# Many wireless routers automatically set up a non-password protected 'guest access'? Really? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 6, 2014, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-wireless-routers-automatically-set-up-a-non-password-protected-guest-access-really/706473 "2014-12-06T03:41:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-wireless-routers-automatically-set-up-a-non-password-protected-guest-access-really/706473/1 "2014-12-06T03:41:36Z")
I recently had my OS re-installed and have been tidying up some lose ends. Whether it was related to the re-install or not, I just noticed that my home router had automatically set up a so-called ‘guest network’. I know that I never created it. Whereas, I, myself, created a network called “newKarl”, I noticed today that there is also a network available called “newKarl-guest”. But, unlike the one I set up and called “newKarl”, the guest network, i.e. “newKarl-guest”, was not password protected. Assuming I am interpreting all this correctly, does this man that: 1. my router defaults to setting up an unasked for, and non-password-protected guest network? 2. anyone close enough could have been using ‘my’ guest network without my knowledge (or permission)? I really hope this is one time when I haven’t interpreted things correctly. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-wireless-routers-automatically-set-up-a-non-password-protected-guest-access-really/706473/2 "2014-12-06T03:59:17Z")
Mine has been doing this recently too. What ISP do you have? Apparently [Comcast is doing this to some people.](http://money.cnn.com/2014/06/16/technology/security/comcast-wifi-hotspot/) ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-wireless-routers-automatically-set-up-a-non-password-protected-guest-access-really/706473/3 "2014-12-06T04:03:42Z")
Xfinity/Comcast (and other ISPs assumedly) does this with many new business and home installs over the last several years. The Comcast router will have a third leg invisible to the homeowner that offers Wi-Fi pass through access to “guests” that are part of the ISP network, in this case you have to have a Comcast account. Thus if you have an applicable ISP account you can log on to any available open, active Wi-Fi router in range of your mobile device or PC. Mobile apps like Xfinity Wifi will identify all Xfinity routers with this service option in a defined map area surrounding your GPS coordinates. This does not guarantee service access only that the identified router is believed to be in place. If the unit is powered off or the user has tinkered with the setup access may be locked out. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-wireless-routers-automatically-set-up-a-non-password-protected-guest-access-really/706473/4 "2014-12-06T04:05:45Z")
I’ve seen the non-password-protected version. Does this mean my network will go slower? Because I have Comcast and it IS going slower. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-wireless-routers-automatically-set-up-a-non-password-protected-guest-access-really/706473/5 "2014-12-06T04:10:42Z")
> [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](#): > > I’ve seen the non-password-protected version. Does this mean my network will go slower? Because I have Comcast and it IS going slower. In part, that’s why I was poking around - things seemed slower and it occurred to me that, somehow, someone, might be using my network. I still can’t believe this is true. I mean, really, installing a _default non-password-protected_ network? Unbelievable! **Jragon** : I’m with Rogers (in Canada), but I think the culprit is Linsys (Cisco) not the ISP. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-wireless-routers-automatically-set-up-a-non-password-protected-guest-access-really/706473/6 "2014-12-06T04:57:03Z")
Note that guest networks are isolated from your internal network, so they aren’t a real security risk. Although, people using them will suck precious bandwidth from you. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-wireless-routers-automatically-set-up-a-non-password-protected-guest-access-really/706473/7 "2014-12-06T13:10:33Z")
Have you tried logging into it to see what happens? Does it just let you go through to the internet, or does it set up some kind of roadblock? Can you access porn sites, or just “family friendly” sites? ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-wireless-routers-automatically-set-up-a-non-password-protected-guest-access-really/706473/8 "2014-12-06T13:26:47Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Note that guest networks are isolated from your internal network, so they aren’t a real security risk. > Although, people using them will suck precious bandwidth from you. That’s exactly it - I know they’re isolated from mine, but it was the potential for bandwidth ‘theft’ I was concerned about (and, equally, slowing down my access/DLing). **ZenBeam** : I did just that at one point and there were no restrictions (although as the admin, I could set up various filters for the router in general). In any event, I closed off the guest account. I live in a condo, where the distance to the other units to my router are as close as the far reaches of my place. In other words, my neighbours would have had no problem using the guest network if they so chose. THAT is why I was so surprised (and pissed) to find it set up by default. ---
