Flint Million

Q: Manually removing stored Wifi networks from iPad?

I have a rather interesting question:

As we all know, iPad will remember wireless networks we connect to by way of the settings app. Whenever those networks are in range, iPad will automatically connect to them. (This also applies to iPhone/iPod touch)

Suppose that you at some point logged into a network, using the settings panel, but you later wish to remove it from the list of saved networks (e.g. you're giving the iPad to a friend to use, giving it away, etc.)

So far, the only way I know of to do this is to be in range of the network in question, then select it in the settings panel and choose Forget This Network.

This to me represents a potential security risk. Suppose that you pair your iPad to a corporate work network. Later, you decide to loan out your iPad. All the person you loaned it to has to do is go in range of the office network (Which is heavily guarded by WPA2, we'll assume) and poof, they're in, because your iPad saved the network. Someone who is not authorized just penetrated a LAN.

Normally, you could simply remove that network from the remembered networks store prior to loaning. Mac, Windows and everything else seems to have a way to remove remembered networks manually. However, on the iPad (and any other iOS device) I can't find a way to get the device to forget a known network, unless I happen to be in range of that network at the time. Is there a way to do this?

FM

MacBook Pro 15"/i7/4GB/500GB/DVDRW, Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Jan 30, 2011 10:18 PM

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Q: Manually removing stored Wifi networks from iPad?

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  • by Chris CA,

    Chris CA Chris CA Jan 30, 2011 10:28 PM in response to Flint Million
    Level 9 (79,603 points)
    iPhone
    Jan 30, 2011 10:28 PM in response to Flint Million
    but you later wish to remove it from the list of saved networks (e.g. you're giving the iPad to a friend to use, giving it away, etc.)

    if you are getting rid of the iPad, you should Restore it and delete everything on it.
    If you simply want to get rid of networks, Settings > General > Reset network settings
  • by DJV1255,

    DJV1255 DJV1255 Jan 30, 2011 11:27 PM in response to Flint Million
    Level 1 (45 points)
    Jan 30, 2011 11:27 PM in response to Flint Million
    Go to settings-->wifi.
    Click on the blue arrow on the right of network you no longer want to connect to.

    Click on the"forget this network" button.
    This button will not show if you can't connect to that network.
  • by Philly_Phan,

    Philly_Phan Philly_Phan Jan 31, 2011 12:30 AM in response to DJV1255
    Level 6 (13,576 points)
    iPhone
    Jan 31, 2011 12:30 AM in response to DJV1255
    DJV1255 wrote:
    Go to settings-->wifi.
    Click on the blue arrow on the right of network you no longer want to connect to.

    Click on the"forget this network" button.
    This button will not show if you can't connect to that network.



    That works only if you're in range of that specific network. Chris' solution is better.
  • by Camping Doc,

    Camping Doc Camping Doc Mar 26, 2011 1:01 PM in response to Philly_Phan
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Mar 26, 2011 1:01 PM in response to Philly_Phan
    My question is similar to the original one. The problem with Chris' solution is it wipes out ALL the remembered networks. What if I only want to wipe one or two, and I am not in range of those networks. E.g., I have to go to a business meeting this coming week. I will probably link to the conference center's wi-fi. Are you saying that forever and ever, my iPad will remember that network, that it will be cluttering up the iPad's memory, and there is nothing I can do about it, short of eliminating ALL my networks and starting over again? This seems to me to be a very huge blunder on the Apple iPad programmers part if that is the case.
  • by JimHdk,

    JimHdk JimHdk Mar 26, 2011 4:15 PM in response to Camping Doc
    Level 7 (28,565 points)
    iPad
    Mar 26, 2011 4:15 PM in response to Camping Doc
    Camping Doc wrote:
    My question is similar to the original one. The problem with Chris' solution is it wipes out ALL the remembered networks. What if I only want to wipe one or two, and I am not in range of those networks. E.g., I have to go to a business meeting this coming week. I will probably link to the conference center's wi-fi. Are you saying that forever and ever, my iPad will remember that network, that it will be cluttering up the iPad's memory, and there is nothing I can do about it, short of eliminating ALL my networks and starting over again? This seems to me to be a very huge blunder on the Apple iPad programmers part if that is the case.


