Wifi- Weak Security

Hey all. So a while back I was in the US and then left the US and went out the US again. I have an apartment outside the US and what I noticed was when i got back, whenever I have my iphone connected to my wifi... its a modem/router all in one ... it reads


My internet connection

But under it shows

Weak Security


Does anyone know why it does that? When i click on info on my iphone, it says wpa/wpa2 (tkip) is not considered secure. If this is your wifi network, configure the router to use wpa2 aes or wpa3 security type. I never had this previously.


The thing is there is 2 other wifi connections i have used in the building... one is a shared wifi that the building has here... i rarely use it since i have my own wifi. But that doesn't show weak security on my iphone when i connect to it. The other wifi connection i can connect to.. is a neighbors wifi connection. I had connected to it last time when i was helping them out with their wifi connection and have the password saved to my iphone. Though i dont use it.. only time is when i go to their apartment and help them with something and use his wifi... since my wifi is a bit far away. Now that wifi... doesn't have weak security either shown on my iphone when i connect to it.


Now... im pretty certain no one messed with my internet while i was away from my apartment. But they they do some painting and things was i was away and basically unplugged everything from the outlet. The people who do this aren't tech savy i assume for this.


But can someone explain why it shows weak security for my wifi? The thing is why didn't it show this last time since i never make changes to my wifi connection? Im only the only using my wifi and mainly use it wired with my laptop. Could it be an IOS update that caused this? Then again... why would it show it for mine and not the other two wifi connections?

 

Login to your router's dashboard and update the firmware if there is any.
Set the router security to WPA2 AES only or if you have it set it to WPA2 and WPA3.
Using WEP and/or WPA in combination with WPA2 is maybe why the weak security warning.
Login information should be located someplace on the router.
Turn off any VPN running in order to login to the router.
I can't help with your phone,I don't own any Apple products.
Use only your own secured router unless you are behind a good VPN.

 

Okay but any reason why it doesn't show this message for the two other wifi connections i connect to? Are those wpa2-psk?


But this is no big deal keeping it like this right?


I don't use any vpn at all on my laptop nor my iphone. So would it be fine to not change anything? I never changed anything in my router/modem ever.

 

Okay but any reason why it doesn't show this message for the two other wifi connections i connect to? Are those wpa2-psk?
Does it ask you for a key when you connect? If not then it's open wifi and provides no security between you and anyone else that is connected.

But this is no big deal keeping it like this right?
Depends on how much personal data you're willing to lose on a device connected if someone decides to take it from you.

I don't use any vpn at all on my laptop nor my iphone. So would it be fine to not change anything? I never changed anything in my router/modem ever.
It's up to you but switching the security protocol makes it harder to get into your personal network but won't change the pre-shared settings that you currently use, it just makes it harder to crack by sniffing the packets being exchanged between you and your router.

 

Nope. You genuinely have a security problem that needs to be fixed. TKIP is bad, and was depreciated for a reason.

 

I clicked on forget network on my iphone to my wifi connection. Then i turned off wifi... then turned wifi on. Then when i tried to connect to my wifi... it ask me for my password. It also has message wep is not secure and i should change it to wpa etc... But previously before this... i never got the weak security message... but someone say this is a new ios update.


So yea you need to put a password to get into the wifi


Well i do use a vpn on my chromebook though. Such as when web browsing etc. But i typically connect to my buildings wifi when using the chromebook. I connect to that wifi and then turn on the free vpn. But on my dell xps... i connect with my own laptop... no vpn or anything like that.


So you are saying those other 2 wifi connections in my building are WPA2 then since it doesn't have that message?


Other thing is could the TKIP make my connection slower etc? I did do speed test and i get almost 20mbps/up... 2 down. That is what my internet does offer though so it looks correct.


How would i change the settings on my modem/router? I have an old arris modem/router. I don't want to risk doing anything to it where i mess it up. Such as resetting it.. and then it has no wifi password for a short time so anyone around could connect to it if they see its open wifi. Or that wouldn't be a problem?

 

So you are saying those other 2 wifi connections in my building are WPA2 then since it doesn't have that message?

No

If you're not entering a code to connect then it's simply OPEN and no security which wouldn't prompt you to change to WPA2 / 3.

How would i change the settings on my modem/router?

Figure out your IP Gateway and then open a browser to that IP and login with the default credentials and go to WIFI and change the protocol to WPA2. You might need to connect via a cable but in most cases over WIFI works for login.

 

"How would i change the settings on my modem/router?"
In post #2 I stated that you should look on the router you have.
There's normally a sticker that will have name and password.
For my router the user name is admin .
Do a google search"How To Login To Router Wi-Fi Settings" if you need more help.
At one time I had a combo modem/router that was supplied by my ISP and it had the login information on the bottom of the unit.
Once in the router you should be able to select the 2.4ghz band and 5ghz band channels and change the security setting to WPA2 AES personal only for both bands.
You will need to save the changes and exit.
Next,In the advanced properties settings of your PCs wireless card you should uncheck the box in Power Management to tun off to save power.