**Author:** ![sich\_hinaufwinden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@sich\_hinaufwinden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sich_hinaufwinden)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-wireless-routers-automatically-set-up-a-non-password-protected-guest-access-really/706473/9 "2014-12-06T13:46:31Z")
> [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](#): > > I’ve seen the non-password-protected version. Does this mean my network will go slower? Because I have Comcast and it IS going slower. > [@beowulff](#): > > …Although, people using them will suck precious bandwidth from you. The article **Jragon** posted above explains that the guest network is seperate from the private network and that it does not piggy back on your privte bandwith: > [@](#): > > With two separate networks, each antenna has its own data speed cap. Comcast said the private channel provides whatever speed customers already pay to get (most have 25 Megabits per second). The public hotspot channel is given 15 Mbps and allows up to five people to connect at a time. > > That means having your data-hungry friends over shouldn’t slow down your Netflix stream. > > Comcast spokesman Charlie Douglas promised “there’s more than enough capacity” in the cables connecting to people’s homes to make this work. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-wireless-routers-automatically-set-up-a-non-password-protected-guest-access-really/706473/10 "2014-12-06T15:37:42Z")
Note that the Comcast piggyback hotspot _is_ password protected. Only Comcast customers (or anyone who has the id/password of one) can access it. Also, this only applies to Comcast provided router/modem combos. No user-owned equipment would have this Comcast “feature”. I don’t believe that this has anything to do with the OP’s question. Setting up a guest id on your own router if it has this ability is a really good idea. Why the OP didn’t set up a password when it was installed can only be answered by the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-wireless-routers-automatically-set-up-a-non-password-protected-guest-access-really/706473/11 "2014-12-06T15:59:46Z")
I installed a new Linksys router a couple of months ago and just checked the config. There is a guest wireless, it’s on but it’s password protected. And the password wasn’t something I selected. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-wireless-routers-automatically-set-up-a-non-password-protected-guest-access-really/706473/12 "2014-12-06T16:03:54Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Note that guest networks are isolated from your internal network, so they aren’t a real security risk. > Although, people using them will suck precious bandwidth from you. Someone could use it for illegal purposes which may be traced to your IP address and cause some legal headaches. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-wireless-routers-automatically-set-up-a-non-password-protected-guest-access-really/706473/13 "2014-12-06T16:11:33Z")
> [@sich\_hinaufwinden](#): > > The article **Jragon** posted above explains that the guest network is separate from the private network and that it does not piggy back on your private bandwidth: > > > [@](#): > > > > With two separate networks, each antenna has its own data speed cap. Comcast said the private channel provides whatever speed customers already pay to get (most have 25 Megabits per second). The public hotspot channel is given 15 Mbps and allows up to five people to connect at a time. > > > > That means having your data-hungry friends over shouldn’t slow down your Netflix stream. > > > > Comcast spokesman Charlie Douglas promised “there’s more than enough capacity” in the cables connecting to people’s homes to make this work. Could you effectively double your family’s bandwidth by having one person log onto the guest account instead of the normal account? ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-wireless-routers-automatically-set-up-a-non-password-protected-guest-access-really/706473/14 "2014-12-06T16:38:41Z")
