remember what the URL was because this was a few years back, but I know I had encountered the problem on a section of AT&T's website. I was using Linux and I had to locate a Windows computer to take care of some issues with AT&T. I, of course, sent them a complaint about being required to use Internet Explorer. I informed AT&T that not all of their users are using Windows or Mac. Of course, I don't think they paid me any attention.

 

[Genesis]

My work Website used to have the IE rule as well, however over the last three years first Mozilla Firefox, then Google Chrome, and now both are recommended as browsers of choice.

I work with a few browsers at work including Safari. I find however that our work applications still work the fastest on Internet Explorer because most of the applications are Microsoft, i.e. the latest cloud and setup with Sharepoint. I truly dislike Microsoft. I had a perfectly great computer two years ago, and with all of the Microsoft updates it's gone slow and all of us probably should get upgraded computers, which usually takes a while to happen.

 

[kvsjxd]

I am not trying it out because it is kind of useless feature:dodgy:

 

[dmull]

It only shares WiFi ap without passwords and you can turn that feature off

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