Sam's Wifi blocks Texas CHL Forum

[howdy]

I was at Sams's in Katy enjoying a gourmet hot dog combo and browsing the internet. I tried to log into this web site and it was blocked. I went to "settings" and noticed that my iphone had automatically logged into Sam's WiFi. I turned it off and I could now access the CHL web site. I turned WiFi back on and the web site was again blocked. I forget the exact wording but it said something like "this web site is blocked by the owner of this WiFi". Has this been something Sam's has always done or is this new?

[Dave2]

<Speculation>I think a lot of businesses don't want to deal with keeping their own list of "inappropriate" sites, and have started subscribing to blocking services. Those services tend to use a "blanket" approach based on keywords because it's easier.</Speculation>

[Pawpaw]

I'm absolutely shocked!

I had no idea Sam's had WiFi.

[Glockster]

Yup. This site doesn't actually have any meta tag keywords enabled, but the keyword density is high enough around the term "guns" that it would be blocked as the blocking services use that type of analysis to set the filter thresholds. Unfortunately this is nothing new -- a Google search will show that at least as of 2013 that KFC, Taco Bell, Wendy's all were doing the same blocking on gun related sites.

[Distinguished Rick]

Non issue for me. I go to Sam's to buy stuff, not use their wifi.

[F350-6]

Sorry for the dumb question, but do phones normally just log onto a wifi connection without any prompts? I don't have an I phone, but I didn't think they did that.

I keep my wifi turned off because I heard it improves battery life. Don't really know a lot about it, but don't like the idea of the phone just connecting to whatever it wants to on it's own.

[Glockster]

Sorry for the dumb question, but do phones normally just log onto a wifi connection without any prompts? I don't have an I phone, but I didn't think they did that.

I keep my wifi turned off because I heard it improves battery life. Don't really know a lot about it, but don't like the idea of the phone just connecting to whatever it wants to on it's own.

It does depend to some degree on your phone settings. You should be able to select something for asking or not asking to join known networks, and if you select no (or not on) then you will automatically join known networks. But you most likely won't have a Sam's public wifi as a known network, so you shouldn't likely join automatically. About turning your wifi off...if you're worried about battery life you're probably impacted more by location services being on, or anything that uses the GPS like mapping software, or your bluetooth can drain heavily. But just by having your cell service on and not in airplane mode your phone is connecting all the time.

[MeMelYup]

There are a lot of places like that. You cannot go o a firearms site but you can go to gay sites or anti firearm sites. I was at a place the other day and couldn't go to any gun sites. I did a search in gay sites and had a bunch of access. It would also let me view the MDA site.

[Oldgringo]

I'm absolutely shocked!

I had no idea Sam's had WiFi.

I think it is a new thing. The WalMart here in Polson has a sign on the door, FREE WIFI.

[Dave2]

Sorry for the dumb question, but do phones normally just log onto a wifi connection without any prompts? I don't have an I phone, but I didn't think they did that.

I keep my wifi turned off because I heard it improves battery life. Don't really know a lot about it, but don't like the idea of the phone just connecting to whatever it wants to on it's own.

It does depend to some degree on your phone settings. You should be able to select something for asking or not asking to join known networks, and if you select no (or not on) then you will automatically join known networks. But you most likely won't have a Sam's public wifi as a known network, so you shouldn't likely join automatically. About turning your wifi off...if you're worried about battery life you're probably impacted more by location services being on, or anything that uses the GPS like mapping software, or your bluetooth can drain heavily. But just by having your cell service on and not in airplane mode your phone is connecting all the time.

If you're using data on your phone, turning off wifi reduces your battery. At least on an iPhone.

[Oldgringo]

The Walmart WiFi in Polson allows Texas CHL Forum....if anybody cares.

[ShootDontTalk]

Security experts suggest not allowing any internet access except at known security-enabled WIFII locations. It is said that many commercial "free" WIFII servers are totally vulnerable to both illegal data mining by outside parties as well as "fishing" by the free commercial site owners. Most devices have an option that will ask your permission before logging into these servers. If you have any financial logon data in your device, I would restrict access entirely.

Or any pictures you don't want to see go viral!

[C-dub]

I wonder if they also block Costco.