Cannot turn off 'automatically connect' option on WIFI connections

Anonymous
2013-06-19T04:07:13+00:00

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

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Internet and connectivity

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Anonymous
2014-03-08T01:36:03+00:00

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.

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-10-29T06:12:45+00:00

    I don't think it is an answer for all the problems written in this post, but I found very usefull information in the Dutch MS forum:

    http://answers.microsoft.com/nl-nl/windows/forum/windows\_8-networking/wireless-netwerken-verwijderen/9f98100a-211d-4df2-8d27-8f0e52842877?rtAction=1383024914145

    It appears that although connect automatically is always on, it will not  automatically connect to a network if you don't ever self once already have connected to that network. If you have connected to a network, you can undo this again, by right clicking on the network and choosing not remembered. So basically,  autoconnect means nothing, it's about whether it's a "remember" network.

    I hope I used the right English terms.

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-10-29T22:31:30+00:00

    Hi Guys,

    Is there still no feedback from Microsoft on this one ?

    I'm getting it on my laptop too.

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-10-29T22:40:20+00:00

    Nope, no reply.

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-11-20T22:51:46+00:00

    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.

    1. we are not connecting to a known or existing wireless connection.
    2. Disabling autoconnection to a known wireless network does not resolve this issue.  New open networks are still connected to.
    3. 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.

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