Showing posts with label Wi-Fi. Show all posts
It’s been quite a while that Windows 10 has launched and still people are reluctant whether they should upgrade to it or not. There’s no straight cut answer to this, but we always try our best to help you through the decision.
Wi-Fi Sense is secure. Let me show you how | Shutterstock
From what I feel, Wi-Fi Sense, a new feature included in Windows 10, has managed to freak out a lot of people when it comes to security and privacy. But it’s not what you think it is. So in today’s post, I will explain what the feature is all about and how it’s completely under your control.
What exactly is Wi-Fi Sense
First of all, the Wi-Fi Sense is nothing new and exclusive to Windows 10. The feature was first launched on Windows 8.1 Mobile platform which later made its way to the desktop version of Windows 10. So to explain things in the simplest way, you can think of Wi-Fi Sense as a feature that shares your Wi-Fi password to your contacts so that they can connect automatically once they are near your Wi-Fi network.
But there’s nothing to freak out here. It’s not the Skynet or the Genisys that you should be worried about. It’s totally under your control. Let’s see how.
How is Wi-Fi Sense Sharing your Wireless Network
When you install Windows 10, Wi-Fi sense is enabled by default. So every time you connect to a wireless network, you will get an option Share network with my contacts. If you check this, the wireless password will be shared to your contacts from Outlook Skype and Facebook (if connected) and they would be able to auto connect to the wireless network, next time they are around.
If you are using a Microsoft account on Windows 10, the Wi-Fi info is automatically shared with contacts from Skype and Outlook if they are on Windows 10. You can also connect your Facebook account and give Wi-Fi sense access to your contacts over there. The only thing that’s out of line is that the wireless info can either be shared with all the contacts, or none. There’s no provision to select specific contacts to share the wireless password.
How to Control Wi-Fi Sense Settings
The Wi-Fi sense settings can be controlled through the Modern Network and Internet settings. Here, under the Wi-Fi option, click on Advanced options. The page will list all the Wi-Fi network you have connected to and which of them has been shared to your contacts by Wi-Fi sense.
It’s here that you can select the contacts which whom the wireless passwords can be shared. If you need to forget any wireless network, it can also be done from here.
If you connect a guest to your wireless network using the WPS button, or you are manually typing the password of your Wi-Fi, the guest cannot share it using Wi-Fi sense if not already shared. Windows 10 would need you to type the Wi-Fi passphrase again when you are planning to share it. But you can’t always hide the password from your friends. In such scenarios, there’s a better way to disable Wi-Fi Sense.
Opting Out from Wi-Fi Sense Completely
Let’s say you own a Bistro or a cafe or you are a home user who don’t want anyone who connects to your network to share the Wi-Fi password. There’s a way you can opt out from the feature completely, but the settings needs to be done from your router. Windows 10 will not activate Wi-Fi Sense on any wireless SSID which has the phrase _optout in it.
So let’s say your wireless name is GuidingTech and you want to exclude it from Wi-Fi sense on any Windows 10 computer, just rename the wireless name to GuidingTech_optout or Guiding_optout_Tech. That’s all, next time when you connect to the said network, it will not ask you to share the wireless information.
Conclusion
So that was all there is to know about Wi-Fi Sense in Windows 10. Enterprise networks are never included because of LEAP configuration which requires additional credentials.
Do you ever attempt to join a Wi-Fi network on your iPhone or iPad and either get an error message stating that the device is unable to join? Perhaps, and arguably even more frustrating, is when you’re left hanging with no sign of an Internet connection as the progress indicator spins or falsely displays a successful connection. This can happen regardless of whether your signal is strong or weak.
Get past troubles with connecting your iPhone to a Wi-Fi network | Shutterstock
There are a few steps you can take to fix these issues and join the Wi-Fi network of your choice. However, keep in mind that these aren’t guaranteed fixes for every situation as sometimes the issue could be related to the network itself and therefore out of your control.
Renew the Lease
The first and likely the most easy step you can take toward resolving Wi-Fi connection woes is to just renew the lease on the Wi-Fi. This basically sends a request to start the connection again with the IP address that you lease on the network. This won’t work all of the time to fix issues, but it may work depending on your situation’s circumstances. It’s a harmless shot to take.
Just go to Settings and then Wi-Fi on your iPhone. Locate the Wi-Fi network your iPhone indicates that you’re technically connected to and press the blue Info icon on the right. All the way at the bottom, tap Renew Lease and tap it once more when prompted.
