privacy warning in WiFi

For weak security… Check the router and see if it’s WPA2 TKIP PSK, or WPA2 ARS PSK.

Apple considers WPA2 TKIP PSK weak, and WPA2 AES PSK not.

Here’s the info directly from Apple: Recommended settings for Wi-Fi routers and access points - Apple Support

Based on what little I can find on the VMDG505 Wi-Fi router (and that’s a guess about the model you have here), it’s seemingly the weaker (and outdated) WPA2 TKIP PSK involved here:

https://community.virginmedia.com/t5/Networking-and-WiFi/Weak-security-on-brand-new-Hub-3/td-p/4409100

https://community.virginmedia.com/t5/Networking-and-WiFi/iOS-14-Weak-Security/td-p/4410050

Best you can probably do here is ignore the message. the message changes nothing here and the Wi-Fi will operate as it has, though you do now know that your Wi-Fi security is weaker. The alternative is a better router from Virgin Media (if that option is available), or a replacement Wi-Fivrouter with your own and higher-security router if Virgin permits that swap.

For a network privacy warning and not a weak Wi-Fi: https://allthings.how/wifi-privacy-warning-iphone/

If it really says “Privacy Warning” that means you have not enabled Private Wi-Fi address for your router. To do that go to Settings/Wi-Fi, tap on the i next to the network name, and turn it on. But for your home network this is not necessary or important; it is primarily for use with outside Wi-Fi networks that you use. For your home network you can leave it off and ignore the warning.

If the message is “Weak Security” that means that your router does not have the most secure encryption settings, but it sounds like that is not an issue for you.

What is the exact wording of the warning?

If it says Privacy Warning, when connected to the router tap on the i next to the network name and turn on Private Address, then turn off Wi-Fi for a few seconds, and reconnect. Alternatively, if this is your home router you can safely ignore the warning; it is only a privacy issue when roaming on Wi-Fi public hotspots. (The phone warns anyway, because it doesn’t know that it’s your home network.)

If it says Weak Security this is NOT an iPhone problem; it is a problem with the settings on your Wi-Fi router.

A "Weak Security" notification means that your Wi-Fi router is not configured correctly. There is a new feature in iOS 14 and later and Mac OS Big Sur (11) and later that checks and displays a message if your router is not using the most up-to-date security settings. 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!

After you change the router settings you should Forget the network in your phone settings and reconnect.

Note also that weak security does not interfere with using Wi-Fi, it is just a warning. Your Wi-Fi should still work normally, and, if it doesn’t, it is not because of the weak security message.

It’s just a warning, and is unrelated to any other Wi-Fi problems. To get rid of the warning go to Settings/Wi-Fi and tap on the i next to your network name, then turn on Private Wi-Fi Address. A Privacy Warning simply means that your phone is using its real Wi-Fi (MAC) address.

“Privacy Warning” and “no internet connection” have nothing to do with each other. Your connection should work normally even if it says “Privacy Warning”.

“Privacy Warning” means that your phone is using its real Wi-Fi address to connect to the router. This is actually not a problem if it is your home router, because you don’t really care if your router knows that it is your phone. That feature is for connecting to public Wi-Fi networks, when you shouldn’t want the network to be able to track you. But you can get rid of it on your Home network also; just go to Settings/Wi-Fi and tap on the i next to the network name, and turn on Private Address.

No Internet Connection means that your phone is not connecting to the Internet through your router, but is connecting to your router. The most common cause of this problem is if you are using a VPN connection, so if you are, you should stop using VPN, and also delete any VPN apps and VPN profiles from Settings/General/VPN & Device Management. Be sure you delete the VPN app completely, not just remove it from your Home screen.

shanar88 wrote:

I also have the same problem on my iPhone 8, I have changed my router setting and forget my network, reset it and everything Apple has recommended, but the waring disappear and the after 24h it shows up again and after few seconds "no internet connection", then I have to forget this network several times to have another day without any warning!

Confirm your iPhone 8 works properly on other Wi-Fi networks, confirm the Wi-Fi network router here has the most current available firmware loaded, and confirm that the Wi-Fi router has any MAC address security feature disabled.

You should use a WPA2-AES or WPA3 password types, but if your modem-router doesn't support them... ..

That's just a warning message, suggesting to use a stronger password type.

Regards

Giulio

Can you share a screen shot of the page that says “privacy warning”?

Tap on the name of the network, just above Privacy Warning. It should explain the Privacy Warning in more detail.

See also this support article:--> Use private Wi-Fi addresses on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Apple Watch - Apple Support

ursula156 wrote:

I have started getting a Privacy Warning on my wifi too, in spite of having selected Private Wifi address. I can see our router from Virgin is hub 3.0 but I have no idea how to find the security settings. Can anyone help? Instructions from Apple links are so hard to follow for a non-techy person. Some simple advice for how to manage this problem would be much appreciated.

Settings > Wi-Fi > select Wi-Fi ℹ️ > enable Private Wi-Fi Address

If that fails to clear the error, disable the setting, restart the iPhone, and re-enable the setting.

If this is a weak Wi-Fi security warning, see the Apple-recommended answer above.

Hi

I keep getting a privacy warning against my wifi - I’ve followed online instructions to ensure privacy settings are enabled which they are but still got it for the BT router and the booster too

should I still use my wifi?

thanks

I have started getting a Privacy Warning on my wifi too, in spite of having selected Private Wifi address. I can see our router from Virgin is hub 3.0 but I have no idea how to find the security settings. Can anyone help? Instructions from Apple links are so hard to follow for a non-techy person. Some simple advice for how to manage this problem would be much appreciated.

I also have the same problem on my iPhone 8, I have changed my router setting and forget my network, reset it and everything Apple has recommended, but the waring disappear and the after 24h it shows up again and after few seconds "no internet connection", then I have to forget this network several times to have another day without any warning!