    Yes, you can only remove a single network when you are within range of it.

    If you would like a new capability added submit a suggestion to Apple at: http://www.apple.com/feedback/ipad.html
  • by loftygit,

    loftygit loftygit Dec 7, 2011 3:24 AM in response to Flint Million
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 7, 2011 3:24 AM in response to Flint Million

    I have had a similar problem. After staying in a Hotel for a few days and half registering for their wireless network, I was unable to sign into the App Store or my account from both my iPad and my iPhone. Safari just worked, Opera was better.

     

    My account was OK from my PC and other iPhones worked from home, just not my devices.

     

    I tried resetting, not restoring, etc but nothing worked, After reading this note I gave it a try and Hey Presto I have my account back, but I have lost all my stored wirelss accounts, not just the errant one.

     

    I have registered a request with Apple to allow the listing and editting of wireless accounts - just off to hold my breath 8-)

     

    Cheers

  • by dj0,

    dj0 dj0 Feb 21, 2012 3:22 PM in response to Flint Million
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 21, 2012 3:22 PM in response to Flint Million

    one thing everyone probably doesn't realise is that not only does your iPad remember the networks it's previously been connected to, but it actually actively searches for them, effectively advertising to the world where you've been.

     

    For example, my iPad actively probes for:

    • My last name (from using a family members WiFi, named such)
    • A hotel in Singapore (where I'm often on business)
    • My home wifi AP name
    • Two cafe's I'm regularly at
    • My office AP name
    • My cellphones mobile AP name
    • and a few other random ones....

     

    So, the only solution is to completely wipe my iPad every wee while? great...

  • by unacoder,

    unacoder unacoder Jun 1, 2012 3:18 PM in response to Flint Million
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 1, 2012 3:18 PM in response to Flint Million

    I had the same need, but for a different reason.  I logged into my office wireless network from my iPad,  and it memorized my pin.  The problem is that my pin comes from an RSA token and changes every minute.  So now when ever my iPad is in range of my office network, it tries to log in continuously until my login is deactivated automatically for failing to use the correct password.

     

    I had to reset all network settings as Chris suggested above, but this is a huge pain in the arse.  Now I also have to reregister all the other wireless networks I was using before... =(

  • by kdf5036,

    kdf5036 kdf5036 Sep 19, 2012 4:13 PM in response to Flint Million
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 19, 2012 4:13 PM in response to Flint Million

    I have the same issue after updating to iOS 6.  I have tried multiple wireless networks and none will let me connect.  The 3G still works.

  • by BrianWGray,

    BrianWGray BrianWGray Oct 8, 2012 3:12 PM in response to dj0
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 8, 2012 3:12 PM in response to dj0

    But that is what makes this "feature" so great. When a user adds an open wifi connection then can't remove it and they are ripe for attacks like karma. Stolen credentials, modified web content, and all matter of mischief to be had. The obvious solution is to wipe your device every time you use it. With my sarcasm out of the way; is wiping the only solution that has been found? I have been using airbase-ng  to tell my devices that the APs are in range so they can be removed, there has to be a better way.

  • by Menneisyys,

    Menneisyys Menneisyys Oct 9, 2012 6:23 AM in response to Flint Million
    Level 4 (1,300 points)
    Oct 9, 2012 6:23 AM in response to Flint Million

    Not without jailbreaking, sorry.

  • by cbmj,

    cbmj cbmj Oct 20, 2012 9:45 PM in response to Menneisyys
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 20, 2012 9:45 PM in response to Menneisyys

    Is there an app for this if the phone is jailbroken?

  • by Chris CA,

    Chris CA Chris CA Oct 21, 2012 5:37 PM in response to cbmj
    Level 9 (79,603 points)
    iPhone
    Oct 21, 2012 5:37 PM in response to cbmj

    No.

  • by Aring0,

    Aring0 Aring0 Mar 20, 2013 1:25 AM in response to Flint Million
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 20, 2013 1:25 AM in response to Flint Million

    If you are not on the network and want to delete it without a wipe.

     

    Settings> General> Reset> Reset Network Settings.

     

    But this would erase all of them I believe so you would have to input passwords for networks at home etc.  Ill check with Wireshark this weekend to make sure it's not sending probe requests after the reset.

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