This topic

Is it safe to give an app my BT hub password?

bee2tee — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 19:13:31 GMT

I am trying to setup an app for a UbiBot WS1 temperature sensor, and it wants to know my location, the SSID and the password for my BT hub, is it safe to give it to them?

Re: Is it safe to give an app my BT hub password?

gg30340 — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 19:28:57 GMT

If you read the information about your UbiBot WS1 temperature sensor and about what the app is used for it will tell you why it needs those permissions. Once you do that you can make an informed decision if you want it to connect to your BT hub so that you can use all its features.

Re: Is it safe to give an app my BT hub password?

licquorice — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 19:30:08 GMT

Yes, it's no different to entering WiFi password on a printer. Not going to work unless you do.

Re: Is it safe to give an app my BT hub password?

bee2tee — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 19:47:34 GMT

Thanks gg30340 but it does not say why it wants the info.

Re: Is it safe to give an app my BT hub password?

bee2tee — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 19:51:04 GMT

Thanks but surely licquorice, the printer manufacture will not have access to this info, whereas UniBot will have access to the password etc

Re: Is it safe to give an app my BT hub password?

licquorice — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 20:01:24 GMT

Can't see how Ubibot will have access, surely it will only be your device and the app

Re: Is it safe to give an app my BT hub password?

bee2tee — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 20:05:13 GMT

Oh OK licquorice, thanks.

Re: Is it safe to give an app my BT hub password?

licquorice — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 20:41:21 GMT

Even if Ubibot did have the SSID and password, it would be of no use to them unless they were sitting outside your house connecting to your WiFi.

Re: Is it safe to give an app my BT hub password?

bee2tee — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 20:51:55 GMT

Yes, thanks licquorice, I just worried because I have not been asked these questions before and I don’t see why they want to know my location. I am not technical, and it seems a bit odd to me because they say the actual device does not use my wifi, I just use the app to access the info that the device sends to the cloud. I can’t actually talk to the device.

Re: Is it safe to give an app my BT hub password?

licquorice — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 20:52:17 GMT

But the device uses your WiFi to access the cloud.

Re: Is it safe to give an app my BT hub password?

bee2tee — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 21:09:33 GMT

I suppose that you are right, but I am confused by UbiBot, licquorice, in their description of the item, it says “ WiFi only, no hub required”, so I asked "How does the sensor send data to the Unibot Platform? It says no hub required, but it is the hub that provides the wifi and connects to the internet." their reply was “The device will sync data with UbiBot platform through WiFi. No hub means that no additional hub required. Regards, Tim UbiBot Support". The only other thing that I would say, is that I think that they mean the device to be used with a mobile phone, if that makes any difference?

Re: Is it safe to give an app my BT hub password?

licquorice — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 21:19:59 GMT

I'm not sure what they mean by 'hub', but it is not a home hub or router they mean. The only possible way your device can connect to the cloud is via your WiFi.

Re: Is it safe to give an app my BT hub password?

bee2tee — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 21:27:59 GMT

OK thanks very much for your patience licquorice, sorry to bother you. I originally assumed that the device was acting like a mobile phone in connecting with the cloud.

Re: Is it safe to give an app my BT hub password?

WSH — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 21:29:03 GMT

To put some context on this for you:

A lot of IT phraseology is applied very sloppily in the home market. For example, there is actually no such thing as “Ethernet cable”.

In this case they may be using the word “hub” in its original meaning. Hubs were the forerunner of switches. They were dumb devices that acted just as splitters and caused poor performance as networks got more complicated. Switches replaced them. BT (and other ISP’s) use of the word hub is really a corruption, basically just referring to the thing that connects everything else together.

I suspect in this case they mean it communicates by WiFi rather than via cable through a hub/switch. Of course, it still goes out through the router to reach the Cloud.

Re: Is it safe to give an app my BT hub password?

bee2tee — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 21:36:41 GMT

This guy Tim of UbiBot, I assume is in the US, as he replies to me in the early hours of the morning, maybe they use different terminology too.

Re: Is it safe to give an app my BT hub password?

Muffer_2 — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 22:22:55 GMT

As stated in the "Solved" response Yes.
HOWEVER
You should always research the relevant App or device for Trustworthiness / Reviews/ etc............ if in any doubt DECLINE!

Re: Is it safe to give an app my BT hub password?

gg30340 — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 23:05:54 GMT

I found the following review about the device:-

"Initial setup was a little awkward. At first my Android phone app would not locate the Ubibot, therefore I could not get the device to join our wifi network. The instruction leaflet was a little lacking in advice, but the Ubibot phone App did pop up an advice box, which you should read thoroughly. It tells you to TURN OFF cellular data and re-start the setup procedure - and behold, the Ubibot does indeed connect to your phone (at this stage it transmits its own wifi network which you then tell your phone to connect to). Once connected, follow on-screen prompts and the device will be connected to your regular home wifi SSID. From this point on the WS1 will ping Ubibot's own server with a status update (once ever 15 minutes is the default setting). Your phone app (or any other internet browser) can then be logged in to Ubibot's web server, and you can view your WS1's data".

I would suggest that you read the instruction that came with the device or that will no doubt be able to be found on the Ubibots website and that you follow the instructions to the letter so that your phone via the app activates and connects to the devices own wifi network and thereafter via the app you connect it to the your home wifi so that it can communicate to the Ubibots servers which will allow you to access the data.

Re: Is it safe to give an app my BT hub password?

Muffer_2 — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 23:30:49 GMT

Very Sage advice but as per my own..... if in doubt Research the app online for reviews including Pro's n Con's and IF IN DOUBT..............DECLINE!

Don't forget! it appears BT Community Forums rate there members by volume of posts rather than actual knowledge?
*i've gone up 3 levels already in barely 3 posts?*

Re: Is it safe to give an app my BT hub password?

bee2tee — Wed, 01 Dec 2021 01:56:18 GMT

Thanks gg30340, I agree with the reviewer although I am not using a phone, the instructions that came with the device are useless and their website is not very helpful either, I cannot get location services to accept the app but am in conversation with UbiBot about it.

Muffer_2, I paid £70 fo this device, so I gotta persevere with it, I spent a long time looking at the reviews before buying the device, and this seemed the most suitable for what I wanted, most of the others were too complicated.

Re: Is it safe to give an app my BT hub password?

licquorice — Wed, 01 Dec 2021 11:34:51 GMT

Sorry, I assumed (obviously wrongly) from your original post that the device was working but you just needed clarification regarding the security implications of entering your SSID and password in order to do so.

A couple of things you can try if you haven't already. Turn off Smart Setup, it causes untold problems.

https://www.bt.com/help/broadband/what-is-smart-setup-on-the-bt-hub--how-can-i-turn-it-on-and-off-

Secondly, some devices don't seem to like both wifi frequencies having the same SSID although they can't 'see' the 5Ghz signal. As the bands can't be split on the SH2, temporarily turn off the 5Ghz signal to see if that helps. If it does, once connected the 5Ghz can be switched back on.

I assume you have downloaded the manual https://www.ubibot.com/manuals/785/ubibot-ws1/