Microsoft WiFi Sense

Discussion in 'privacy problems' started by BoerenkoolMetWorst, Jul 5, 2015.

  1. BoerenkoolMetWorst

    BoerenkoolMetWorst Registered Member

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    Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows 10 contain a feature called WiFi Sense:
    http://www.howtogeek.com/219700/what-is-wi-fi-sense-and-why-does-it-want-your-facebook-account/
    Aside from the obvious privacy issue of uploading your WiFi credentials to Microsoft, there are some more issues.
    -Afaik when you connect to a new network with a W10/WP8.1 device, sharing the credentials is opt-in(not checked by default.) However there is no confirmation whatsoever this will not send the credentials to MS, only that your contacts can't access it, perhaps you need to disable WiFi Sense completely.
    -You can only choose which kind of contacts are allowed access(Facebook, Skype and Outlook.com), when you allow access to any of these categories, all of your contacts in this category have access, there is no whitelisting/blacklisting feature for specific contacts.
    -The feature requires you to enable Location Services.
    -As owner of a WiFi network you have to opt-out(by adding _optout to your SSID) if you don't want your network 'assimilated' by WiFi Sense.

    Some more links:
    WiFi Sense FAQ: https://www.windowsphone.com/en-in/how-to/wp8/connectivity/wi-fi-sense-faq
    (Answers all kind of privacy/security related questions of what your contacts can access, but nothing on what MS can access and how your credentials are stored/protected at MS.

    Opting your network out of WiFi Sense: https://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/...ty/how-do-i-opt-my-network-out-of-wi-fi-sense

    Some technical assumptions here in the reactions, but nothing confirmed:
    https://twitter.com/liamosaur/status/615693930986885121
     
  2. ronjor

    ronjor Global Moderator

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  3. BoerenkoolMetWorst

    BoerenkoolMetWorst Registered Member

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  4. Rasheed187

    Rasheed187 Registered Member

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    I also read about this, and at first site it looks like an insecure and stupid idea. Shame on M$.
     
  5. RockLobster

    RockLobster Registered Member

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    Does everyone on the same WIFI network have the same WPA encryption keys ?
     
  6. driekus

    driekus Registered Member

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    I disagree, for the general public it can be a good idea because it encourages stronger passwords.

    It should also be noted that this is an opt-in and not set on by default. They did get that bit right and not make it default.
     
  7. Rasheed187

    Rasheed187 Registered Member

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    Either way, I'm way too paranoid for this stuff. In Holland, most providers also came up with the idea to turn home user modems into WIFI Hot-spots, another ridiculous idea.
     
  8. driekus

    driekus Registered Member

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    Just to clarify, I would never use wifi sense, but can understand the convenience for the masses. I dont even use cloud storage for anything other than encrypted data.
     
  9. Dermot7

    Dermot7 Registered Member

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    http://krebsonsecurity.com/2015/07/windows-10-shares-your-wi-fi-with-contacts/
     
  10. zapjb

    zapjb Registered Member

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    More disgusting behavior from a multi-billion dollar multi-national corporation.
     
  11. driekus

    driekus Registered Member

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    The stuff that is on by default and/or cannot be switched off easily is more of a problem.
     
  12. Dermot7

    Dermot7 Registered Member

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    By Ed Bott,
    http://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-protect-your-wireless-network-from-wi-fi-sense/
     
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