Nothing will happen, but try opening Safari to see if you can open a web page now. Hopefully this successfully fixed your problem, but if not, keep reading.
‘Forget’ the Network
Sometimes it’s helpful to just refresh your iPhone’s connection with the Wi-Fi network. This can be done in Settings. Then choose the Wi-Fi category and tap the blue Info button next to the connected network. At the very top, tap Forget This Network.
Note: When you “forget” a locked network, your iPhone will get rid of the stored password, so be sure you know it if you want to connect again in the future.
This step is optional but recommended as it could increase your chance of success. After you “forget” the network, return to the Wi-Fi panel and turn off Wi-Fi entirely for about 10 seconds. Then turn it back on. This is one extra step you can take to ensure you’re starting on a clean slate.
Lastly, find the same Wi-Fi network and select it to try connecting again. Enter the password if prompted.
Reset Your Settings
If both of the above fail you, you can always try resetting your iPhone’s network settings. This restores the network settings to the device’s factory defaults. All saved Wi-Fi passwords will be lost, so beware.
To reset network settings, go to the Settings app and tap General. Scroll all the way down to tap Reset. Finally, tap Reset Network Settings. After being prompted, verify that this is indeed what you wish to do.
Give your iPhone a few seconds, then navigate back to the Wi-Fi connection panel in Settingsand try connecting to your Wi-Fi network.
Important: Keep in mind that if the three above solutions didn’t fix your Wi-Fi issues, it might be out of control. If you notice that you can’t connect to a Wi-Fi network on various devices, it’s probably an issue with the network and/or router. On the flip side, if you notice your iPhone is having trouble connecting to multiple networks, you could have a deeper software or even hardware issue in need of repair.
There can be a lot of reasons as to why you might want to know the Wi-Fi password for anetwork you are currently connected to or you have connected in the past. Either your friend wants to know the password for the café you regularly visit, or you just want to know the password of the Wi-Fi at your friend’s place who won’t tell you and prefer typing it.
We have already seen how to uncover the secret on Android and iOS and today we would see how to get that done on a Windows computer. Just make sure you have the admin access to the computer.
View Password of Network You are Connected to
The trick I am going to show you right now has been documented on Windows 10. But it also works on Windows 7, 8 and 8.1. When you are connected to the network, right click on the Wi-Fi icon on the Windows System Tray and click on Open the network and Sharing.
Once the Network and Sharing Center opens up, it will list all the networks your computer is currently connected to under the Active Network section. Click on the Connections: your computer is connected to and it will open the Wi-Fi Status Window.
Click on Wireless Properties in the Wi-Fi Status window and Wireless Network Property of the connected network. The page will show you the connection name and type and will have a Security tab you can click on.
The Network Security Key option will have the Wi-Fi password and you can check the optionShow characters to make the password visible. Do not change any properties in here or it might mess up the connection and you can have trouble while connecting next time.
That was an easy solution to find the password to the network you are currently connected to. What if I share a secret using which you can get Wi-Fi password of networks you are not connected to anymore?
While we’re on networking: Why don’t you check out how you should pick out a Wi-Fi routerthat is right for you.
View Passwords of Networks You Were Previously Connected to
Open the command prompt, with admin access of course, and type in the command netsh wlan show profiles. It will list all the Wi-Fi networks you have connected to. Each of these mentioned profiles will be displayed using the SSID Name.
The next command you should type is netsh wlan show profile name=”Profile-Name” key=clear. The profile name should be the name of the Wi-Fi network you wish to know the password of and without quotes. The screenshot will clear any doubts you might have.
That’s all, the password for the said network will be displayed under the security tab.
Word of Advice on Windows 10 Wi-Fi Sense
While talking about the Windows 10 W-Fi Sense previously, we mentioned that a user will have to type in the password again to enable Wi-Fi password sharing. But the trick might be a way to break that. So if you really don’t what to share your Wi-Fi, read about the Optout trick.
Conclusion
So that was how you can view saved Wi-Fi password on Windows. Don’t forget to check out how you can view the saved Wi-Fi password on Android and iOS.
It’s been quite a while that Windows 10 has launched and still people are reluctant whether they should upgrade to it or not. There’s no straight cut answer to this, but we always try our best to help you through the decision.
Wi-Fi Sense is secure. Let me show you how | Shutterstock
From what I feel, Wi-Fi Sense, a new feature included in Windows 10, has managed to freak out a lot of people when it comes to security and privacy. But it’s not what you think it is. So in today’s post, I will explain what the feature is all about and how it’s completely under your control.
