AT&T iPhones auto-connect to any Access Point named att-wifi

If a hacker brings up an unsecured wifi access point named att-wifi, your AT&T iPhone will connect to it right now, without any notification or acknowledgment. Your phone will connect to att-wifi in your pocket or purse when you walk into a Starbucks. Your email and web surfing will be visible. All your network traffic can be sniffed, any clear passwords can be stolen.

Most access points require your approval to connect to them, but not att-wifi. Your AT&T iPhone will connect to att-wifi out of the box.

To disable this:

Walk into a Starbucks.
On your iPhone go to Settings -> Wi-Fi
Click the blue ball next to att-wifi.
Click “Forget this Network”

This “feature” was probably put here by Apple at the request of AT&T.

Apple, please disable this. It is a security risk to every AT&T iPhone user.


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5 responses to “AT&T iPhones auto-connect to any Access Point named att-wifi”

  1. jessa @binaural beats Avatar

    Just AT&T iPhone??? How about Samsung phones?

    1. Chris Carey Avatar

      Not sure. Walk into a Starbucks and find out.

  2. c2oncpr Avatar
    c2oncpr

    You are exactly right!

    ATT has intentionally altered the wifi connection behavior of their phones to auto-connect to any ‘attwifi’ open-unsecure hotspots and have (are) removing the users’ ability to “forget” the connection. You can not change the behavior or stop it from autonnecting, short of turning off WIFI completely. Then, ATT warns you (the customer) about the use of unsecure “open” hotspots and how a rogue hotspot could be stood up to sniff the traffic from your device without your knowledge, seeing all clear text communications.

    ATT is knowingly exposing their smartphone customers to unnecessary security risks.

    ATT will not budge on this point. The only thing that might get their attention is if everyone sharing this concern were to drop ATT for another carrier.

  3. J J Russo Avatar
    J J Russo

    Try going to Settings, then open WiFi but don’t turn it on. Find Advanced (on my Alcatel it’s the three vertical dots) where you can now deselect AT&T Wi-Fi auto connect! It worked for me.

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