It’s possible to be worried about “weak security” next to your WiFi network. Do you need to run a virus scan?
Do not panic! Do not panic!
If the router is using old security protocols such as WEP or WPA, WiFi means that it has weak security. You can change the wireless security version to WPA2/WPA3 on your router and choose AES encryption.
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Does WiFi indicate weak security?
Your WiFi might be showing weak security due to your phone or laptop detecting that the WiFi network uses an old security protocol that is less secure.
WPA and WEP are two examples of less secure WiFi networks.
These passwords are less secure because they require fewer characters to protect them and because their encryption makes it easier for hackers to crack.
IOS introduced an ability to detect incorrectly configured routers in the iOS 14 update.
Are you worried?
Not necessarily. The weak WiFi security message indicates that your network does not use the most secure protocols or passwords.
It doesn’t necessarily indicate that the network has been compromised. The internet can still work fine with weak security WiFi, but it is not recommended.
A weak security system will not cause problems (i.e. WPA ).
Updating the WiFi security protocol to WPA2 & WPA3
You can repair your weak WiFi security by accessing the router’s settings through a web browser. Next, update the security protocol.
You have the ability to access your router settings
There are many ways to do this.
Open the WiFi network list from your phone to find the router IP address.
Android phones may have a button that says “Manage Router”, and it will open a page with the router’s IP address.
It is easier to enter the same IP address on both a laptop and a computer. It can be challenging to set up router settings on a mobile device.
Sign in with your router username and password after you’ve set up the router login page. If you don’t have a password, the default passwords will be used by the router.
The router usually has the default username and password printed on it. To find default passwords, you can search the model online.
Updating security protocol for WPA2 and WPA3
Each router has its own settings panel. You will find this menu after you log in to your router. It will show all of the current Wireless settings such as name, security, and encryption.
In some cases, WPA2/WPA3 Personal or Business security may be necessary. Personal is my preference.
You don’t have to change your password. But, you can modify it if necessary.
Save your settings, and your router will reboot automatically. A reboot usually takes around 60 seconds.
If there are two networks (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), you will need to change the security protocol.
Be aware of any additional SSIDS and networks broadcasting from your router. You should ensure that they all use WPA2/WPA3 security protocols.
Connect to the WLAN network
Wireless security settings have been modified and devices that were previously connected to the router must be reconnected.
Sometimes phones will automatically connect to the network while others may still indicate that it is not secure. To manually reconnect, you can “Forget Network”.
Open the WiFi menu in your phone. Once your phone is connected to the network it will display strong security.
The router does not support WPA2 or WPA3
WPA2 or WPA3 may not work with older routers (pre2004). Either update your firmware or buy a new router.
I strongly recommend a new router. This router will provide more security and significantly increase your connection speed.
Understanding WiFi security protocols
Wireless networks can be less secure than wired networks. To make wireless networks more secure, a WiFi security protocol has been created.
Let’s get started with the basics.
| WEP | WPA | WPA2 | WPA3 | |
| Reported | 1999 | 2003 | 2004 | 2018 |
| Encryption Method | RC4 (Rivest Citpher 4) | TKIP is a temporalKey Integrity Protocol that can be used in conjunction with RC4 | CCMP and AES (Advance Encryption Standard) | AES (Advanced Encryption Standard). |
| Authentication | WPE-open
WPE-shared |
PSK and 802.1x with EAP variant | PSK and 802.1x with EAP variant | SAE (Simultaneous authentication for Equals) and 802.1x with EAP Version |
| Session key Size | 40-bit | 128-bit | 128-bit | 128-bit (Personal)
192-bit (Business) |
| Level of Security | Highly sensitive | A little vulnerable | This product can be used in all home networks | It is extremely secure thanks to Auto-encrypting |
WEP ( Wired Equal Protocol).
The first wireless security protocol was WEP (Wired equivalent Protocol). It was approved by the Federal Communications Commission in 1999.
WEP became less secure over time as cryptographic technology improved. It was necessary to replace it.
WPA (WiFi Protected Access).
WPA was established in 2003 to temporarily enhance WEP. HTMLPA implements the Temporal Key Integrity Protocol.
WEP used either a 64-bit or 128-bit encryption key. The key must be manually entered on wireless access points or devices. It doesn’t change.
TKIP uses a per packet-key. This means it dynamically generates a 128 bit key for each packet. This prevents attacks such as those that compromise WEP.
WPA was a significant security improvement back then. It is still vulnerable today.
WPA2
WPA2 was published one year later, in 2004. WPA2 were released in 2004.
WPA2 is the default password on most modern routers. They could lead to backdoor vulnerabilities.
WPA3
WPA3 has been replaced by WPA2 (2018). WPA3 is a replacement for WPA2.
WPA3 is the latest security protocol, but it’s not the most secure. WPA2 is not supported by all routers or wireless network cards, so WPA3 provides greater protection than others.
These additional methods can be used to secure your router or network.
You can take additional steps to protect your network beyond updating your router’s security protocol.
These are only a few, but I want you to keep reading
Set up a complex password to protect your WiFi network
One-word passwords are the most difficult to crack. Use a combination of numbers, letters, and symbols for your router password.
Your network password doesn’t have to be complex, but it should be simple enough. Do not reuse passwords that you already have.
You can change your username and password to your router
In most cases, your default password and username are “admin” and “password”. This password can easily be guessed by anyone.
Anyone can access your router login page Logging into the router’s settings is easy.
Modern routers make a great choice
Technology advancements are often rapid. Technology advancements are often rapid.
I recommend replacing your router if it is older than 4 or 5. A new router will provide you with a significant performance boost.
Conclusion
It’s easy to fix WiFi security flaws. Simply change the security protocol on your router from WEP, WPA, WPA2, or WPA3, depending on which option is selected.
You can still access the internet even if you get a weak security alert. It is not advised.
We hope that you find this guide helpful!
