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This I think is either really strange or normal.
I have windows 8 on my notebook and an Inter Centrino N-2230 wireless adapter.
Recently, all WIFI connections that appear as available have the 'connect automatically' option checked. I uncheck the box, but they automatically get checked again. I am sure that previously, all wifi connections had the box unchecked by default.
However this is NOT the case with the one wifi connection I primarily use, ie my home cable connection. I can uncheck the option for this one and it stays unchecked. Bizarre.
I am a bit concerned that if I use my notebook near an unsecured connection, it will automatically connect to this without my knowing resulting in security concerns.
Any idea if this is an issue, and how to resolve it?
Thanks
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
I assume that all of the trouble machines that are automatically connecting are using Intel PROSet Wireless Tools. Simple fix.
Goto the Control Panel.
Type Wireless in the search panel.
If Intel PROSet Wireless Tools is an option click it (if not then you may have another issue)
Under the option Intel Wifi HotSpot Assistant click Settings
Uncheck Automatically Connect to free WiFi Hotspots.
Click Close
Your DONE!
Problem Solved Unless you are not using Intel PROSet Wireless Tools.
There are really two issues here: you do want to connect automatically to secure networks you know and trust, but you don’t ever want to connect (automatically or otherwise) to unsecured networks or secure networks you do not know or trust (like your neighbor’s networks). If possible, you don’t even want to see these networks cluttering your connect dialog.
Step 1: Disable searching. In the Wireless Network Properties for the network(s) you do want to use, make sure “Look for other wireless networks while connected to this network” is unchecked.
Step 2: Add your network(s) to the “Allow” filter. Open a command prompt and execute the following command, replacing XXXX with the SSID of each network you do want to use:
netsh wlan add filter permission=allow ssid=”XXXX” networktype=infrastructure
Step 3: Add all networks not specifically allowed to the “Block” filter.
netsh wlan add filter permission=denyall networktype=infrastructure
The downside is that connecting to networks you do not yet know (such as at a hotel) becomes more difficult. Consider creating the following command script as AllowSSID.bat:
@netsh wlan add filter permission=allow ssid=%1 networktype=infrastructure
If the SSID has embedded blanks, be sure to enclose it in quotes (e.g., “Hidden Network”) when you execute this command.
Last, if you “allow” the local Starbucks’ network be sure to mark it as Public so sharing is disabled.
Windows 8 Auto-connection to open wireless networks. Serious security flaw.
As an IT support consultant i can confirm i have experienced this on numerous machine, with numerous "unknown networks" - which is a major concern - especially as I travel, and operate in numerous locations.... I constantly discover my machine has connected to a new "unknown wireless" network.
I cannot believe there is nothing official from Microsoft on this.
This is from what i can observe quite a serious security flaw in the Windows 8 system. And i wish that "well meaning" support people would endeavor to understand this issue.
- we are not connecting to a known or existing wireless connection.
- Disabling autoconnection to a known wireless network does not resolve this issue. New open networks are still connected to.
- Even manually disconnecting from that network - and disabling autoconnect - does NOT prevent that same network reconnecting again when it is in range.
Why can i not - on windows 8 - simply disable connection to an unknown network...??
All i can see is that this is a "feature" which allows "someone" to track a laptop by enabling a laptop to "automatically" connect to a wireless network, without the users control or knowledge... but that would be bizarre since most of the time the strategy seems to be the opposite.
Please advise how to resolve this issue.
At last! The reason I believe that they won't do anything is because they cannot do anything! The reason is that anyone including gov agencies can and need to retrieve, follow and also manipulate data in much the same way as hackers do therefore they will not do anything! Everything you do on these electronic communication devices is accessed, recorded, monitored, censored, changed, deleted, modified, saved, used by whoever can see the data. I wondered how I got a virus when my IP provider supposed to be protecting me also my internet security was bypassed with ease having recently renewed my subscription to which it states I'm protected! Total waste of money! If this dose not get fixed the internet is dead for sure as people drift away from such devices that are not secure. R.I.B. (Rest In Bits!)my devices. The concept was great but with some serious flaws in it's design structure.
;)
...and ditto will apply for any other 'unsecured' (whether you have used them or not) networks, ONCE you have initially removed the ticks.
*don't worry about the 'ticked' "secured" networks (that is only done for convenience), you CANNOT be connected to ANY network unless you have entered its code at least once.
I can confirm that the box is unticked for a non secure nearby connection that I've never connected to.
