Wi-fi security

What does it do?

Wi-fi security protects your router from interlopers who try to connect their devices to your

Wi-fi network. It also encrypts the data that’s sent between devices once they’re connected. Security has always been a part of the Wi-fi Alliance’s Wi-fi standards, but early devices that use the original WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) and WPA (Wireless Protected Access) protocol are no longer considered secure.

How does it work?

The router that manages a Wi-fi network secures it with a password. You can connect a device, such as a PC or smartphone, to a Wi-fi network by typing in this password when prompted. Alternatively, if you have physical access to the router, you may be able to connect by pressing the WPS (Wi-fi Protected Setup) button. The latest WPA3 standard also lets you use a scanned QR code to connect. Once the connection has been established, communication between the router and the device is encrypted, so even if someone could intercept the signal, they wouldn’t be able to interpret what it says.

What are the specs?

Since Wi-fi first appeared there have been four main security specifications: WEP, WPA, WPA2 and WPA3. WEP and WPA were phased out over 15 years ago, so you should now be using WPA2. New devices should now also be compatible with WPA3, announced in 2018, which is even more secure. However, WPA2 will still protect older devices for the time being.

Can I change it later?

If your device uses an older security standard you’re stuck with it. You’ll need to buy a newer alternative if you want to strengthen your security.