I recently installed Norton Mobile Security on my Android phone. Initially, all four items listed on the NMS home page were rated 100% (green). But now, "Wi-Fi Security" is rated 70% (yellow). If I click on "Wi-Fi Security" it shows me the SSID of an unsecured network and a map showing its location (in my neighborhood). It has the words "You've connected to unsecure WiFi networks and your internet browsing and personal information may be visible to others. Try Norton WiFi Privacy for free?" It then tries to sign me up for Norton's VPN services.
But here's the thing - I have never, EVER, explicitly connected to WiFi except for my own protected WiFi network. This is confirmed when I go to the Android WiFi settings. My SSID is listed as either "Connected" or "Out of Range" depending on where I am. There are no other SSID's listed as "Connected" or "Out of Range". I have not been able to locate the SSID listed by NMS even when I go to the location that the map shows.
Here's my question: Is Android connecting automatically in some way that is triggering the Norton warning? If so, is the automatic connection for some limited purpose, or can it really put me at risk? For example, might Android be connecting for locations services, but keeping most protocols blocked?
The only two things checked under my "Advanced" Wi-Fi Settings are "Scanning always available", and "Wi-Fi optimization". I think the "Scanning always available" might possibly be related to this issue as it is related to using WiFi for location services.
I have seen a related post complaining about Symantec advertising their VPN services in this way, but that's not my concern. I only want to know if anyone can explain why NMS thinks I have connected to an unsecure network when I am confident that I have never explicitly done so. I realize that one possibility is that I am an idiot, but please try to be nice. Thanks.
As the original poster in this thread, you are the only one that can mark the thread solved. Choose the post you feel best represents the solution and click on Mark As Solution just beside the Reply link below the post.
I'd still like to know how and why I unknowingly connected to an unprotected network - whether it's something automated or just an errant tap. And I definitely wish I knew of of a way to display a list of all remembered wifi networks and select ones to forget, or even just to clear all remembered wifi networks (short of resetting the phone). I've checked different forums and found solutions that apparently work for some Android versions and/or some carriers, but not for my phone. (I have to say I find it a bit strange that Google has this information but we don't.)
But that's an Android issue, not a Norton issue. I think I have to believe Norton's detection. So I think this thread should be considered solved, at least from my perspective. I'll let Armel concur and check the solved box if he wishes.
Hi all!
I solved my issue yesterday. How?
I just reset my Norton mobile security. I erased all data and launched it like the first time. Make sure you log in with your Norton account.
If you have trouble, just contact Norton team for support.
Regards.
I cannot help with suggestions for sharing as I do not share anything. I suppose you could check the reviews on the Google Play Store for sharing apps.
When you are on the main Norton Mobile Security, NMS, page, you should be able to tap on the Wifi Security report and get more information about what networks it is detecting. Please try again and let me know what you see. Maybe a screenshot if you can get it.
And do not worry about your English. I'm sure it is better than my version of your language. I use Google Translation all the time here.
Yes. I have a VPN.
I was at home when I did it.
You right. It is not safe.
Share it app is the fastest sharing application I know. Do you Know an alternative? An alternative without asking to shutdown your VPN? Please, I need it.
Thank you very much for your support.
Best regards.
Sorry for my English.
Where were you when you turned off the VPN to continue sharing? At home, or at a public hotspot?
Personally, I would not use a sharing app that required me to lower my protection on my device. If it cannot work with your VPN, I would look for something else.
Hi Thank you for your response. I used share it app to share some pictures. But as soon as I started to dot it, a pop-up from share it asked me to shut off my VPN. I turned it off and I started my sharing. And then, my Norton mobile security identified an unsecured WiFi. I just shut off this warning and continue my sharing.
When I tap on the pourcentage or the unsecured WiFi name, no more information. They just ask me to download Norton WiFi privacy, the Norton VPN for mobile. I don't see the unsecured networks into android setting.
How did you share the pictures with your friends? Just sharing photos will not bring down the Wifi Security percentage. That only shows unsecured networks you may have connected to. Depending on your device's settings, you may have it set to automatically connect to available networks. So if you happen to go to Walmart that has free Wifi, your device may connect even if you are not using it. No data needs to be shared, just the attempt to connect to the network is recorded.
When you tap on the main Norton screen where the percentage is shown, does that bring up what you see in your first image? Try tapping on one of the connections and see if more information is given. If you tap on No Thanks for the Norton Wifi Privacy app offer, it may also show more information.
Go into Android Settings - Wifi and look at the list of networks you have connected to. See if you can see the same networks as listed in the NOS app.
Good morning all. At the beginning, my Norton Mobile Security home page was green. But when I used share it to share some pictures with my friends, my Norton Wi-Fi Security pourcentage went down to 70% the first time et 60% thé second time. At the moment, my home WiFi is protected with a password. But my Norton Wi-Fi security home page pourcentage is still at 60%. I don't know how I could reset it to 100%. Could you please help me. Thank you. Regards.
Good morning all. At the beginning, my Norton Mobile Security home page was green. But when I used share it to share some pictures with my friends, my Norton Wi-Fi Security pourcentage went down to 70% the first time et 60% thé second time. At the moment, my home WiFi is protected with a password. But my Norton Wi-Fi security home page pourcentage is still at 60%. I don't know how I could reset it to 100%. Could you please help me. Thank you. Regards.
Thanks, for the article. It might be related. I still suspect some automatic, but limited, type of connection, not something I have explicitly connected to.
Just for clarification, I made an error in my last post. The SSID in question was AH-GUEST, not AHHOME. My earlier post was correct.
I have made some more attempts to locate this SSID, but without success. I thought it might be "Ace Hardware", but it's not, at least not my local one.
I have also searched the web for any evidence that connections remembered by Android might not be shown after some period of time, but I haven't found any. As far as I can tell, any explicit connections should be remembered by Android and should permanently show in the Wi-Fi settings as either "connected" or "out-of-range", unless explicitly told to forget them.
Thanks for your help. There's no need to respond, unless you think of something new. If I come up with something new, I'll post again.
OK, Thanks. I'm doing the same thing, but in my case only one access point (AHHOME) is listed, and the screen includes a map showing the location of AHHOME.
I have another question, but it's really an Android question. Do you know of any way to get Android to list all access points that it has permission to connect to? I have been assuming that the list under WiFi settings would list all of these as either "Connected" or "Out of Range". But maybe it only lists those that have been connected to recently?
Peterweb, thanks for the tips. I don't recognize the SSID, but will be on the lookout for it. Maybe identifying it will shed some light.
I would like to ask about your comment that your NMS shows three unsecured networks. Is there a list that I'm not finding? I get to what I'm looking at by tapping Wi-Fi Security in the NMS home screen. It only shows the one unsecured network. Are you doing the same thing, or something different, to see your three?
AH-GUEST could also be some business. In my case, I see WM-Guest for Walmart. Any businesses or professional offices you can remember that could be AH? The map location may not be as accurate as you might hope.
I have connected to each of these networks, so that seems to be why they are showing up here.