[noja]

Print the randomly generated password on a sticker on the router. Problem solved.

[Mister_Snuggles]

This is what my ISP does for their router/cable modem combo. There's a sticker that tells you the SSID, the password for the SSID, the URL for the web interface along with the user ID and password. The passwords are both randomly generated.

They will also put it into bridge mode for you where none of that stuff applies.

[Fnoord]

Yeah, mine as well, until recently they figured out that the passwords weren't so randomly generated as they were derived from the SSID. Great entropy...

I recommend to use a mnemonic password [1] and just print out the WiFi password (without using Google Cloud...) and use some adhesive tape to attach it on the bottom of the router. The downside is that someone who has physical access to the router can see the password within seconds. Someone's who's plumbing your drain or when you are on the toilet.

That they put it into bridge mode when you request is due to EU regulations where EU civilians have free choice of router.

[1] https://xkpasswd.net

[thomastjeffery]

The problem with that is that they pick awful sets to generate from.

Instead of a string of random letters and numbers, they should be a string of words.

It's frustrating to visit someone's home, and have to enter (on a phone keyboard, no less) some lengthy gibberish that they never bothered to change.

[ozim]

When I have to generate pw for such use case I use: http://www.dinopass.com/

[ateesdalejr]

Only reason I would be concerned about using that specific generator in particular would be the fact that it severely limits your passwords to the "kid-friendly" set.

[deno]

That’s the only reason? And the fact that it’s exclusively online?

[ozim]

If you have to create pw you want use one time and tell it to someone over the phone or use it for "Guest WiFi" network, I don't see why I got downvoted.

It is not like I am going to use it for my main email account.

[deno]

I get it but OTOH just search for “XKCD password generator” and there’s like twenty offline options…

[frockington]

The only con I can think to that is the initial influx of support questions. I have no idea why this is not the default now, its simple, user friendly, and way more secure

[j45]

A larger information label specific to each device could be printed to minimize those questions.

"START HERE" followed by steps. Communication and comprehension is always a key battle of onboarding.

[briandear]

Or something similar such as the way the HomePod setup process works.

[j45]

Definitely. If there was an open onboarding standard or framework for tech that was slowly adopted like Bluetooth it would go a long way.

[tomjakubowski]

Cox (Orange County) and Verizon Fios (Los Angeles) delivered routers with good-looking, seemingly randomly generated passwords printed on a label. It's been this way with Cox for at least six years.

[eric_h]

I have Fios in NYC and the password is also available on the account page on Verizon's website, which I find a bit unsettling.

[ipython]

Exactly. That’s because FiOS routers allow tech support and their website to acquire information about your network, including your WPA passphrase, devices connected on your local network and more.

For that reason alone it’s best to have your own equipment not tied to the ISP, IMO. The ISP can already see all of my plaintext traffic, DNS requests, and MITM all my sessions if they wish. I’d rather not give them full access to my private network on top of that.