How to Stop Windows 7 from Automatically Connecting to Unsecure WiFi

wifi-configurationwindows 7wireless-networking

One of my neighbors has an unsecure wifi network called WLAN. At one point in the past, I accidentally connected to it, and disconnected immediately when I noticed. Now, when I open my laptop at home, it sometimes connects to the WLAN network first, before trying my (secured) home wifi network.

The information I've found regarding this issue seems to suggest this network should have a profile on the "Manage wireless networks" screen – but it does not.

How do I tell Windows 7 to never connect to networks with SSIDs called WLAN? Or to never connect to unsecured networks without confirming with me first?

Best Answer

From this Microsoft MVP:

To block a neighbor's unencrypted wireless network called WLAN, type this in a command window as an administrator:

netsh wlan add filter permission=block ssid=WLAN networktype=infrastructure

I just had it again: after a reboot, Windows 7 automatically connected to a public open (but non-working) network I have never connected to, and I didn't have any option (in the UI) to prevent that. The command above (with the network name in double quotes instead of WLAN) completely removed the network from Windows' radar!

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