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Router on InSSIDer

Kremmen
Aspiring Pro
Posts: 559
Thanks: 15
Fixes: 5
Registered: ‎13-04-2013

Router on InSSIDer

According to my Android app InSSIDer my router is using the security protocol WPA + WPS and is considered hackable as it's showing the broken padlock symbol.
When I look in the router via admin it is only using WPA PSK which is of course secure. Nothing to do with PlusNet I know but why is InSSIDer picking up WPS when that is just a short utility to connect other devices then it turns off ?
I did recently use WPS to increase my home WiFi signal via a pair of TP-Link range extenders.
Let's be careful out there !
3 REPLIES 3
ejs
Aspiring Hero
Posts: 5,442
Thanks: 631
Fixes: 25
Registered: ‎10-06-2010

Re: Router on InSSIDer

There are different methods to connect a device using WPS. One way requires pressing buttons, another way requires entering an 8 digit PIN number.
WPS being enabled could mean that the WPA key doesn't need to be cracked, instead gaining access to the wireless is reduced to needing to guess a 4 digit number then a 3 digit number (the 8 digit PIN number is split in half and one of the digits is a check number calculated from the other 7 digits). The android app doesn't know that the technicolor implementation of the WPS protocol should be adequately secure because it locks out the WPS function after a few incorrect guesses.
WPS may also give away other information potentially useful to someone trying to gain access, such as the model number and serial number of the router (although I think the 10.2.5.2 firmware no longer gives away the serial number). Disabling WPS is the most secure setting.
ejs
Aspiring Hero
Posts: 5,442
Thanks: 631
Fixes: 25
Registered: ‎10-06-2010

Re: Router on InSSIDer

It could also be that the symbol isn't referring to how secure WPS is, it could be indicating the value of the "AP Setup Locked" field.
Kremmen
Aspiring Pro
Posts: 559
Thanks: 15
Fixes: 5
Registered: ‎13-04-2013

Re: Router on InSSIDer

I did look through the router area but I couldn't see where to disable it. That was the main reason for my query.
Let's be careful out there !