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Guest WiFi using a QR code

blog.jgc.org

271–280 of 284 posts

Re: Guest WiFi using a QR code

#271

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A picture of a QR code will always be the same QR code. There are QR code generators that purport to let you update the value... but they're basically just hosting a link shortener service, giving you a QR code encoding that link, and letting you change where the link redirects to. That wouldn't work with a QR code for wifi, since the QR code does not point to a link, it directly encodes the SSID and password for a w…

Can the http link not be directed to other protocols like FTP, or WIFI:T:WPA;S:{ssid};P:{password};; in this case? I guess this might have some security implication. And, some clients can block such redirection. I tried with HTML href on my mac. It didn't work. Maybe it'd work on phones.

How is your guest going to visit the link when they're not yet connected to the wifi?

Re: Guest WiFi using a QR code

#272
post #175

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Can generate these on Linux with the qrencode program. If you're using Network Manager, you can also just run this command! nmcli dev wifi show-password You get the password as text, and a nice in-terminal QR code.

That is actually quite cool. I wonder how many command line tools could take advantage of such a feature. Like, I don't know, upload a file somewhere and show a one-time QR code to transfer that file into your phone or something.

QRStream (Transfer files and text via successive QR codes) https://f-droid.org/packages/com.github.xloem.qrstream/

Re: Guest WiFi using a QR code

#273
post #249

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you’re both using Apple devices it works like this: Guest: “What’s your wifi network?” Me: “It’s XXXX” Guest: selects network Me: Prompt on my device “Would you like to share your wifi password with Guest” . Selects Yes Guest: “oh wow I’m connected. Thanks!” Now that only works if I am present. But it works wonderfully. It should be standardised across platforms.

Okay, now tell me how to prevent Apple from compromising my network security.

Turn off iCloud everything.

Re: Guest WiFi using a QR code

#274

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I switched to guest networks after I accidentally casted a browsing session to the TV with Chrome and a Chromecast plugged into the TV. Luckily nothing sensitive was shown but it could’ve been embarrassing with other (NSFW) content shown. The guest networks are segmented and use their own VLAN

How do guest networks solve this? You switch wifi networks before you want to use Chromecast?

Yes.

Re: Guest WiFi using a QR code

#275
post #264

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I use FaceID and it works well (even with a mask), but you still have to tap to find the Photos app and then the image you just took.

Open camera (swipe from up side, then swipe from right side), click on latest photo in the corner, swipe if necessary. I very rarely open photos app.

that is exactly my point: lots of tapping, when a simple verbal easy to memorize password is requires no extra typing.

Re: Guest WiFi using a QR code

#276

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Aha... apparently you have met ALL of my relatives who have absolutely no understanding that they could login to the device and change the password to something better.

Some of the rental hardware no longer allow users to login as admin. Some of the ones that do the ISP landlords make a lot claims that leases/monthly fees go up if they think to try. There's a growing disparity between modem/router hardware owners and "this lease seemed like the best deal from the cable/phone company" average users.

Now they make you manage the very limited subset of router options (essentially SSID and WPA passphrase) from their web portals. Then they push the updated configs to your router via remote management protocols. How many vulnerabilities do those open?

Re: Guest WiFi using a QR code

#277

This is super cool and would be awesome for situations where your guests are familiar with QR codes. But from my experience the process would go something like this: Visitor: What's your wifi password? Me: No password needed! We have a cool QR code you can scan that will auto-join you! Visitor: Oh cool, how do I use a QR code? Do I need an app? Me: Nope, just point your camera at it. Visitor: Like .. .take a picture…

It’s not like you’re going to have to answer these questions forever, people won’t be surprised the camera can scan QR codes the fifteenth time they use it.

Re: Guest WiFi using a QR code

#278
post #175

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Can generate these on Linux with the qrencode program. If you're using Network Manager, you can also just run this command! nmcli dev wifi show-password You get the password as text, and a nice in-terminal QR code.

That is actually quite cool. I wonder how many command line tools could take advantage of such a feature. Like, I don't know, upload a file somewhere and show a one-time QR code to transfer that file into your phone or something.

There is this app who is doing kinda that https://github.com/sz3/cfc

Re: Guest WiFi using a QR code

#279
post #175

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Can generate these on Linux with the qrencode program. If you're using Network Manager, you can also just run this command! nmcli dev wifi show-password You get the password as text, and a nice in-terminal QR code.

That is actually quite cool. I wonder how many command line tools could take advantage of such a feature. Like, I don't know, upload a file somewhere and show a one-time QR code to transfer that file into your phone or something.

I use QR codes in my DIY VPN script https://GitHub.com/fazalmajid/edgewalker to ease setup of WireGuard and IPsec VPN clients like iPhones.

Re: Guest WiFi using a QR code

#280

This is super cool and would be awesome for situations where your guests are familiar with QR codes. But from my experience the process would go something like this: Visitor: What's your wifi password? Me: No password needed! We have a cool QR code you can scan that will auto-join you! Visitor: Oh cool, how do I use a QR code? Do I need an app? Me: Nope, just point your camera at it. Visitor: Like .. .take a picture…

People in Asia took to QR codes like ducks to water a long time ago, and Covid accelerated adoption in Europe and North America.
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