Google will soon make it easier to share your Wi-Fi password

Never forget a Wi-Fi password again with Nearby Share

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

The days of needing to manually remember long and complicated Wi-Fipasswordscould soon be at an end for some users.

Googlehas announced that its Nearby Share service will soon allow people to share Wi-Fi passwords fromAndroid 12toChromebookdevices.

This means that users withsmartphonesrunning the latest version of Android, such as theGoogle Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, will be able to quickly hook theirlaptopsup to the internet, potentially a huge help if running between meetings or taking public transport.

Wi-Fi password sharing

Nearby Share is effectively Google’s competitor toApple’s AirDrop service, allowing users to quickly share information and files directly from device to device.

Launched in August 2020, it has mainly been used to share files, photos and other items from Android and Chrome OS devices, but the launch of Android 12 brought the ability to also share Wi-Fi networks.

According toChrome Story, which uncovered news of the update in the Chromium Repository, users will not need to be connected to the same network, just within Bluetooth range.

Along with the Wi-Fi password, users will also be able to share the network name or SSID, as well as information on the level of security (e.g. WPA2 or WPA3).

Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed!

How to secure your Wi-Fi at home and in your business>How to change your router password>6 ways to secure your home Wi-Fi

The feature is still apparently in development, but we’ll likely see a release soon - possibly in the launch ofChrome 100, which is set for later in 2022.

Google will need to ensure any such feature remains tightly secured, as Wi-Fi and network passwords are a juicy lure to hackers everywhere. Recent academic research claimed thatbillions of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devicescould be vulnerable to password and data theft attacks.

Researchers say that attackers could manipulate web traffic on a Wi-Fi chip by targeting the Bluetooth component of mobile devices featuring multiple wireless technologies, allowing them to launch lateral privilege escalation attacks across wireless chip boundaries.

Via9to5Google

Mike Moore is Deputy Editor at TechRadar Pro. He has worked as a B2B and B2C tech journalist for nearly a decade, including at one of the UK’s leading national newspapers and fellow Future title ITProPortal, and when he’s not keeping track of all the latest enterprise and workplace trends, can most likely be found watching, following or taking part in some kind of sport.

This new malware utilizes a rare programming language to evade traditional detection methods

A new form of macOS malware is being used by devious North Korean hackers

Arcane season 2 confirms the hit series isn’t just one of the best Netflix shows ever made – it’s an animated legend that’ll stand the test of time