thank you for that link vmrs!
the first load of refs all lean toward VPN or os kitkat. one site explains that it’s the os saving wifi info, not naming os.

i have no VPN, haven’t used wifi for 3yrs (roaming mobile data) = no passwords. of course there are password functions.
checked the os, i’m a jellybean. kitkat, with reported regular ‘credentials’ issues is the next os version.
i have everything disabled but remarkably i suddenly get pop ups though that has been disabled for ever. naturally i don’t save passwords, but that doesn’t stop built in functions from functioning, should they appear as updates to existing apps. did doublecheck if some kind of update would have changed that, but no. i’ve combed through settings on os, device, gmail, chrome, built in browser&email, my few simple apps have no particular security settings that i could find.

JMW mentioned restrictions. i’ve two restrictions and several “only on wifi” restrictions. all of these were set four years ago (started roaming), have forgotten all about them. this feels like something i need to study again, maybe there’s helpful details to find.

adding,
tried one advice from android central “clear credentials”, but the option was greyed out.
adding to clarify, all listed actions taken by me have no connection to that prompt appearing or disappearing. the pop ups alarmed me to work but without result, they keep a-poppin’. bypassing the credential prompt required only tapping anywhere outside the box. the permanent disappearing coincides with one thing only, i managed a screenshot of it. after that, nothing. even this bothers me.
(in europe screenshots are no longer possible due to change in copyright laws)

the more incidents happen, the more i seem insane. still posting.
just now, browsing oils, there’s a stunning work update i enjoyed. scrolling on, i note the thread with the old version where i posted. there is no icon “you’ve posted here” though i’m logged in. i open it, and my post is gone. i recall exactly that above mine was a post by user JeffroJones. it’s gone as well. maybe the site is mid updates or something similar right now?
https://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showpost.php?p=21729237&postcount=1

while writing this, the page once again vanished leaving a fresh new page in the browser. have posted several times during this session. there’s no rest with these machines.

thank you vmrs!
yes the thread was me being insane. i mixed memories from where i wrote and where i wrote and posted. so now, after every horror hickup this will probably be the last word on the subject.