What exactly is Wi-Fi Sense
First of all, the Wi-Fi Sense is nothing new and exclusive to Windows 10. The feature was first launched on Windows 8.1 Mobile platform which later made its way to the desktop version of Windows 10. So to explain things in the simplest way, you can think of Wi-Fi Sense as a feature that shares your Wi-Fi password to your contacts so that they can connect automatically once they are near your Wi-Fi network.
But there’s nothing to freak out here. It’s not the Skynet or the Genisys that you should be worried about. It’s totally under your control. Let’s see how.
How is Wi-Fi Sense Sharing your Wireless Network
When you install Windows 10, Wi-Fi sense is enabled by default. So every time you connect to a wireless network, you will get an option Share network with my contacts. If you check this, the wireless password will be shared to your contacts from Outlook Skype and Facebook (if connected) and they would be able to auto connect to the wireless network, next time they are around.
If you are using a Microsoft account on Windows 10, the Wi-Fi info is automatically shared with contacts from Skype and Outlook if they are on Windows 10. You can also connect your Facebook account and give Wi-Fi sense access to your contacts over there. The only thing that’s out of line is that the wireless info can either be shared with all the contacts, or none. There’s no provision to select specific contacts to share the wireless password.
How to Control Wi-Fi Sense Settings
The Wi-Fi sense settings can be controlled through the Modern Network and Internet settings. Here, under the Wi-Fi option, click on Advanced options. The page will list all the Wi-Fi network you have connected to and which of them has been shared to your contacts by Wi-Fi sense.
It’s here that you can select the contacts which whom the wireless passwords can be shared. If you need to forget any wireless network, it can also be done from here.
If you connect a guest to your wireless network using the WPS button, or you are manually typing the password of your Wi-Fi, the guest cannot share it using Wi-Fi sense if not already shared. Windows 10 would need you to type the Wi-Fi passphrase again when you are planning to share it. But you can’t always hide the password from your friends. In such scenarios, there’s a better way to disable Wi-Fi Sense.
Opting Out from Wi-Fi Sense Completely
Let’s say you own a Bistro or a cafe or you are a home user who don’t want anyone who connects to your network to share the Wi-Fi password. There’s a way you can opt out from the feature completely, but the settings needs to be done from your router. Windows 10 will not activate Wi-Fi Sense on any wireless SSID which has the phrase _optout in it.
So let’s say your wireless name is GuidingTech and you want to exclude it from Wi-Fi sense on any Windows 10 computer, just rename the wireless name to GuidingTech_optout or Guiding_optout_Tech. That’s all, next time when you connect to the said network, it will not ask you to share the wireless information.
Conclusion
So that was all there is to know about Wi-Fi Sense in Windows 10. Enterprise networks are never included because of LEAP configuration which requires additional credentials. If you have any additional doubts, please ask them in our forum.
Perhaps one of the things we take for granted the most nowadays is Wi-Fi. Being able to always be online while at home or at a cafe is incredibly convenient. However, there are moments when the signal might have issues and the best most of us are used to doing, is simply, restart our routers.
There are other, better ways to monitor and ensure the optimal performance of your Wi-Fi signal though, and while in the past it might have been a bit technical, now all it takes is a great app (or apps) to make the most out of your Wi-Fi signal.
Let’s take a look at three very useful apps that you can have on your Mac or on your iOS device that can help you monitor every detail of your Wi-Fi signal for optimal performance.
Network Multimeter
The best way to improve your Wi-Fi signal at home is (of course) getting to where the signal is strongest. That’s a lot easier said than done though. Thankfully, Network Multimeter ($0.99) is an app designed just for that.
With it, you can move around home or any other place that provides a Wi-Fi signal and the app will read and display the signal strength just like those classic battery or electricity meters you can find in most garages.
What makes this app stand out from similar ones is that it provides a constant indication of the surrounding Wi-Fi signal, which makes its reading much more accurate and reliable. And if you combine Network Multimeter with a blueprint of your house and you write down the different values the app provides, you will be able to create an incredibly accurate ‘map’ of your home’s Wi-Fi signal strength.
NetSpot
On the Mac side of things, there is NetSpot, a better, more capable app targeted at professionals (but that also provides a free version) that lets you read the signal strength at home. With this information, the app draws the overall signal ‘map’ or helps determine the best place to locate your Wi-Fi router.
