Microsoft will release Windows 10 later this week. The new desktop operating system comes with a host of new features, some of which are borrowed from the company’s own mobile operating system, Windows Phone. One of those features is Wi-Fi Sense, which has many security enthusiasts and users worried. For those unfamiliar, Wi-Fi Sense is a network feature that allows users to share their Wi-Fi credentials with friends. But the question is how it does that. The application scans users’ Facebook accounts and Outlook contacts and shares usernames and passwords with their friends. But you may start to realize that not everyone who connects to your Facebook account is a trustworthy friend. Also, not everyone you exchange emails with is a friend. This is exactly the point that security companies present to their users. In Microsoft’s defense, the company said the passwords it shared with friends were done over encrypted networks. Additionally, the password itself is encrypted. The company also says that devices connected to the network will not interact with other connected devices. “They can’t access other computers, devices, or files stored on your home network, and you can’t access them on their network,” Wi-Fi Sense’s FAQ page reads.See also: Eight reasons why you should upgrade to Windows 10 ) But that’s not the only problem with Wi-Fi Sense. The feature also automatically connects you to crowdsourced open Wi-Fi networks. Security companies have repeatedly advised users not to connect to open Wi-Fi networks. For example, security company AVG is taking some time to remind us of the potential threats to open Wi-Fi networks. “As we’ve explained many times before, not all free or open Wi-Fi networks are secure, and others may be intentionally malicious. Accessing the internet on these hotspots can result in your traffic being intercepted by an attacker, a so-called ‘man-in-the-middle’ attack.” Perhaps the biggest issue with Wi-Fi Sense is that it’s enabled by default on Windows. But you can disable it by going to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi > Manage Wi-Fi settings. Here you can view all Wi-Fi Sense related settings and disable the ones you want.If you want to prevent Windows 10 from sharing passwords for a specific network, such as your home network, you can do this through your router settings. Open the router’s configuration page. (usually found in http://192.168.0.1 or http://192.168.1.1) and append “_optout” to the end of the Wi-Fi network name (also known as SSID). For example, if your network’s SSID is new delhi tvchange it to NDTV_Opt Out.
Windows 10 Shares Wi-Fi Passwords With Your Contacts – Here’s How to Disable It
