How To Open Hotspot

[Valorie Carlee]

Youcan use your phone's mobile data to connect another phone, tablet, or computer to the internet. Sharing a connection this way is called tethering or using a hotspot. Some phones can share Wi-Fi connection by tethering.

I'm trying to play a video game with my friends that requires a local wifi network that allows UDP broadcasts. The dorm wifi doesn't allow UDP broadcasts, so I'm trying to set up my laptop as a hotspot. Windows 10 by default allows you to share an internet connection over wifi, but you must have an internet connection to do so. Sharing the wifi connection results in a lot of problems such as constant disconnects, and I don't have access to an ethernet connection to share. Is there some way I can set up a wifi network without actually sharing an internet connection?

1.) Open an elevated command prompt. Win+X and choose CMD (Admin) OR type in "cmd" or "command prompt" into Windows Search by typing into Start Menu and then right click "Command Prompt" and select "Run As Administrator"

2.) Check if your system is capable run this command: netsh wlan show drivers. Scroll down to Hosted network supported. If it saysYes you are in luck; if No there is no easy alternative and don't continue.

Replace %ssid% with your Wifi or "Hotspot" Name or SSID. E.g. ssid=MyGreatHotspot. Replace %pass% with your Wifi or "Hotspot" Password. It must be 8 characters long at a minimum. E.g. key=strongPasswordsAreWEAK.

4.) After that run the command, netsh wlan start hostednetwork, to start the "Hotspot" broadcast. Right now you can play without internet connection after all devices connect. Remember to check IP addresses of all your individual devices in order to connect to each other. The hotspot's IP Address usually is "192.168.137.1".

5.) Open Run (Win + R) or by searching for Run and enter in ncpa.cpl, then press Enter. A new adapter has shown in the screen it should say something along the lines of "Microsoft Hosted Network Virtual Adapter". (Optional if you're OCD, rename that one if its says "L.A.N Connection* 15" or rather to like "Hotspot"). Right click the Internet Connect Source you want to share internet from and choose "Properties." Go to the "Sharing" Tab and checkmark or toggle on "Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet Connection." Apply, OK to save changes.

In case writing your own application is a possibility, have a look at the WiFi Direct API, which offers a legacy mode. Enabling the legacy mode will create a SoftAP with the specified SSID and password. However, specifying no password doesn't seem to be supported.

Have a look at the IoTOnboarding sample to see the legacy mode in action (and to have a better 'documentation' than what Microsoft officially provides): IotOnboarding/IoTOnboardingService/OnboardingAccessPoint.cs

If you are still using windows 10, then just open "Microsoft Store" from Start Menu. Find the app named as "Hotspot Lite" from there and just install it. Now open the app and configure the settings if you want or not. Done!!

Current behavior: I turn on my wireless hotspot, and it stays on until it turns itself off / the SSID stops broadcasting automatically. It only seems to start broadcasting again once I visit the settings menu for Personal hotspot.

In this period before your VPN takes over, what might be exposed depends on what software you run. Do you use a POP3 or IMAP e-mail client? If they check automatically, that traffic is out in the clear for all to see, including potentially the login credentials. Other programs, like instant messaging client, may try to log on.

The article is correct, and a real threat exists in the initial period before the VPN is set up. It's a chicken and egg problem. The VPN configuration doesn't matter in this case, since to establish the VPN connection in the first place, you must first have an internet connection. Many/Most open internet points require you to register with them by entering in a secret code, or an email address, or merely accept the Terms of Service. This requires a non-VPN connection.

Generally that means having a browser open that talks directly to your local network rather than through the VPN. When started, browsers often bring up the last page they went to, and re-submit any parameters. So if you were to open your browser and it were to open a series of pages you last visited, you could leak information if those sites were http and not https.

