o2 Wifi Extra

[Anonymous]

O2 have today launched wifi extra - whereby o2 users will connect to wifi if in range of over 11000 hotspots automatically without the need to log on via an app thus conserving data

http://m.digitalspy.co.uk/tech/news/a639577/o2s-wifi-extra-automatically-connects-customers-across-t...

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

One thing that does surprise me from reading the T&Cs:

What if I do not want to use this service? 

"Customers who do not wish to use O2 Wifi Extra should disable wifi on their device."

Normally you can just delete (or forget) a particular WiFi network, but this sounds like you have to switch WiFi off completely. I suppose it shouldn't be an issue if you have enough confidence in the enhanced security. 

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If I understood it correctly, you will be logged in automatically without any warnings, so it makes sense that to turn wi-fi off is the only way off stopping it. I think it probably doesn't show on your trusted connections as you are logged in by the network,if that makes sense ?!

[jonsie]

Any wifi you have connected to previously will automatically connect you when in range so it makes sense to switch wifi off if you don't want the wifi service.

[Anonymous]

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@jonsie wrote:

Any wifi you have connected to previously will automatically connect you when in range so it makes sense to switch wifi off if you don't want the wifi service.

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Whilst it's true that smartphones remember WiFi networks that you've previously connected to, you can always delete or "forget" a particular network. I spend most of my time on WiFi, either at home or at work, so naturally there are a few trusted networks that I'm happy to connect automatically to. I wouldn't want the inconvenience of having to constantly switch WiFi on and off.

[Anonymous]

@Anonymous wrote:

"I think it probably doesn't show on your trusted connections as you are logged in by the network,if that makes sense ?!"

You may well be right. Don't get me wrong, it may well be that this WiFi Extra is just as secure as their 3G network, but I think we need a definitive answer from O2 on this one.

[Anonymous]

And I think @Toby may be just the person to ask....:smileywink: Up for a little detective work @Toby?

[perksie]

It will work just the same as any other wi-fi network, the main difference is that it will be a secure connection, but you will not have to sign in to use it as the system will be authorised by your sim card.

Some reports say it will start around the end of this month or beginning of June.

[jonsie]

If its supposed to be secure I don't see a problem to be honest. I wouldn't be doing mobile banking on any wifi network though in all honesty no matter how secure they claim it to be. 

[perksie]

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@jonsie wrote:

If its supposed to be secure I don't see a problem to be honest. I wouldn't be doing mobile banking on any wifi network though in all honesty no matter how secure they claim it to be. 

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It will be interesting to see how long it takes for the security of this to be broken.

[jonsie]

Is anything truly secure these days? There are some incredibly clever people out there but you would have to be extremely unlucky to be targeted. 

[perksie]

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@jonsie wrote:

Is anything truly secure these days? There are some incredibly clever people out there but you would have to be extremely unlucky to be targeted. 

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I couldn't agree more, remember the O2 Broadband forum and the panics about poor wi-fi security?

I never heard of a single case of anyone having their wi-fi security breached.