Is automatically connecting to the internet secure?

[gettinthere]

New to Uverse and wireless, about 6 weeks.  I have one laptop with Windows 7 Home Premium. Everything was going well until I clicked on  "troubleshoot internet connections" by mistake.  It appeared that this process set up my internet connection to connect automatically and bypassed the "enter network security key" box and automatically connected to the internet. I disconnected to internet and tried to connect again and then I unchecked the box "connect automatically, thinking this would take the connection back to manual.  It didn;t.  Then I tried to set up a manual connection in Network and Sharing Center, Managing Network connections and adding my network connection and unchecking the box "connect automatically".   All of this because I didn't know if connecting automatically is secure!!  After reading everything on Microsoft website, help, etc. I still couldn't find anything.  Soooo, called ATT support, was told that connect automatically without entering network security key was NOT SECURE.  The rep changed my SSID name and entered a new Network Security Key.  This was on Tuesday, Sept. 18 this week.  Now, after all of that was changed, I decided to add my network connection to my computer by going to Network and Sharing Center, Manage Network Connections.  After I added my new internet connection then went to connect to the internet, imagine my surprise when it connected automatically again!!   Confused and very,very frustrated, went to ATT Support site and read everything  I could find about internet connections.  It appears that I should check the box that says "connect automatically?  Does this mean that bypassing entering the network security is just for convenience of user to not have to enter every time when connecting?  When looking at all the network connections in my area, I don't see the yellow triangle on my SSID and the "connect automatically" box is no longer there for me to check or uncheck. It just shows the "Connect" box 

[wmertke · Accepted solution]

Hi,

Whether you enter your password manually or its entered automatically makes no difference to the security of the connection. An explanation to NOT SECURE is: if someone wanted to use your internet from your computer and you wanted to prevent this. If you would like to enter your password each time these are the steps:

1. Open "Network and Sharing Center"
2. Open "Manage wireless networks"
3. Right click on your Wireless SSID and select "Remove network"
4. Open the wireless bar on taskbar
5. Select your Wireless SSID
6. Uncheck "Connect automatically"
7. Click "Connect"
8. If it asks for a PIN you can select "Connect using a security key instead"
9. Input "Security Key" and OK
10. Next time and every time you connect you must uncheck Connect automatically

Thanks

wmertke

[gettinthere]

Thank u for sharing that with me! I had tried that but when it asked me to confirm remove, I cancelled out. Was unsure and I did not know what I was doing. However, I really learned a lot by reading while trying to find the answer! Thanks again!