WPS or Wi-Fi Protected Setup was introduced in 2006 to simplify the process of connecting to a Wi-Fi network for users. Although it was designed to make things easy, the security vulnerabilities that come with it are a cause of concern. WPS can be easily exploited by cybercriminals to hack into a network and steal sensitive information. In this article, we will explain how to disable WPS to protect your network.

But before we proceed with the steps on disabling WPS, let us first talk about why WPS is considered a threat to your network’s security.

The Risks of WPS

WPS is vulnerable to brute force attacks. An attacker can make repeated attempts to guess the WPS PIN, and with a few thousand attempts, they can eventually find the correct PIN and gain access to the network.

In addition, WPS also has a flaw called the “external registrar” function. This flaw allows anyone within range of the network to connect to it using WPS without entering a password. This is a significant security concern, as anyone can connect to your network and potentially spy on your online activity.

Disabling WPS

Now that we know the risks that come with WPS, let us proceed with the steps on how to disable WPS on your router.

Step 1: Access your router’s settings

To access your router’s settings, you need to open a web browser and type in the IP address of your router in the address bar. This will open the login page for your router’s administration panel.

You can find the IP address of your router on the manual or on the bottom of your router. By default, the most common IP address for routers is 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1.

Step 2: Enter your login credentials

Once you are on the login page, enter the username and password for your router’s administration panel. Most routers have default login credentials, which can be found in the manual or on the bottom of the router. It is recommended to change your login credentials to something more secure to prevent unauthorized access.

Step 3: Disable WPS

After logging into your router’s settings, look for the WPS setting. It is usually located under the wireless settings tab, although the exact location may vary depending on the router’s model and manufacturer.

Once you have located the WPS setting, click on the disable button. After disabling WPS, make sure to save the changes to your router’s settings.

Step 4: Verify that WPS is Disabled

To verify that WPS is disabled, you can use a Wi-Fi scanner app on your phone or laptop. If the WPS option doesn’t appear in the list of available networks or shows as “disabled,” then the WPS option is successfully turned off.

Conclusion

Disabling WPS is an essential step to securing your Wi-Fi network. It is a straightforward process that can be done by logging into your router’s settings and disabling WPS under the wireless settings tab. By taking this simple step, you can greatly reduce the risk of unauthorized access to your network and protect your sensitive data from cybercriminals.