The Android System WebView is a system part that permits apps to show web-based content material with out leaving the app. Though it is primarily based on the identical open-source code as Google Chrome, it would not share any autofill or session knowledge with it. In consequence, when a captive portal asks you to sign up to a social media account or enter your private knowledge, you must fill in all the main points manually.
Google is now making ready to have Android open these captive portal pages in an Android Customized Tab as an alternative of a WebView. Customized Tabs are merely cases of the default internet browser and have entry to your shopping session, saved passwords, cost strategies, and addresses. This could permit captive portals to entry your autofill knowledge, making it a lot quicker and simpler to log in to public Wi-Fi networks.
Instance of an Android Customized Tab powered by Google Chrome | Picture credit score — Android Authority
This variation is being carried out via Venture Mainline, which permits Google to push out updates to system parts via Play System Updates. The most recent launch of the Captive Portal Login app already accommodates the code for this function, nevertheless it’s presently disabled by default. It is unclear when Google plans to allow this function, nevertheless it’s anticipated to roll out within the close to future.
Whereas this variation is probably going to enhance the comfort of accessing public Wi-Fi, it is not anticipated to have a major impression on safety. Evil twin assaults, the place attackers arrange faux public Wi-Fi entry factors with malicious captive portals, will doubtless nonetheless be efficient. Nevertheless, the elevated comfort of utilizing Android Customized Tabs for captive portals is a welcome change that ought to make logging into public Wi-Fi networks a bit much less painful.
Personally, I believe it is a nice transfer by Google. I usually discover myself having to manually enter my login credentials when connecting to public Wi-Fi at airports, which will be fairly annoying. The power to make use of autofill knowledge with captive portals will certainly make my life a bit simpler as a traveler.