You do have to carry your Mac around for the app to do its job though, so its usability is limited to portable computers.
WiFi Explorer
Good Wi-Fi reception is not all about raw signal strength though. Interference can cause some serious dips your Wi-Fi’s performance regardless of how strong it is, and few things can interfere with a Wi-Fi signal as much as other Wi-Fi signals.
The reason behind this is that most old routers emit their signal in the same frequency, 2.4 GHz. If you have a counter capable of emitting a 5 GHz signal, then changing to that frequency can greatly improve your signal reception.
WiFi Explorer for Mac ($14.99) does just that. It shows on your Mac the channel by which each Wi-Fi signal within range goes through, letting you know which is the channel with less ‘traffic’.
The app also displays the type of security that each signal uses, its speed and more. This information will help you determine if interference from other networks is behind any Wi-Fi signal issue you might have.
Transfer Files over Wi-Fi: Now that you have improved your Wi-Fi, here’s how you can make the most of it by transferring files from your iPhone to Mac or PC.
Signal Boosters
There you have them. If you feel your Wi-Fi signal might be suffering from some issues, then any of these apps can help you solve them. And even if you think your Wi-Fi is perfectly fine, you can use these apps to make the most out of it.
Traditionally desktop PCs haven’t had any wireless connectivity hardware pre-installed on them. Usually they have got internet connectivity only via the Ethernet cable. Just recently, with the recent shift to ‘All Things Wireless’ have there been some motherboards that do come with wireless adapters for desktops.
Have desktops? Can get Wi-Fi! | Shutterstock
But, if you’re stuck with an old PC (like me) with no such luck, don’t despair. With the help of a few tips and tricks, it can not only access Wi-Fi, but can also act like a virtual router. Let’s find out how!
Good Things Aren’t Free
Okay, so let’s get one thing clear. Nothing can magically enable a PC to somehow get wireless capabilities without any additional hardware. This just won’t happen. At all. But, the good news is – the wireless adapters that you can buy these days are pretty cheap. They can be used on laptops too, so in case your wireless card on that spanking new laptop has given way, you can try a wireless adapter.
They are usually pretty small and at times even smaller than regular sized thumb drives. But, don’t let the small packaging fool you.
Setup
Plugging in the wireless adapter will automatically run you through the setup process, like any other USB plug-and-play device. It shouldn’t be a problem to find a vacant USB port on your PC and even if you are on the ancient Windows 7 OS, the drivers of such adapters usually get installed fairly easily.
You know you have it correctly set up when you see two additional adapters in the Device Manager of your PC. Go there by right-clicking My Computer > Manage > Device Manager on the left. There should be one for a Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter and one Wireless USB Adapter with the brand name of your choosing. (TP-LINK, in my case)
Going Wireless
Connecting to a wireless network on a desktop PC is exactly the same as on a laptop. Click on the Network icon on the bottom right of the taskbar and then scan for wireless networks. From there, it’s a matter of typing your Wi-Fi network’s password and getting connected. If you need more desktop PC’s to be connected in this manner, buy more wireless adapters. Easy, right?
But Wait! There’s More
This was merely the hardware side of things. Getting wireless connectivity to a PC may not be path breaking, because all you’re really doing is introducing a new hardware to give it the same abilities as a laptop.
But, what if I told you that you can also take a desktop and turn it into a Wi-Fi router? Oh, yes. It can.
Virtual Router Software
I’ve looked high and low. In the depths of the fiery dark web to the most amazing software sharing repositories. But, I haven’t had a virtual router software that worked flawlessly on my desktop. Each had some clumsy issue after another. Or some were just way too complex for me to really care.
That’s when I accidentally discovered this great piece of software called mHotspot. It’s not only stable, reliable and easy, but also compatible with both Windows 7 and 8. (No doubt they will extend support to Windows 10 shortly, too).
Once you’ve downloaded and installed the software on the same desktop, all you need to do is configure it like you’re configuring a router. The good guys at the company already have a helpful video for their users, so I’m gonna put that down here for a quick look at how it works.
There is no audio in the video, so don’t start banging your computer! And if the video was still unclear in any way, let me say that all you have to do on the software is assign a network name (SSID) and password (WPA2-PSK). Since you already have a wireless adapter installed on your PC, this software will act in conjunction with that hardware and turn your PC in to a virtual router, once you hit that Start Hotspot button.
Yup, it’s really that easy.
