Why this Windows 10 feature is freaking everyone out

Windows 10 includes a new feature called Wi-Fi Sense, which is making some folks uneasy.

Wi-Fi Sense allows you to automatically log your friends onto your Wi-Fi network without ever giving them your password. It's a convenient solution to the awkward "what's your Wi-Fi password?" conversations.

Windows 10 includes a new feature called Wi-Fi Sense, which is making some folks uneasy.

Wi-Fi Sense allows you to automatically log your friends onto your Wi-Fi network without ever giving them your password. It's a convenient solution to the awkward "what's your Wi-Fi password?" conversations.

Why Wi-Fi Sense is a potential security threat

But what about that Outlook.com contact turned stalker? Do you want that person to have access to your network? Wi-Fi Sense doesn't allow you to share your network with an individual -- it's either all your contacts or none of them.

When people gain access to your network, all kinds of bad things can happen: They can potentially hack into other devices connected to that network, including your computer and smartphone. They can potentially steal data off your devices, including photos, emails and other personal information.

Microsoft claims that if you share your home Wi-Fi network via Wi-Fi Sense, your contacts won't have access to other computers, devices or files stored on your network. That's accomplished by turning off a feature called "network discovery," preventing your friends' computers from seeing the other computers and gadget connected signed into your Wi-Fi network. That makes it more difficult -- not impossible -- for your hacker friend to steal your stuff.

A Microsoft spokesman couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

Should you stop using it?

You're probably safe using Wi-Fi Sense.

All these nightmare scenarios are possible ... but farfetched. Even the worst-case scenario -- a stalker using Wi-Fi Sense to steal your naked photos -- would require that person to sit outside your house with a Windows 10 PC while he hacks into your network.

But if you do want to protect those naked photos and you shared your network via Wi-Fi Sense you can stop that. Windows 10 lets you do that in settings (it takes a few days to register). You can also opt your network out of Wi-Fi Sense entirely by adding the phrase "_optout" to the end of your Wi-Fi network's name.