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> Give your neighbor your Wi-Fi password and they can share it with hundreds of their friends automatically. Give your neighbor your Wi-Fi password, and they

> Give your neighbor your Wi-Fi password and they can share it with hundreds of their friends automatically. Give your neighbor your Wi-Fi password, and they can trumpet it on the streets, distribute on pamplets, post it on HN, and update their Facebook status with it. I am a little shocked at the HN reaction here. I've had a Windows Phone since January and I've thought the feature was not only useful, but a great idea. The only benefit for me has been the automatic TOS acceptance though since nobody else I know has a Windows Phone. If you're running a "secure" wireless network and don't want anyone else to use it, well, don't give anybody you don't trust the password, and make sure they're not running services like Wi-Fi Sense. Generally speaking, the common man is going to want any of his friends he lets into his house onto his Wi-Fi anyway.

opcvx 11y ago
The problem is that it is automatic, it spreads without confirming anything and without any deliberate action.
- benjin 11y ago
  The problem (with this post in HN) is that it _isn't_ actually automatic. Your device being receptive to automatically-shared networks is default-on/opt-out. Your device automatically _sharing_ a network is default-off/opt-in, as well as (I think) being on a per-network basis.
  - Amezarak 11y ago
    This is correct. None of this is automatic. It's all opt-in. I don't believe Wi-Fi Sense is on at all by default (I am pretty sure I had to turn it on), and it explicitly shares only Wi-Fi networks you select, not all of them. You have to go in to your saved Wi-Fi networks and share each one individually. You also have to individually check each list of contacts (Outlook, Skype, Facebook, etc.) It is absolutely not sharing all your networks automatically with all your Facebook friends. Here are screenshots (note I'm 99% sure I turned on Wi-Fi Sense): http://i.imgur.com/bzaK2aT.png http://i.imgur.com/bzaK2aT.png http://i.imgur.com/vnbDkdj.png http://i.imgur.com/vnbDkdj.png I suppose it's ironic the FUD is directed against Microsoft now.

opcvx 11y ago

The problem is that it is automatic, it spreads without confirming anything and without any deliberate action.

benjin 11y ago
The problem (with this post in HN) is that it _isn't_ actually automatic. Your device being receptive to automatically-shared networks is default-on/opt-out. Your device automatically _sharing_ a network is default-off/opt-in, as well as (I think) being on a per-network basis.
- Amezarak 11y ago
  This is correct. None of this is automatic. It's all opt-in. I don't believe Wi-Fi Sense is on at all by default (I am pretty sure I had to turn it on), and it explicitly shares only Wi-Fi networks you select, not all of them. You have to go in to your saved Wi-Fi networks and share each one individually. You also have to individually check each list of contacts (Outlook, Skype, Facebook, etc.) It is absolutely not sharing all your networks automatically with all your Facebook friends. Here are screenshots (note I'm 99% sure I turned on Wi-Fi Sense): http://i.imgur.com/bzaK2aT.png http://i.imgur.com/bzaK2aT.png http://i.imgur.com/vnbDkdj.png http://i.imgur.com/vnbDkdj.png I suppose it's ironic the FUD is directed against Microsoft now.