Microsoft Removes WiFi Sense from Windows 10

by Hilbert Hagedoorn on: 05/12/2016 07:46 AM | source: | 9 comment(s)

Microsoft has decided to remove the WiFi Sense feature from all versions of Windows 10, including mobile devices and PCs. The feature was pulled from the most recent preview build of Windows 10 for PCs; it will be pulled from phones, too. WiFi Sense allowed people to share their WiFi logins with social network connections, as well as connect to public WiFi networks with less hassle.

"The cost of updating the code to keep this feature working combined with low usage and low demand made this not worth further investment," explained Microsoft. Microsoft said people who leave WiFi Sense running on their phones will still be able to connect to open WiFi hotspots that are already in Microsoft's shared database. Microsoft recently released a new preview build of Windows 10 for handsets. Build 14332 mostly targets bugs and makes refinements to the user interface of select apps. The next preview build for phones will likely strip out WiFi Sense.

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Extraordinary
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#5271214 Posted on: 05/12/2016 08:51 AM

This story does not exist

rl66
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#5271228 Posted on: 05/12/2016 09:13 AM

btw depending on where you live your wifi code give access to all media shared on your net...
and wifi is like BT a massive hole in security (even more now that most fiber access point have their OS based on android...).

Cyberdyne
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#5271238 Posted on: 05/12/2016 09:38 AM

It's at the footnote of this announcement.
https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2016/05/10/announcing-windows-10-insider-preview-build-14342/

We have removed the Wi-Fi Sense feature that allows you to share Wi-Fi networks with your contacts and to be automatically connected to networks shared by your contacts. The cost of updating the code to keep this feature working combined with low usage and low demand made this not worth further investment. Wi-Fi Sense, if enabled, will continue to get you connected to open Wi-Fi hotspots that it knows about through crowdsourcing.

So if true, sounds like a good move. I doubt any of us here were really using it anyway. And I guess if you were you will be grandfathered over?

Mineria
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#5271568 Posted on: 05/12/2016 04:41 PM

It's at the footnote of this announcement.
https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2016/05/10/announcing-windows-10-insider-preview-build-14342/

So if true, sounds like a good move. I doubt any of us here were really using it anyway. And I guess if you were you will be grandfathered over?
That is a step forward, Wi-Fi connection info should not be shared in such way, heck, most of us have isolated guest Wi-Fi for a reason.
Big plus to MS, since that keeps me from the hassle to disable it with every install.

nick0323
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#5272007 Posted on: 05/13/2016 01:19 AM

Good, never really used it.

Cave Waverider
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#5272028 Posted on: 05/13/2016 02:31 AM

I think they finally figured out what a huge security risk this thing was.

KissSh0t
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#5272044 Posted on: 05/13/2016 03:16 AM

Now if they would just remove the ability to disconnect and reconnect to wireless networks when a system is locked or not logged into Windows.... that would be another security risk removed.

joe187
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#5272140 Posted on: 05/13/2016 08:23 AM

Now if they would just remove the ability to disconnect and reconnect to wireless networks when a system is locked or not logged into Windows.... that would be another security risk removed.

Agreed, but there's a reg setting that can disable that crap, which i have been using since i upgraded to win10. Not sure if it works on previous OS.

"DontDisplayNetworkSelectionUI"=dword:00000001

KissSh0t
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#5272154 Posted on: 05/13/2016 08:43 AM

Agreed, but there's a reg setting that can disable that crap, which i have been using since i upgraded to win10. Not sure if it works on previous OS.

"DontDisplayNetworkSelectionUI"=dword:00000001

You can do it though gpedit.msc as well, I'm no longer on Windows 10 so it's not an issue xD

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Logon > Do not display network selection UI

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