Restrict access to certain zones

Since Sonos does not offer a controller app for BlackBerry 10 phones, I recently downloaded one of several available third-party apps to control my Sonos system. However, I was shocked when I realized that I was able to start using that app to control my Sonos system without even complying with the (very limited) security feature of having to press the join button on one of my Sonos components, which I believe is required when you use Sonos's own controller app for various platforms.  In other words, my BB being connected to my home wireless network was sufficient for the app to have full and immediate access to controlling my Sonos system.  Even before this discovery, I found Sonos seriously lacking with respect to security (for the reasons pointed out by other posters in this and other threads) but I did not realize until now that it was this bad.  (Unlike some of the other posters, I don't live in a university hall or other building with shared wireless, but for those who do, this must be a major drawback.)

Sonos, can you please implement the following as soon as possible:
- Ability to restrict the addition of controllers to an existing system (e.g., by requiring a password for adding controllers)
- Ability to grant restricted access to certain controllers (e.g., allowing party guests to add songs to the current queue, but not to control anything else; or allowing your kids to control the loudspeaker in their own rooms but not to control any other zones)
- Ability to revoke the access of existing controllers from your system (e.g., remove the controllers of party guests after a party)

For each of these, no changes need to be made for basic users - they can simply be made available as optional advanced features in the menu system.

From the Sonos FB feed - Is this a sign?

"Sonos parents, do your kids ever ask *you* to turn the music down?"

Hi all, first of all: A Happy New Year to all of you and especially the Sonos team! I wouldn't trash my Sonos system having not the "restriction" function, but like the other fans requesting this feature I have the need for it. I'm a Daddy of four, and currently Sonos is in place in living room, as a mobile Play 3, and in one of my kids room. But I avoided to give an RC option to my boy to keep myself save... As I'd like to extend the system to other kids rooms and the guest room as well the feature becomes more and more important to me. I really do understand if Sonos likes to implement a complete new security system. That would not be done by just letting a zone disappear in the Sonos app as it still would be accessible by direct talk to the IP address. But that needs a lot more knowledge and action and I love this opportunity. But if you're not a nerd or technically interested, it's enough to just be able to hide different zones in the app. Best regards to you all, Ralph.
Happy new year indeed 😛

Now you've done it, Wendy...stand by to be chastised by the apologists for being a crappy parent or having superficial friends or any myriad of other personal shortcomings.

Never give up the fight.  I already spoiled someone's day at a Sonos demonstration and they hopefully took that back with them to their boss.

One of these days either a tech journal or a class-action lawyer will pick this up and it will suddenly be so easy for them to implement.

This request is coming up for its 9 year anniversary Sonos !  Are you really that unappreciative of your customer feedback - it makes you look so unhelpful  and just  $$$ focused - sometimes it pays to listen...
 http://forums.sonos.com/showthread.php?t=3271

Hi everyone,

We appreciate that this is a desired feature for Sonos and that you're all keen for an update on whether or not it may be under development.  At this time, we have no new information to be shared on the topic.  We are listening however, and we're reading every new comment submitted.

When we do have news to share, you'll be among the first to know.  Thank you for your continued support.

Heh... You've just managed to turn my disappointment over this into actual anger.

Seriously, what kind of NSA-esque statement is this? Sonos has been aware of this feature request for close to nine years, and you won't even say if it's being discussed internally?

If you want our continued support I personally think you should consider giving people a reason to support you. I won't be buying more Sonos players until some kind of solution for this problem is available - heck, I'd be a happy camper if you'd just publish an API and let people build their own controller apps.

I originally started this thread. The official response above is nothing short of insulting to all the contributors to this discussion. Either provide some useful information or don't bother contributing. As a long standing SONOS customer who has spent considerable sums on my system I am extremely angry and disappointed with the poor customer service and lack of software development with this issue.

Dear John,
well, i have to say that I slowly realize that Sonos isn't interested in their customers wishes at all. I guess all you want is our money, so you guys can keep your well paid developer or marketing jobs.
Well, after purchasing more than 8 Sonos now, i will slowly but surely switch over to something new.
It is very unprofessional to let us know, that you read this thread since years, and still will monitoring what people have to say, and still do nothing. You suck at communication. Seriously, than just say nothing and keep quiet. Snowden has no info on you, so please John, stay in the shadows in the future.
Such an easy feature to add, and still you guys can't figure it out. Either your engineers are useless and incompetent or you seriously are so sure that people will keep on buying your stuff even if you totally ignore their wishes.
Well, i guess we will hear another useless comment from some official rep in let's say, ...... 2 years.

I'm very new to Sonos and while I am extremely satisfied and impressed with the system's ease of use, setup and performance, I too am disappointed with the lack of progress on the security issue which is - in an age where wifi is the norm and everybody is walking around with a controller - a glaring, fundamental and negligent omission. I have quickly scanned this thread and will state what I think you all know already. Sonos does not care about the potential for admin/security on its systems and will not be implementing it.

I will be securing my system behind a subnet and a hidden SSID however not everybody has the ability or desire to do this. This will also present its own issues but is the best solution I can think of for now. As I said I am happy with the system and may even look at expanding but I can't in good faith recommend it to others because it is missing such a vital component.

I look forward to being made to eat humble pie ...