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TreeGuy
Trending Lyricist I
August 12, 2018

Speaker password feature needed ASAP!

  • August 12, 2018
  • 85 replies
  • 3004 views
Sonos please task one of your engineers with adding a password option to the Sonos system just like Apple has done with their Homepods!

Airplay2 is a game changer when it comes to an open system like Sonos because any device with Airplay2 capability can take control of a sonos system without intentionally installing the Sonos app. While this is convenient on some networks it is a royal pain in the arse for others.

Take my home network as an example. I have two wireless networks - one for the family and one for guests. The guest network has no access to Sonos which is great. But everyone on the family network can control any speaker in the Sonos system because there is no way to secure them. Unfortunately I can't put them on a separate subnet due to the shared media and backup servers. Sure, I ask them not to connect to certain speaker and groups, but they don't see the harm in having the house filled with their cool tunes while I'm at work. Can't really blame them but it causes problems with the neighbors and even me (sucks to ask Alexa to play CNN on a speaker and have it blaring close to full volume because someone forgot to turn it down).

BTW, this wasn't much of a problem before the Airplay2 update because none of the kids had the Sonos app installed on their devices but now they connect without a 2nd thought.

Please give us the option to protect speakers and groups of speakers.
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    85 replies

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    jgatie
    jgatie
    August 16, 2018
    But the hacker is still not on the same subnet.

    If they have gained access to the network where the Sonos devices reside then they can poke, prod, control and attempt to hack those devices. That is an indisputable fact. How they gained access to the net and what devices they are using to attack the Sonos devices is not important.

    Gaining access to your network and being on the same subnet are 2 different things. And it is important if you are claiming an app based password will protect against a lack of network security. That is why they require authentication when linking services and not when loading the Sonos app, because apps from services like Spotify don't need to be on the same subnet.

    And stop with the judicious snipping. Answer the whole post or don't answer at all.
    TreeGuyAuthor
    Trending Lyricist I
    August 16, 2018
    Gaining access to your network and being on the same subnet are 2 different things.

    If you have gained access to the network it is but a small step to gain access to a device on that net. Once that happens all bets are off.

    And it is important if you are claiming an app based password will protect against a lack of network security. That is why they require authentication when linking services and not when loading the Sonos app.

    Not sure what you mean. The sonos device does not require user authentication to control the device from non-sonos apps.
    jgatie
    jgatie
    August 16, 2018
    Gaining access to your network and being on the same subnet are 2 different things.

    If you have gained access to the network it is but a small step to gain access to a device on that net. Once that happens all bets are off.

    And it is important if you are claiming an app based password will protect against a lack of network security. That is why they require authentication when linking services and not when loading the Sonos app.

    Not sure what you mean. The sonos device does not require user authentication to control the device from non-sonos apps.


    So you are claiming they are using a controller on your system. Which would mean you need a password every time you use the app? Not many are fans of that.

    And it most certainly requires you to authenticate when you initially link your service app to the Sonos app. Not to use the app to control Sonos, because that would be annoyingly stupid for 99% of users (see above).
    TreeGuyAuthor
    Trending Lyricist I
    August 16, 2018
    Which would mean you need a password every time you use the app? Not many are fans of that.
    Make it optional and when in place give the user the option to save the password in the app they use to control Sonos.

    Not to use the app to control Sonos, because that would be annoyingly stupid for 99% of users (see above).
    I am talking about controlling sonos from any app. No authentication is required, at least not as far I can see.
    jgatie
    jgatie
    August 16, 2018
    Which would mean you need a password every time you use the app? Not many are fans of that.
    Make it optional and when in place give the user the option to save the password in the app they use to control Sonos.

    Not to use the app to control Sonos, because that would be annoyingly stupid for 99% of users (see above).
    I am talking about controlling sonos from any app. No authentication is required, at least not as far I can see.

    If something were so important for security, you'd think it would be mandatory? Which brings me back to the point that this security topic is a charade. And saving it in the app would not prevent someone taking over your device and messing with Sonos, the very scenario you present above.

    To the controlling from another app thing, you cannot control via Spotify, Pandora, Alexa, etc. until you link the account with your Sonos account, which requires authentication. No authentication, no control from another subnet, no security risk. Which is the very reason they require it (as opposed to making it optional).
    TreeGuyAuthor
    Trending Lyricist I
    August 16, 2018
    If something were so important for security, you'd think it would be mandatory? Which brings me back to the point that this security topic is a charade.
    IMO it should be mandatory but others here feel differently so make it optional. I would definitely have it enabled just like I do for every other device on my net.

    To the linking thing, you cannot control via Spotify, Pandora, Alexa, etc. until you link, which requires authentication. No authentication, no control from another subnet, no security risk. Which is the very reason the require it (as opposed to making it optional).
    I have not mentioned any of those services and they are not part of this discussion as far as I'm concerned. I'm talking about controlling Sonos devices.
    jgatie
    jgatie
    August 16, 2018
    Too bad, control from those apps is actually a way someone could gain access to Sonos from the outside, unlike your absurd scenarios. Then again, that is why Sonos has secured them.

    Oh by the way, your insistence on defending this security tangent has taken all the focus off your original request. Not sure that was your intent. Perhaps if you drop the tangent, we can get back on topic.
    TreeGuyAuthor
    Trending Lyricist I
    August 16, 2018
    Too bad, control from those apps is actually a way someone could gain access to Sonos from the outside, unlike your absurd scenarios. Then again, that is why Sonos has secured them.
    Hacking those apps/services would be several orders of magnitude more difficult then gaining access through the common attack vectors mentioned in this thread.
    jgatie
    jgatie
    August 16, 2018
    Too bad, control from those apps is actually a way someone could gain access to Sonos from the outside, unlike your absurd scenarios. Then again, that is why Sonos has secured them.
    Hacking those apps/services would be several orders of magnitude more difficult then gaining access through the common attack vectors mentioned in this thread.

    Nonsense. All you would need to do is gain access to your network and sign on your app and you would have almost full control over the Sonos devices. Which is why Sonos requires you to link with your Sonos account, using a password.

    Still snipping I see. I don't know why you keep trying to take the focus off your original request. It's ok, I'll play along.
    Ken_Griffiths
    Ken_Griffiths
    August 16, 2018
    Gosh the paranoia is still growing here for one or two.

    My home is well protected and locked, but I will never see the point in putting a padlock on my bedroom door that I would then have to open/close everytime I entered/exited that part of the premises. There’s nothing in the bedroom anyway, the good stuff is all in the secure safe downstairs.

    I don’t see the point in padlocking the bedroom door at all, as that does absolutely nothing to help keep my safe secure, even if the thief can get into the house in the first place.

    And there is the analogy for me.
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