Because all the latest gadgets and devices are equipped with some or other type of Wi-Fi adapter, the Wi-Fi hotspots are increasingly becoming popular for connecting to the internet. Some of these Wi-Fi hotspots (also called access points) are private but there are lots of free and publicly available hotspots too. If you live in a modern city in US, Canada or Europe then 9 out of 10, you will get a free hotspot as soon as you step out of your house. But some of these free hotspots could be malicious in nature and can be designed to steal your personal or financial information. If a Wi-Fi hotspot is appearing again and again in Windows, but you do not trust it then it is better to let Windows ignore it by making Windows “forget” that Wi-Fi network. This eradicates any possibility of a dangerous or risky situation when you accidentally connect to such a malicious network.
Here is how you can make Windows 8 (or 8.1) forget about any Wi-Fi network :
- Press the Win + I hotkey to open the settings charm bar.
- In the settings charm, click on the Network icon. This will open a list of all the available networks of all types – both wired and wireless networks – whether you are connected to them or not.
- Under the Wi-Fi category you would see a list of all the Wi-Fi networks available for you. Right-click on the Wi-Fi network that you want to forget, and select Forget this network from the context-menu.
- That’s it. That Wi-Fi network shall be ignored by Windows automatically in the future.
If you have previously selected to “connect automatically” to a Wi-Fi network, then the next time you come in the range of that network, Windows will automatically connect to it without asking your first. This becomes very risky if that public Wi-Fi hotspot is infected or is collecting your personal information. By allowing Windows 8 (or 8.1) to forget that network, you can prevent such disastrous situations in future.