Comcast may actually be costing customers money by doing this since the router uses electricity. > **[Report: Comcast's public Xfinity WiFi program actually costs you money](https://www.extremetech.com/internet/185560-new-report-illustrates-how-comcasts-public-xfinity-wifi-program-actually-costs-you-money)** > > Comcast's new Xfinity app doesn't just throw a public WiFi network around your router on a separate channel. it also increases the cost of operating and owning the device itself. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-wireless-routers-automatically-set-up-a-non-password-protected-guest-access-really/706473/15 "2014-12-06T18:51:08Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > Why the OP didn’t set up a password when it was installed can only be answered by the OP. Oh, I have a very simple answer for this: I didn’t know that it had been set up. I wasn’t asked or informed. I may never have even noticed it had I not been cleaning up things since my hard drive failed a little while ago. Maybe you think I should have noticed when I first brought the router home from the store and installed it. I admit that it’s possible that I was asked. But much more likely, I wasn’t. I say that with confidence because I would never have left it password unprotected. It’s also possible (although I don’t remember any details) that during the initial set-up of the router, I may have seen a network called “newKarl-guest” and simply assumed it was an intermediary step during the installation (i.e. something along the lines of, “I guess I’m called a guest until I finish the entire installation procedure”). But, absolutely and unequivocally, no effort was made on the part of Linksys to draw my attention to it (especially with respect to the options of either disabling it or, as a minimum, password protecting it). And, to clarify what I think are two separate ideas coursing through this thread, this is _not_ an ISP issue. What I am talking about involves only the default set-up of my router (a Linksys). ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-wireless-routers-automatically-set-up-a-non-password-protected-guest-access-really/706473/16 "2014-12-06T19:04:31Z")
I’m in a single family home area and there’s only seven visible routers within range of the PC I’m on now. Sure enough, one of them is called [name] and another is [name]-guest. I had no idea Comcast was doing this. ---
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-wireless-routers-automatically-set-up-a-non-password-protected-guest-access-really/706473/17 "2014-12-06T19:14:42Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Someone could use it for illegal purposes which may be traced to your IP address and cause some legal headaches. It most likely wouldn’t be your IP address. That’s a testable assertion. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-wireless-routers-automatically-set-up-a-non-password-protected-guest-access-really/706473/18 "2014-12-06T19:26:05Z")
> [@Learjeff](#): > > It most likely wouldn’t be your IP address. That’s a testable assertion. It certainly would be in the case of the OP, which is what I was responding to. He’s talking about his personally owned router. Unless he has more than one internet source coming into his house, all WiFi networks on that router will have the same address. In the case of the Comcast routers, I don’t know. It may very well be a different address, but it seems like it would require extra expense and infrastructure for the public access one to have a different address. Why would Comcast want to bother with that? As you say, it would be easy to test. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-wireless-routers-automatically-set-up-a-non-password-protected-guest-access-really/706473/19 "2014-12-06T19:45:23Z")
Here’s the [Linksys FAQ for the guest network](http://kb.linksys.com/Linksys/GetArticle.aspx?docid=f35bd58fda4148929ac482f3c7968e04_Guest_Network_Frequently_Asked_Questions.xml). > [@](#): > > Is the Guest network available to all Linksys routers? > > No. It is available only to the Linksys Smart Wi-Fi and Linksys Wi-Fi Routers, and the Linksys X-series Gateways. **The Guest network is enabled by default** and can be configured using the LinksysConnect software or through your Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Account. It sounds though like internet access is not supposed to be available without entering a password: > [@](#): > > Can I set up a different wireless security mode for the Guest network? > > No. **The security mode of the Guest network cannot be changed or disabled and will always require guests to enter a password through a web browser.** The prompt will appear after the device is connected to the network and opens a web browser to connect to the Internet. This is to prevent unauthorized Internet access. and > [@](#): > > Why can’t I connect to the Internet even if my computer is already connected to the Guest network? > > You may have not provided the Guest access password in your web browser. **This is required to access the Internet through the Guest network. Without entering the password, your computer or device is only connected to the Guest network without access to the Internet.** The password has to be entered on a web browser every time a computer connects to the Guest network. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-wireless-routers-automatically-set-up-a-non-password-protected-guest-access-really/706473/20 "2014-12-06T20:47:45Z")
are these “guests” wireless printers that set themselves up through your own computer or your cell phone? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-wireless-routers-automatically-set-up-a-non-password-protected-guest-access-really/706473.md?page=2)