Here's a disturbing story. A published report on Saturday says that Google keeps a log of every Wi-Fi password ever entered into an Android device. According to the story, the list is not for human consumption which still doesn't take away from the idea that your Wi-Fi password is sitting inside a file at Mountain View. Android phones since Android 2.2 have sent back to Google the Wi-Fi password as a default setting on the handset.
Since it probably went right by most Android users, let's look at two builds. In Android 2.3.4, go to Settings and then Privacy. Om HTC models, Google gets your Wi-Fi password from an option called "Back up my settings," while on a Samsung device the naughty option reads "Back up my data." The unfortunate thing is that nowhere is Wi-Fi mentioned. The description reads "Back up current settings and application data."
In Android 4.2, go to Settings and then Backup and reset. The option is called "Back up my data," and the description for it reads "Back up application data, Wi-Fi passwords, and other settings to Google servers".
If you want your mind boggled, consider that we are not talking about one Wi-Fi network at home. We are talking about every Wi-Fi network your Android phone logged into including the McDonald's down the street, or that Adult Film store that used to be a PhotoHut down the street. While Android users can opt out, all of this information could be turned over to law enforcement officials if Google is compelled to do so.
Did you ever buy a new Android phone, enter your Google account information, and the new phone instantly hooked up with your router? Google can decrypt the stored Wi-Fi passwords with just a Gmail username and password.
It might be too late for your original password, but it is not too late to opt out of Google's storing of your Wi-Fi password. Once you've done that, you should change your Wi-Fi password. And if this whole thing shocks you, you might be a little too trusting of those who hold your wireless life in their hands.
WHY WOULD YOU WANT ANDROID ??COME ON BLACKBERRY
Posted via CB10
Google storing wifi passwords
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- 09-17-13, 05:41 PMolga421Google storing wifi passwords
- 09-17-13, 05:43 PMFrankIAm
More and more tinfoil hat stories keep popping up!
C0001BBF0 - BlackBerry 10 help channel. - 09-17-13, 05:52 PMhowarmat
Yep they do and i like it, that way anytime I load a new rom i dont have to worry about all my wifi passwords and connections. They are right there and ready to use when the wifi gets turned on.
- 09-17-13, 06:00 PMFrankIAm
Honestly, why hating on cloud services if you can disable them?
If I back up my data to box on my Z10, fire up box on my new Note 3, then input the same info on it, all of my information is there! Computer free, cable free, hassle free.
If I choose not to use box, then they won't have my files on their servers, which they wouldn't even open.
Wonder what will happen if I murder someone or upload a file named bombrecipe.pdf.. maybe they'll access my files.
I also wonder what will happen if I don't murder someone.. maybe they won't access my files, maybe Box employees won't, either.
Inb4 privacy shizstorm.
C0001BBF0 - BlackBerry 10 help channel. - 09-17-13, 06:43 PMDenverRalphy
What the OP fails to mention, and actually outright misinterprets... is that it's an optional backup. Android users are not tricked into backing up their WiFi passwords. The user has to actively choose to do so. It's an Opt-in feature. Not an Opt-out. And when you choose to opt in, you're also given a warning as to what you're backing up to the cloud.
So what exactly is the problem? - 09-17-13, 06:55 PMDenverRalphyIt's odd you should claim that... because here's what my Samsung device reads... which clearly states WiFi. Perhaps I got the Willy Wonka Golden Ticket edition when I purchased mine.
- 09-18-13, 07:42 AMBravoZuluDelta
Google, through Chrome, also has all my forum, email, e-commerce, and certain banking passwords on their servers. That's what the cloud is - either the convenience outweighs the risk, or the risk outweighs the convenience. The user has a choice in this, so I don't see where the issue is.
Now, if Android sent a copy of the WiFi password behind the scenes every time you saved a new network, without notifying the user, I could see some outrage. But this does not appear to be the case. This is just a "what if" scenario for "what if the government wanted Google to give up my backups?" The same statement applies to every cloud service available, including iCloud, Box, and Dropbox. - 09-18-13, 08:40 AMBerry_PinkI have one too! How many of these wifi backup disclosure golden tickets left to find hidden in android kitkat bars! ? :p
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/09/18/sytapu8u.jpg
Ninja Swyped by my Jiayu G3S via Tapatalk 4 - 09-18-13, 08:48 AMAcidwire
oh no! UPS has my address because i opted into sending a letter to someone >.> thats how silly this sounds
Apple also store your wifi passwords with itunes backup and blackberry stores your wifi profile (connection information) on blackberry protect
what is REALLY going to happen and what is a silly wifi password going to be used for by Googles servers BESIDES your convenient restore of a setting on your phone.
wake me up when people are writing articles of Google employees driving miles from HQ to sit outside our houses stealing our wifi, theyre too ghetto to pay for their own wifi at Hq now and mcdonalds has been kicking them out for using the free wifi and not ordering any happy meals?