Question/Concern about Internet security re: wifi in my new Sony Blu player

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Hey guys - I apologize in advance if my questions may seem ignorant re: those who are more versed in Blu players, wifi, etc. However, I do need some feedback regarding a question I have, and figured this board was the best place to go:

I just got a new (relatively inexpensive, under $100) Sony Blu-player, to replace my older Samsung Blu player that had stopped working. (Note that my older Samsung Blu-player did not have wifi built in, nor did I set up an Internet connection to the player). This Sony Blu player is far superior in many ways to my older one; it's faster, smaller/more compact, and the PQ on my Blu's (and regular DVD's) actually seems better in some cases than it did on my older Samsung Blu player - i.e., upscaling.

I did get the new Sony player with wifi built into the player itself, just in case I need to get firmware updates. However, I don't plan on using the player for anything other than playing DVD's & Blu's. This is the first Blu player that I've had with wifi (and only the second Blu player I've purchased).

So, when I set this new Sony player up, it required me to set up the wifi connection before I started using the player - by entering my password. So, since wifi is already set up whenever I turn on the Blu player - without me putting in a password each time I turn this on - does this mean that anyone out there can "piggyback" on my wifi whenever I have the player on?! I wasn't sure how this works.

I think it's best to keep wifi on, so the player can do automatic updates - if/as necessary. Do others agree with this?

In the case of my computer with wifi, it requires me to enter a password before I can use this. I don't have an I-phone (my cell phone doesn't have wifi at all).

Thanks in advance to anyone who responds. I can honestly say that many on this board are extremely knowledgeable about the technical aspects re: Blu's & Blu players, and I would actually trust much of the info. I get on here more than I would any info. I get from a clueless salesperson at a retail store that sells Blu players...