Helpful Tip: The Internet Source needs to be selected on basis of what is giving internet to your PC. If it’s a wired connection, select that option, or you will run into errors. Also, in this example, we’re assuming that your desktop has a wired connection and you want to turn it into a virtual router for other devices like your iPad or Android phone.
Summarizing mHotspot
Okay, so I’ve already stated my undying love for this software. Which means anything more I say might come off as an ‘upsell’, but I’m only imparting my knowledge from all the trial and error I’ve put into this method, for all of you to enjoy.
The company also claims that mHotspot can be used to extend the Wi-Fi range of your router, which is true in theory, but in practice, it didn’t work to such a great degree. What’s more you can also use this software to give access to your other devices from your laptop, if you’re on a Public Wi-Fi and only your laptop has security software to tackle it.
The other devices will only be connecting to your laptop’s connection and merely piggy-backing on the internet it has running. Do not worry, it may sound shady, but it’s completely legal too.
Specifically For Laptop: We had previously written on sharing your laptop’s network with other devices, if that’s the only thing you are interested in.
A Wire-Free Life
I certainly hope you’ve enjoyed our quick look at how a desktop can get Wi-Fi access and even act like a virtual router. If you’ve got questions, do not hesitate to ask them in the comments below. Additionally, we’d also welcome questions around Wi-Fi which we haven’t previously covered.
I recently moved to a new house and one of the very first things I invested in was an internet connection. Just like most broadband connections, the wire for the router was pulled inside from the corner of the flat. To make sure the long trail of wire didn’t spoil the looks, we thought tomount the wireless router there itself.
Routers galore (via Shutterstock)
Everything was fine unless we were using the internet connection in the kitchen or the balcony. The connection strength was almost nil at these places and that’s when I thought to use my old router as a repeater.
I was able to extend the range of my Wi-Fi by turning an old router into a repeater and I documented all the steps involved in it. So if you need a helping hand in setting up your home wireless connection, read on.
Step 1: Getting the Wi-Fi Details from the Main Router
The very first thing you need to do is find out the details of the Wi-Fi connection you are currently connected to. You’ll need the SSID name, i.e. the name under which the router is broadcasting the Wi-Fi, the password used to connect, and finally the security type. The easiest way to get this information is by connecting to the Wi-Fi network and selecting Properties from the right-click context menu.
The SSID is the network name you connect to and the Security type and Network security keyare under the Security tab in the wireless properties. Make a note of these settings on a notepad before proceeding to the next step. These settings are also available in the router admin settings, but that won’t be necessary.
Note: If you are using Connectify or any other virtual hotspot as a base Wi-Fi network, the default security type is WPA2 security.
Step 2: Reset the Old Router and Connect
After you have all the necessary details from the primary router, plug in your old adapter and reset it to factory settings. Most of the time there is a dedicated reset key or you might have to press and hold the WPS button for a few seconds. Resetting the router and starting from scratch is the best practice to follow.
Having done that, disconnect from your primary wireless network and connect to the secondary router using an ethernet cord or Wi-Fi. If you do reset the router, the default Wi-Fi SSID and the passcode should be written on the device or on the instruction manual. You can also open the product support page to get the info.
Wired or wireless, wait for the computer to obtain the default IP and connect to it using your default browser. Most of the time, the default IP is 192.168.0.1 but the range can vary depending on the manufacturer settings. On the login page, try using the default credentials as ‘admin’ for both username and password.
Step 3: Configuring the Router as Repeater
Once you are in the router control panel, open the wireless settings. In these settings, you will find an option called the Operations Mode. Select this and change it to Repeater. Then click on the Search/Survey button to find the list of all the available wireless networks around you.
After you find your network on the list, click Connect, provide the Wi-Fi password of your primary connection, and save the settings. If you are not asked for the wireless password, open the wireless security page and configure the settings manually.
The wireless security settings and passcode must match the primary router, which is the same information we got from step 1. Finally, you will get an option to reboot. After the reboot, you will see that the secondary router is set to repeater mode with the same Wi-Fi name.
Step 4: Placing the Router
If your primary router is at one end of the house, don’t place the secondary router at the other end. Instead, place it somewhere in the middle where you still get half of the wireless range. This will boot the signal to the other end of the house where the signal of the first router never reached.
You can now enjoy seamless internet connection throughout your house without losing connection. This is especially good for balconies, when you can’t miss out on the daily news while sipping a hot cup of freshly brewed coffee and enjoying the fresh morning air. Depending upon the router, you might have some additional questions about the configuration. Please ask them in the comments and I will do my best to answer.
