You’ve secured your Wi-Fi network with a password and encryption, yet Windows claims it’s not secure? Your router must be using an outdated encryption protocol. This tutorial shows how to bring your encryption up to speed so that no one can intercept the data.
Content
- What Are Wi-Fi Encryption Protocols?
- Why Does Windows Say “Your Wi-Fi Network Isn’t Secure”?
- Fix “Your Wi-Fi Network Isn’t Secure” Warning on Windows
- What to Do When You Can’t Fix “Your Wi-Fi Network isn’t Secure” Warning
What Are Wi-Fi Encryption Protocols?
Wi-Fi encryption protocols are certified security measures used to protect wireless networks from unauthorized access. Since 1999 when the Wi-Fi Alliance ratified the first Wi-Fi encryption protocol, WEP, there have been numerous updates to improve the technology. Each new protocol improved on the security of the previous one, making your network safer.
- WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy): the oldest encryption standard, and the weakest. It’s largely considered insecure and has become very rare.
- WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access): as a replacement of WEP, it uses stronger security than WPA – Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP), but it’s still not very good.
- WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2): a very secure Wi-Fi encryption protocol that uses Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) for strong encryption and data security.
- WPA3 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 3): the last one, WPA3, was introduced in January 2018. Currently, it has the highest security and supports AES-256.
On a Windows device, check the Wi-Fi encryption protocol for your connected Wi-Fi network via Settings -> Network & Internet -> Wi-Fi -> Hardware Properties -> Security type. The connection below shows WPA2.
Currently, most routers are active on WPA2 or WPA3. However, despite all the advances in encryption, some Wi-Fi networks may still use WEP, the twenty-five-year-old original protocol. Even WPA isn’t effective anymore.
Tip: while you’re in your Wi-Fi settings, consider hiding your network by disabling SSID broadcasting. Learn how to connect to a hidden Wi-Fi network in Windows.
Why Does Windows Say “Your Wi-Fi Network Isn’t Secure”?
Windows gives you a warning when you try to connect to a network that is protected by older encryption protocols, like WEP or TKIP. This message is for your safety and meant as a warning, especially if you are running Windows 10 and 11, that you will soon be unable to connect to these less secure protocols.
This warning states:
“[Network Name] isn’t secure. This Wi-Fi uses an older security standard that’s being phased out. We recommend connecting to a different network.“
This message lets you know that you are trying to connect to a network that is still using WEP or WPA-TKIP encryption.
Source: DALL-E 3.
WEP has never been a good option for encryption, even when it was first released. The Wi-Fi Alliance retired this method of encryption in 2004. A year later, the FBI demonstrated how easily hackers could crack WEP encryption by exploiting its many flaws.
The Wi-Fi Alliance planned to replace WEP with WPA-TKIP, but that protocol works in very similar ways as the original. They have many of the same vulnerabilities. If you can crack one, you can usually crack the other.
There are a few other reasons Windows – or a Windows app – would flag a network as “not secure.” If your network has a weak or guessable password, it will surely send a warning. In my case, the Avast antivirus solution gave me a weak Wi-Fi password warning.
Outdated router firmware is a minor reason for the above error, which you need to update. This should not be a concern if you have a router from a reputable brand, such as TP-Link or Netgear, as they keep updating their firmware regularly.
Tip: fix the Wi-Fi not working issue in Windows.
Fix “Your Wi-Fi Network Isn’t Secure” Warning on Windows
If you see this message when trying to connect to your home network, you should be able to fix the problem by enabling a stronger, more recent method of encryption. There are two ways to fix the error, depending on whether you’re on a private network or public network.
Private Network
Either type your router’s IP address into the address bar of your browser, or, if you have a Netgear router, you can type routerlogin.net to access it. In other cases, you will need to visit the router’s user dashboard website mentioned in manufacturer specifications.
Next, log in to your router with your username and password. If you don’t have a password set, check the router manufacturer’s site for the default. Locate the Web interface. Select the most robust encryption protocol available on your router: WPA2 + PSK, in this example. Apply and save the changes.
Each router has a different method for changing these protocols, so you may have to check the manufacturer’s website to find the exact location of this option. In each case, remember WPA3 is the strongest Wi-Fi protocol you can use, so if you have that option, use it. Next, WPA2 + AES is preferred. Use any WPA (TKIP) options, only as a failsafe.
Public Network
If you’re on a public Wi-Fi network, you cannot access the router dashboard, but there is another way to access secure connectivity. Go to Settings -> Network & Internet -> Wi-Fi -> Hardware Properties -> Advanced Wi-Fi network Properties. Click Edit to open a new pop-up window.
Go to the Security tab, and change the Encryption type to the most secure option, WPA-3 in this example. You will have to enter the Network security key (the Wi-Fi password) once again. In some cases, the password for the most secure encryption type will be different from the less secure one.
If you cannot change the encryption type, the only option is to latch on to another Wi-Fi network.
Good to know: using the above methods may disconnect your Wi-Fi network, but there are ways to regain access.
What to Do When You Can’t Fix “Your Wi-Fi Network isn’t Secure” Warning
If you can’t fix the “your Wi-Fi network isn’t secure” warning on Windows, use the following tips to stay as safe as possible.
- Use a VPN: a top-ranked commercial VPN provides an advanced level of security against all Wi-Fi intrusions and eavesdropping attempts.
- Use an antivirus solution: a good antivirus solution with a built-in firewall can make a lot of difference in your network security. For best results, use a third-party antivirus on top of Windows Defender.
- Purchase a new router: if you don’t see any better options than WEP or WPA+TKIP, your best bet is to purchase a new router. There are many reasonably-priced models available that can handle the requirements of a medium-sized house with up to twenty Wi-Fi devices.
No matter what you need to do to stop using these outdated protocols, do it quickly. Not only are they easy to hack into, but it will also soon be impossible to use them on your Windows devices. If you’re in the market for a router, Wi-Fi 7 is the future for security.
Image credit: Pexels. All screenshots by Sayak Boral.
Sayak Boral –
Staff Writer
Sayak Boral is a technology writer with over eleven years of experience working in different industries including semiconductors, IoT, enterprise IT, telecommunications OSS/BSS, and network security. He has been writing for MakeTechEasier on a wide range of technical topics including Windows, Android, Internet, Hardware Guides, Browsers, Software Tools, and Product Reviews.
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