What does the padlock mean in the Wi-Fi connection settings?

[iMore Question]

What does the padlock mean in the Wi-Fi connection? Looking at the settings, Wi-Fi, and the connection, there is a padlock just before the Wi-Fi icon.

 

[Just_Me_D]

It means you need to know the passcode to access that particular Wi-Fi network.

 

[Ledsteplin]

It means your neighbor does not want you stealing their wifi signal bandwidth!


Sent from from my ancient but trustworthy iPhone 5

 

[Bill Ambrose]

What does the padlock mean in the Wi-Fi connection? Looking at the settings, Wi-Fi, and the connection, there is a padlock just before the Wi-Fi icon.

 

[bamf-hacker]

Any wifi connection that is secure, requires authentication to connect, will have the padlock to show you that. The ones without the padlock are open access points. You still might need to authenticate via a browser window, but you do not need a password to joint he network.