[CompuHacker]

Customers of various smart television brands have, over the past few years, reported that their newly acquired television will, given power, connect to nearby open wireless networks without user intervention or permission.

[prmoustache]

It might change when 5g becomes ubiquitous but I think it is an urban legend as of today.

[buggeryorkshire]

I've heard this too, but never seen a shred of evidence. Do you know of any?

[m-p-3]

I heard that a couple of times but I've never seen an actual demo that it occurred..

[irrational]

Any device that connects to my wireless network is not able to do anything until I go into an app on my phone and manually move it to an account that will give it access. Fortunately, there are no other open networks within range.

[rrrrrrrrrrrryan]

You should still put a password on your Wi-Fi network to encrypt your traffic.

[throw0101c]

WPA3 allows for non-password protected but still having encryption:

* https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc8110

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opportunistic_Wireless_Encrypt...

* https://www.wi-fi.org/discover-wi-fi/security#Wi-FiEnhancedO...

* https://www.wi-fi.org/wi-fi-download/35331 (PDF)

[avidiax]

Is this actually widely implemented in WiFi clients and APs? I have never seen the "Enhanced open" indication in Android.

[neodymiumphish]

Yeah, that’s not going to stop network sniffing unless your network is protected.

[Paianni]

Maybe open it up and disconnect the antennas?

[miunau]

Who even has an open wifi network anymore?

[RandomBacon]

Theoretically a company that drives through neighborhoods often such as Amazon could have an open hotspot and an agreement with TV manufacturers to share the data.

[philistine]

No one. It is pure urban legend. If it were true, it would not merely be a thing said in forums, it would be national news.