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On a related note: android devices try to continuously connect to all WiFi networks they have been connected to before, no matter if you are „near“ them or not.

On a related note: android devices try to continuously connect to all WiFi networks they have been connected to before, no matter if you are „near“ them or not. Doesn’t even matter if the access point is broadcasting the SSID or not. Found this out by just having the personal hot spot of an iOS device enabled and then turning on a android tablet. iOS doesn’t broadcast the SSID unless you have the settings screen of the personal hotspot open. Scary.

gruez 2y ago
>Doesn’t even matter if the access point is broadcasting the SSID or not. Source? AFAIK this behavior only gets engaged if the hotspot has a hidden SSID. >Found this out by just having the personal hot spot of an iOS device enabled and then turning on a android tablet. iOS doesn’t broadcast the SSID unless you have the settings screen of the personal hotspot open. Scary. This is opposite to my experience. I specifically have to enable "allow other devices to join" for non-ios devices to be able to join.
- russdill 2y ago
  Free Airport WiFi!
- willcipriano 2y ago
  When I make a hot spot hidden, devices that previously connected to it can still do so in most implementions I've seen. That's how you work around them not supporting hidden networks. So I'll call "Source?" on it working like you describe.
  - gruez 2y ago
    >When I make a hot spot hidden That's a misnomer. It doesn't actually make it hidden, only transmit beacons with a blank ssid. That's why even if your network is hidden, it will show a "hidden network" option for you to manually enter the SSID[1]. Moreover, client devices that have hidden networks saved will send out probe packets with network names it has saved[2], so it can determine whether the hidden network is actually around. This is actually worse for privacy, especially if your network name is vaguely unique, because you're broadcasting this high entropy information everywhere you go. [1] https://www.digitalcitizen.life/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/hidden_wifi_5.png https://www.digitalcitizen.life/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/h... [2] https://www.acrylicwifi.com/en/blog/hidden-wifi-network-secure-hidden-ssid/ https://www.acrylicwifi.com/en/blog/hidden-wifi-network-secu...
killingtime74 2y ago
Wait how is this bad? If I have wifi on I'm pretty sure I want to reconnect to saved networks. You want them to only do it when near the network? By tracking the location? Isn't this much much worse for privacy? You can always turn wifi off....
- Asmod4n 2y ago
  I only want my devices to connect to networks which are actually there. Not try every one they have connected to before no matter if they are existing or not.
  - MiguelX413 2y ago
    That's not what's happening.

gruez 2y ago

>Doesn’t even matter if the access point is broadcasting the SSID or not. Source? AFAIK this behavior only gets engaged if the hotspot has a hidden SSID. >Found this out by just having the personal hot spot of an iOS device enabled and then turning on a android tablet. iOS doesn’t broadcast the SSID unless you have the settings screen of the personal hotspot open. Scary. This is opposite to my experience. I specifically have to enable "allow other devices to join" for non-ios devices to be able to join.

russdill 2y ago
Free Airport WiFi!
willcipriano 2y ago
When I make a hot spot hidden, devices that previously connected to it can still do so in most implementions I've seen. That's how you work around them not supporting hidden networks. So I'll call "Source?" on it working like you describe.
- gruez 2y ago
  >When I make a hot spot hidden That's a misnomer. It doesn't actually make it hidden, only transmit beacons with a blank ssid. That's why even if your network is hidden, it will show a "hidden network" option for you to manually enter the SSID[1]. Moreover, client devices that have hidden networks saved will send out probe packets with network names it has saved[2], so it can determine whether the hidden network is actually around. This is actually worse for privacy, especially if your network name is vaguely unique, because you're broadcasting this high entropy information everywhere you go. [1] https://www.digitalcitizen.life/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/hidden_wifi_5.png https://www.digitalcitizen.life/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/h... [2] https://www.acrylicwifi.com/en/blog/hidden-wifi-network-secure-hidden-ssid/ https://www.acrylicwifi.com/en/blog/hidden-wifi-network-secu...

killingtime74 2y ago

Wait how is this bad? If I have wifi on I'm pretty sure I want to reconnect to saved networks. You want them to only do it when near the network? By tracking the location? Isn't this much much worse for privacy? You can always turn wifi off....

Asmod4n 2y ago
I only want my devices to connect to networks which are actually there. Not try every one they have connected to before no matter if they are existing or not.
- MiguelX413 2y ago
  That's not what's happening.