It might be mostly secure if hotspot in question is not captive portal but truly open WiFi, and your local firewall is configured to drop ALL traffic which is not VPN traffic destined for your VPN server (so no traffic whatsoever can flow between your computer and any computer but VPN server), and you have connected your VPN before in secure environment and have saved and will verify its key (like ssh does, for example) instead of depending on PKI (like HTTPS does by default). And of course if you are not state-level person-of-interest as they can do side-channel attacks on both you and your VPN server (and probably crack the VPN anyway or use backdoor implemented in it) and much other fun stuff. But Joe Random probably won't be able to steal your bank account in this case if your software is not buggy.

However, (at least around here) most such hotspots are captive portals, which means they would not allow use before you at least click on their webpage and accept terms of use and stuff; and that is insecure - not only would you have to make an exception to pass web traffic unencrypted (potentially compromising any windows open in your web browser, profiles sync etc), but your browser would also by definition need to render whatever the captive portal (or any attacker spoofing it) throw at it, making you vulnerable to any browser or plugin bug (of which there are neverending streams). This is much higher risk, especially as airports and such are very sweet targets for such individuals.

But then again, if you surf around random sites on the Internet with javascript and flash enabled, you are already engaged in risky activity, so this might not increase your risk significantly (but then again, it might).

Adding to the already excellent answers. To protect your activity in a Wifi Hotspot with a VPN currently there are two advised technologies, OpenVPN and IPsec. IPsec takes more time to be configured properly, however it is supported natively by more devices.

It should be also noted that as the other comments also mention, all the traffic should go through the VPN. Or to employ the technical term, the VPN should not be configured as permitting split tunnelling.

Split tunneling is a computer networking concept which allows a mobile user to access dissimilar security domains like a public network (e.g., the Internet) and a local LAN or WAN at the same time, using the same or different network connections.

In the same vein, it is rather important that the VPN also answers to DNS requests. To prevent clients that have hardcoded DNS servers, either intentionally or through other problems (including malware), the VPN should intercept DNS requests and direct them to the VPN itself (or a DNS server trusted by the VPN).

The features that make the whole point of wireless access points for consumers offer parallel hackers new opportunities, such as the fact that no authentication is required to establish a network connection. Such situations give them a great opportunity indeed free access to insecure devices on the same network.

They are also able to get between you and the point of connection, a configuration that represents the greatest threat for Free wifi security. So instead of communicating directly with the access point, you send your information to hackers, who then relay them.

Meanwhile, hackers can access each of the information you send over the Internet: important emails, credit card data or credentials to access your corporate network. Once hackers have the information, they may, at their option, to access your systems on your behalf.

Hackers are also able to use a wifi insecure connection to deliver malware. If you allow file sharing on a network, the attacker can easily install infected software on your computer. Some ingenious hackers even managed to hack the connection point itself, thus managing to open a popup window during the connection process to offer an upgrade of a popular software. When the user clicks on the window, malware is installed.

Mobile wireless connectivity becoming increasingly common, one must expect an increase in security problems on the Internet and risks to public wifi networks. This does mean that you should avoid free wifi and stay glued to your desk. The vast majority of pirates will simply prey on easy targets. So it is usually enough to take some precautions to keep your information safe.

A VPN (virtual private network) is required when you access your corporate network via an unsecured connection, like a wireless access point. Even if a hacker manages to place in the middle of your connection, the data on it will be strongly encrypted. Since most pirates prefer easy prey, they do not embarrass stolen information requiring tedious decryption process.

While it is unlikely that you have a VPN connection while browsing on the Internet in general, nothing prevents you to add a level of encryption to your communications. Enable the "Always use HTTPS" on websites that you visit frequently or that prompt you to enter credentials. Remember that the pirates are well aware that users use the same login and password for forums, their bank or corporate network. Sending these credentials without encryption and may open a breach in which a clever hacker will be eager to rush. Most Web sites that require the opening of an account or identification data entry offer the "HTTPS" option in their settings.

When you connect to the Internet in a public place, it is unlikely that you want to share anything. In this case, you can disable the sharing option in System Preferences or Control Panel, depending on your operating system, or let Windows turn it off for you by choosing the option "Public" the first time you connect to a new unsecured network.

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