Why am I seeing Weak security WiFi messages? No matter if it is an iPhone or iPad, the iOS 14 update has proven to be the cause of a number of issues with users.
The change from iOS 13 to this most recent version is said to have been the biggest one since the original debut for Apple’s mobile devices, which is quite surprising.
Yet many people are reporting that they can’t get on their wireless network after updating and they feel that their internet is going slower than before the update.
The message is quite explicit, which obviously makes people think that their security is now weak and that they are vulnerable, and naturally this isn’t something you want to mess around with as your personal data could be at risk.
So here we provide an outline of the problem and then some instructions that you can follow yourself in order to fix Weak Security WiFi .
Table of Contents
- Why Is This Happening?
- What does Weak Security WiFi mean for me?
- Here Is a Basic Guide to Follow to Remove This Annoying Error Message
- Virgin Media Specific Solutions
- Hub 3
- WiFi Boosters
- Make Sure You Have the Right Settings
- Conclusion
- FAQ
Why Is This Happening?
The Wi-Fi Network symbol on the iPhone is displayed with an error message that states they have “Weak Security”.
You are receiving this message because your Wi-Fi encryption settings aren’t as strong as you’d like. If you don’t have WPA2 (AES) or WPA3 set as your network security settings, you are receiving this message.
Why Is Weak Security Wi Fi a Problem?
If you see the Weak Security message on your iPhone or iPad it means that iOS isn’t capable of using WPA2 (AES) or WPA3 encryption to connect to the Wi-Fi network, so this makes it more susceptible to attacks. Weak security wireless networks are more vulnerable than standard home Wi-Fi routers due to Apple’s design.
If you are using Virgin Media WiFi then the process is very similar to other providers. Follow these steps:
Step 1
Browse to 192.168.0.1 from your phone or computer when connected to your WiFi
Step 2
Log in with your administrator name and password. You can find this on the underside of your router, provided that you haven’t changed anything.
Step 3
After you have logged in, navigate to Advanced settings > Wireless
> Security
Step 4
Click on the drop down and then select WPA2-PSK **
Step 5
Click on Apply to save your changes
What does Weak Security WiFi mean for me?
When Apple released iOS 13 they also upgraded their devices with Group FaceTime; however, Apple disabled group calls on some networks making them not compatible with iOS 13 and above.
The lack of compatibility between iOS 14 and weak security Wi-Fi can make device less functional because you will
What can I do to remove this weak WiFi security message?
The quickest and easiest solution is for you to just change your WiFi settings on your router to WPA2 (AES) or WPA3 if it is available.
This is a more secure set of options and Apple sees these as being the minimal standards for WiFi security.
Before attempting to resolve your error message: you’ll need to ensure that your devices have the latest software updates, which you can check in your device settings.
You’ll also need to ensure that your router has had the latest firmware update. You can check this by navigating to your router manufacturer’s website, and searching for your model.
Here Is a Basic Guide to Follow to Remove This Annoying Error Message
- Make sure your WiFi router and other network devices have the latest software and firmware updates.
- By typing the IP address of your router into your browser’s address bar and search bar, you can access your router. Manufacturers of routers (such as TP-Link) may offer apps or dedicated websites for logging into them.
- Then change the WPA3 setting in the Security/Encryption section of your router. If you have more than one SSID (also on the 5GHz band), you may need to do this change on each of them.
After changing your router’s settings, you may need to forget the network on your device to ensure the new settings are used when you re-join the network.
Virgin Media Specific Solutions
After updating your iPhone to iOS 14, you may have noticed a message warning of ‘weak security’ on your WiFi connection if you have a Virgin Media Hub 3 or our WiFi Boosters.
Your WiFi is still perfectly safe, so don’t worry about it. With every new product and software release, WiFi security standards are constantly being updated, and over time, stronger standards emerge.
In general, your WiFi security, or WiFi Booster, defaults to ‘WPA-PSK’ or ‘WPA2-PSK’. This message is generated by the older ‘WPA-PSK’ standard. Follow these steps to update your hub or booster’s security settings to WPA2-PSK if you would like to remove the message from your device:
Hub 3
- Connect to your hub using 192.168.0.1
- If you haven’t changed your password yet, you can enter your admin name and password on the hub.
- Upon logging in, select Advanced settings > Wireless > Security
- If your 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks are separate, click on the dropdown next to Security and change it to WPA2-PSK.
- When you hit save, the hub will refresh, and once it reconnects to WiFi, the message should disappear.
WiFi Boosters
- Use an Ethernet cable to connect your laptop to your Booster.
- From a web browser, log in to the Booster at http://virginmedia-vmp. Please note that this page can only be accessed once the Booster is connected
- On the back of the booster, you will find the Settings Password.
- Go to Wireless settings > Security once you are logged in
- Check the Wireless security settings under 2.4Ghz
- You need to select ‘WPA2-PSK’ if ‘Security’ is not ‘WPA2-PSK’ (note: you have to do this for both the 2.4 GHz & 5 GHz networks if you have separated them)
- Don’t forget to click Accept Changes when you’re done
Make Sure You Have the Right Settings
Please take a moment to review the following security settings in your router while you’re logged in to make sure your network is safe. The following steps should be helpful both for iOS and Android users.
- Make sure your password is strong before joining the network.
- You should choose WPA2 (AES). In addition to providing the greatest compatibility, this guarantees a secure connection between your router and your devices.
- Additionally, WPA3 (or WPA2/WPA3 mixed) is a viable option, however access points certified under the WPA3 standard were not required to support the WPA3 standard until July 2020. A WPA2/WPA3 mixed network or a WPA3/WPA2 mobile WiFi network will not work if your devices are older.
- For security settings, avoid using “None”, “Open” and “Unsecured”. It could make your network vulnerable, even if it’s a guest network.
If you’re having trouble logging into your router, then take a look at our router articles here and see if you can resolve the issue that way. Once you’ve logged in, take a look at your router manufacturer’s FAQ or support site.
Conclusion
Weak security wireless networks are more vulnerable than standard home Wi-Fi routers due to Apple’s design.
Weak security Wi-Fi network actually means that iOS isn’t capable of using WPA2 (AES) or WPA3 encryption to connect to the Wi-Fi network making it more susceptible to attacks.
Weak security vulnerabilities make device less secure because they leave devices exposed to weak passwords and weak encryption causing them to be easily hacked by cybercriminals which makes your sensitive data vulnerable.
Weak security Wi-Fi makes your device less functional because it interferes with secure payment methods, interferes with location services and interfere with Bluetooth connectivity.
Weak security WiFi connection is expected to become a bigger problem for Apple iOS users as time goes on so you need to resolve the issue by changing your router’s settings.
FAQ
Why is WPA not secure?
WPA (a deprecated protocol) is an old security protocol and has become inadequate to keep up. WPA2-PSK and WPA3 offer varying degrees of improvement, but it's best to go with the newest iteration if possible.
What does weak security mean on Wi-Fi?
Wi-Fi adopts the WPA2 security as a specification. In order to achieve backward compatibility, it allows for either TKIP or AES encryption algorithm as well as pre-shared key usage. In addition to Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA), this specification has evolved into the newer more secure WPA2 standard (sometimes referred to simply as 'WPA' by vendors).
How do I make my Wi-Fi security stronger?
hange the Wi-Fi password to something complex and unique. Underneath the network, select 802.1x and set it to required or not required so people can't just bypass it. Disable wireless broadcasting unless you want others in your area to be able to use your Wi-Fi service as well.
How do I get rid of weak security?
It is recommended to change your security settings to either WPA2-PSK or WPA3.
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