Windows 10: Old WiFi Routers Will Soon Be Blocked - For A Good Reason

2023 Author: Sheila Hailey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 04:29

A Microsoft support document threatens that Windows 10 will no longer be able to connect to WEP or TKIP-encrypted networks in future versions. In terms of security, this is a good decision, but it will cause problems for some users.

Before panic breaks out, it should be noted that we are talking about really ancient and long-outdated methods of WLAN encryption with the WEP and TKIP standards. The WEP standard has been considered obsolete since 2007, after it was cracked in less than 60 seconds in an attempt. Even the successor WPA (from 2003) is no longer recommended today and it is generally advised to use at least WPA2 encryption. The first devices with WPA2 were certified in 2004, so that even some 15-year-old routers can still connect to Windows 10 in the future without any problems.

In the video you can see how easy it is to get your WiFi passwords:

Windows 10: Read WiFi password

You can do this if Windows 10 blocks your WEP router

There are two methods you can use to bypass Windows 10's WEP block:

First try whether your router supports at least WPA, better still WPA2 or WPA3 and switch it over.
If the router does not offer more recent encryption than WEP or TKIP, you have to buy a new router.

However, you may have to take into account that such an old router with WEP is only used because you have some peripheral device that does not support modern encryption. In this case, you can inquire with the manufacturer of this device whether there is a newer firmware that has up-to-date encryption.

If this is not the case, you also have several options:

Connect your Windows computer to the router with a LAN cable and only use WLAN for the old peripherals.
Or buy a new router and also replace your outdated peripheral.

This is definitely recommended if you connect your PC and possibly still mobile devices to the WLAN. Otherwise, every login to websites, every password entry and your home banking can be spied on, which can cause great damage.

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