“Weak Security” Wifi after iOS 14 update

I have an iPhone xr running IOS 14.2 and a Centurylink model C1100Z router and also noticed the Weak Security warning on the phone. What stumped me was the WAP2-AES did not come up as an option on the phone, although the plate on the router specifies it as the security type. I next logged into the router at http://192.168.0.1 per Centurylink instructions and saw that the security was set at WPA-WPA2 Personal. I changed it to WPA2 personal, then checked the phone. The security warning is gone, and the new security setting is WPA2/WPA3 on the phone, which can be seen by selecting OTHER. I'm assuming all is OK now. I hope this information is helpful.

If your router is set to WPA2 and you are seeing the message, it's because your router is likely set to WPA/WPA2.

It needs to be WPA2 (or higher) only for the message to disappear; this is because like the ancient WEP standard, WPA has long been broken and is no longer secure.

It must be WPA2(AES) ONLY or WPA2/WPA3, not the hybrid WPA/WPA2. Despite the misleading information in the link from TP-Link posted by my associate, WPA/WPA2 is NOT secure. While all of your devices can connect to WPA2, the fact that access via WPA is available means that your router can be hacked from outside by anyone near your router. And TP-link’s comment about compatibility is largely meaningless; it would only affect the compatibility of devices made before 2004 when WPA2 became the official standard. And it’s unlikely that anyone is still using such a device.

FloatAero wrote:

Unfortunately one of my iPhones was set to automatic updates and has install iOS 14 and now I have this problem. Vodafone router that supports WPA2. Vodafone support tell me this is sufficient and that others users have solve the problem by changing to a password that includes uppercase, lowercase, a symbol and some numbers. My password already includes all of that but it still doesn't work. Three other family members with a total of some 12 wifi devices use the network, so I don't really want to change the password and then find out that the iOS 14 device still won't connect.

WPA2 TKIP is weak. WPA2 AES, and WPA2/WPA3 transitional, are less weak, and are acceptable to the Apple Wi-Fi checks. WPA3 is currently preferable.

If you’re getting the weak-security informational, there’s either WEP, WPA, or WPA2 TKIP in use.

The router might well support higher-grade security too, and be configured for lower-grade.

As correctly stated above, 169.254.0.0/16 is the self-assigned IP address block, which means your DHCP server is inaccessible or malfunctioning, and which is unrelated to the weak-security informational. Try rebooting the router. You may or will be headed toward a different and preferably newer router if the router persists in not serving DHCP responses, unrelated to the weak-security informational messages, and preferably to a newer router with WPA3 support. Which’ll also solve the weak-security informational issue, and will upgrade your connection security as a side benefit.

PS: Are you possibly confusing Lee and Postel? I only date back to the use of .ARPA naming and bang-paths, so I’m new at this IP and DNS stuff.

Inter7caz wrote:

My iPhone 11keeps displaying a weak security message and is very slow

That’s two issues. The Wi-Fi you’re connected to is considered insecure and its configuration upgraded, or replaced if the Wi-Fi is old enough not to support a secure connection. How to make this change to the Wi-Fi router depends on your Wi-Fi router; on the specific vendor and model. (And while you’re looking, check for a router firmware update available, if any.)

Tap or click on this link > https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202068

For other discussions of what to do in this “weak security” case, please see some of the other replies to this thread.

Now as for the network slowness, that’s not released to the weak-security diagnostic. That’s usually a problem with the Wi-Fi router or with the ISP connection, or can be interference from other equipment and other Wi-Fi signals nearby. If it’s your router, try restarting it, as that can move your connections off a contentious Wi-Fi channel. This particularly if you’re in an area likely to have lots of competing Wi-Fi networks.

Alcamel123 wrote:

how do I rectify the weak security on my wi fi after updating to iOS 14

On your router.

Switch to WPA2 AES, WPA2/WPA3 transitional, or WPA3 security, and away from WEP, WPA, or WPA2 TKIP.

How to do that varies by router,

See your particular router documentation for details.

Tap or click on this link for the Apple description > https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202068

For additional discussions of what to do in this “weak security” message, please see some of the other replies to this thread.

1. Make sure you are set for WPA2 only, legacy WPA should be off. (WPA3 on some very new routers is preferred.)
2. Make sure that your encryption is AES only and that TKIP is disabled.

Same answer as has been given many, many times in this thread - correct your WiFi router settings.

Recommended settings for Wi-Fi routers and access points - Apple Support

That means that your router is not configured correctly. iOS 14 checks and displays that message if your router is not using the most up-to-date security. Note that your router has always had weak security, you just didn’t know about it until now.

See this Apple support article for how to configure it correctly—>Recommended settings for Wi-Fi routers and access points - Apple Support, specifically the section headed Security.

How to correct issue with iOS 14 update error message weak security if you have xfinity?

Login: xfinity.com

Click: password (show pass)

click: edit Wi-Fi (in upper right corner)

Click: security mode (bottom corner)

Enter: WPA2

Click: apply changes

you may want to restart your device after, it should remove weak security.

Check the settings on both the router and the extender. WPA2(AES) should be available on any fairly recently made router or range extender. If your equipment is old you should consider replacing the router and extender with a mesh network.

This is NOT an iPhone problem; it is a problem with your router settings.

A "Weak Security" notification means that your Wi-Fi router is not configured correctly. There is a new feature in iOS 14 that checks and displays a message if your router is not using the most up-to-date security. Note that your router has always had weak security, you just didn’t know about it until now. 

See this Apple support article for how to configure it correctly—>Recommended settings for Wi-Fi routers and access points - Apple Support, specifically the section headed Security. And don't forget to configure your range extenders (if any) also!

Gina

looked at some discussions on Virgin media regarding this issue and in doing so changed the router security settings to WPA2-PSK as advised rebooted router

and message has disappeared so if you can follow the advice previous posters have posted you should see this message cleared

Make sure to disable TKIP encryption. Some routers allow both AES and TKIP to be enabled together.

Then it’s probably not set to WP2, but is probably set to WPA/WPA2, which is not the same thing. Also, if it is set to WPA2 it must be WPA2(AES), NOT WPA2(TKIP)