WiFi Sense

Among numerous new features, Windows 10 will bring a significant change to traditional WiFi connectivity. Rather than relying on publicly posted passwords, WiFi Sense connects you to a network of millions of Wireless Access Points distributed all over the world.

This new feature is enabled by default during setup. Once WiFi Sense connects to your social media accounts, whenever your friends share a WiFi network, it will be copied and stored in your own copy of Windows. When you visit that location in the future, you’ll  have automatic internet access.

If you’re a business owner, you’re probably starting to worry…  WiFi Sense is a massive database that contains millions of WiFi passwords and Microsoft IDs, possibly including your own. If their devices are not managed, there’s a chance your employees might enable WiFi Sense on their phones and laptops, and you may already be providing internet access to people you’ve never met in a neighboring office.

That said, Microsoft issued the following assurances:
• WiFi Sense only provides access to the Internet.
• WiFi passwords are encrypted and will not be visible to WiFi Sense users.
• WiFi Sense only shares with friends, not friends of friends.

If you’d like to opt-out on your traditional or home WiFi access point, append the phrase “_optout” to your SSID name.