Q: How do I prevent Personal Hotspot from automatically activating whenever a device decides to connect to my phone.

Richard Patterson3 wrote:

 

This seems to be a SERIOUS security issue.  If something is turned off, why can it be overridden?  This is non-intuitive and wide-open back-door.

The only devices that can access it are ones that are also signed in under your Apple ID. So, unless you're giving out your Apple ID credentials to all and sundry, it's not a security issue.

HI Meg:

Thanks for the response.  Unfortunately, I disagree.  What this tells me is that if I am signed into iCoud, there is a back door that overrides my personal settings on my phone.

I am pretty careful with my settings, but this clearly violates my settings and overrides them.

Apple needs to add a 'Personal Hotspot' ON/OFF toggle on the iCloud preferences - and toggles for any other 'unwritten overrides'.

In fact this really scares me that if I am signed into iCloud Apple is overriding my security settings.

It seems that the only solution is to not use iCloud at all or sign-in/sign-out each time when checking e-mail (what a pain).

If anything, an enahcenment to the iCloud preferences to disable ANY overrides, such as, Personal Hotspot Is needed.

Richard Patterson3 wrote:

 

HI Meg:

 

Thanks for the response.  Unfortunately, I disagree.  What this tells me is that if I am signed into iCoud, there is a back door that overrides my personal settings on my phone.

iCloud is one of your personal settings.

Don't give anyone else your Apple ID and no one else can use your Personal Hotspot.

Submit your feedback to Apple here:

http://www.apple.com/feedback

However, it's pretty clear they don't believe it's a security issue as it protected by your Apple ID.

Actually, the behaviour as described by Richard Patterson is the correct behaviour. Any iOS or MacOS device logged in with SAME AppleID can connect to the hotspot, defacto activating the hotspot.

If you want control, e.g. your children to have access only when you allow, you would need a seperate AppleID. They can still enjoy benefits of purchased apps and Apple Music through family sharing.

MY problem is that my Macbook 12" does connect to my hotspot when the macbook should be asleep (lid closed). Moreover PowerNap is switched off too. Seems that data use is high when this happens because of many emails. I actually have an app to control data use, but this app doesn't work in sleep.

It is a major petpeeve, as my monthly 5 gb dataplan already had 2 gb use in just 7 days. I need to switch off wifi, else my macbook keeps connecting. I am sure this is not right behavior, especially with powernap switched off.

I have the same issue, it is important to me that my kids use my Apple ID so I can keep tabs on what they are doing, and I also want to be able to grant/refuse access to the hotspot as I deem fit.

I gather that this is a feature, not a bug - but since it is a feature that not everybody wants, it should be a selection as opposed to a default.  Is there any sense that Apple will address this?

In that case the 'simple' solution is to make an AppleID for your kids, separate from your own AppleID and to use family sharing for apps, music, photos and more.

If your kids and you are on the same AppleID, as far as I know hotspot will connect even when switched off. I haven't heard of a solution to prevent this.

I think it's fair that Apple doesn't see it as a security issue, although they go to pretty extreme lengths in other areas to prevent security breach.

However, and Apple should acknowledge this, it should be configurable.  Stijn1976 reports a data plan issue (Jul 22) and it is a real thing.  As far as I can see, the only way to defeat something like this is to put the phone into Airplane mode (or deactivate wi-fi/Bluetooth depending on how you are connecting) which is not ideal or even always practicable.

It would not be difficult to provide an Instant Hotspot toggle switch in Settings.  This is a feature introduced without fanfare and it seems I am not the only one caught unaware - to my expense.

Stijn - what if my kids are using my iPad, say in the car, and I am using my phone for navigation? My iPad would override my phone setting, I can't stop it, and they could potentially drain my data plan.

I "could" create separate Apple IDs for each of my kids, however the parental control settings are not sufficient for me.

@kenobi_bass: I acknowledge the issue, and I have suffered from it myself. Yes, you are right. Your data maybe used for Youtube.

Not sure if I understand why the parental control settings would be insufficient, as you could setup the new Apple ID just as your current and keep all parental controls the same.

Biggest downfall would be if you use Apple Music, since you would need to switch to the more expensive family plan.

I have been trying to see if it would be possible to set a 'per-connection' password on the iPad, meaning you would need to key a password to be able to join any network. It seems possible, but this goes into software that companies use to manage large groups of iOS devices.  iOS Wi-Fi profiles: About Auto Join and per-connection password settings - Apple Support

Good luck!