WhyIsEverythingSoDarnComplex
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Q: iphone 4s and ipad 2 require old wireless passwords

I changed the wireless password on my Airport Extreme 3 days ago. I have 5 pcs (4 windows and 1 imac), 2 fire hds, 1 samsung s5, 1 android nexus 7, 1 iphone 4s and 1 ipad 2. All the devices that do not run iOS are able to connect to my wireless network using the new password. My iMac connects too. The iphone 4s and ipad 2 refuse to connect with the new password, but continue to connect with the old password. My daughter has an iphone 6 and that connected with the old password at first. But after a couple of hours, her network connected and she had to reconnect with the new password.

 

I consider this to be a security problem because people who have visited my home over the last year still have my old wireless password on their devices, and if their devices are old, like my iphone 4s and ipad 2, their devices will continue to work.

 

I changed the wireless password to make my network more secure, but it's not secure if the older devices continue to work with the old password. Is this a bug in iOS? All devices are running the latest versions of iOS.

iPad 2, iOS 9.2.1

Posted on Mar 16, 2016 4:52 AM

by rccharles,Solvedanswer
rccharles rccharles
Level 6 (8,439 points)
Classic Mac OS
A:

I played around with changing the password on my secondary wifi router. I used my iphone 4 ios 7.1.2.

 

What I did. Set a wifi password on my secondary router. Logged my iphone onto my secondary router.  Changed password on my secondary router.  My iphone when merrily on its way without complaint.  When I looked in my wifi settings, I noticed my iphone had changed to my primary wifi router.

 

the iphone and ipad automatically switch between working wifi networks.  I noticed that my computers are dumb and I have to switch manually between networks.  Pita. [ actually, I am recalling this from memory ]

 

Could your iDevices be switching to a different wifi network?

 

You may want to try sets 5 & 6 here:

If your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch won’t connect to a Wi-Fi network - Apple Support

Posted on Mar 17, 2016 2:08 PM

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Q: iphone 4s and ipad 2 require old wireless passwords

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  • Helpful answers

  • by rccharles,

    rccharles rccharles Mar 16, 2016 11:20 AM in response to WhyIsEverythingSoDarnComplex
    Level 6 (8,439 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Mar 16, 2016 11:20 AM in response to WhyIsEverythingSoDarnComplex

    I changed the wireless password to make my network more secure, but it's not secure if the older devices continue to work with the old password.

     

    I understand that your iphone 4s and ipad 2 is still working to the internet with the old password. You have verified this by going to a web site that you have not visited before.  Surf to yahoo.com and verify that you have the latest page.

     

    I find this very surprising.  The majority of home wifi routers will only accept on password.  Changing the password on your router means the iphone 4s and ipad 2 should not be able to connect to the internet.

     

    Are you sure that you are connected to the wifi router that you think you are?  I have two wifi routers. The one from the phone company that I do not use and my own.

     

    You need to double check all you wifi configurations.  your router.  What is your router?  The setting on your iphone 4s and ipad 2.  What version of ios are you using?  There are wifi problems with ios 8.  Check on one of your computers to see wifi settings.

     

    on you ios device, download airport utility.  See here how to use the airport utility as a wifi scanner.  You do not need the apple airport router.

  • by WhyIsEverythingSoDarnComplex,

    WhyIsEverythingSoDarnComplex WhyIsEverythingSoDarnComplex Mar 17, 2016 3:10 AM in response to rccharles
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 17, 2016 3:10 AM in response to rccharles

    Thank you for your reply.

     

    I am able to run Safari and surf to Yahoo.com and mono-project.com. I have never been to these sites with my ipad 2. This is a security problem. I should not be able to do so because I logged into my wifi network on this device using my old password.

     

    All the devices in my home, with the exception of the ipad 2 and iphone 4s, are able to connect to my airport extreme using the new password. Isn't it strange that the old ios devices cannot use the new password, but can use the old password? I do have ios 9.2.1 loaded on the device.

     

    I don't see any open wifi networks in my neighborhood. All of them are secured.

     

    I will try the airport utility and see what it tells me.

  • by rccharles,Solvedanswer

    rccharles rccharles Mar 17, 2016 2:08 PM in response to WhyIsEverythingSoDarnComplex
    Level 6 (8,439 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Mar 17, 2016 2:08 PM in response to WhyIsEverythingSoDarnComplex

    I played around with changing the password on my secondary wifi router. I used my iphone 4 ios 7.1.2.

     

    What I did. Set a wifi password on my secondary router. Logged my iphone onto my secondary router.  Changed password on my secondary router.  My iphone when merrily on its way without complaint.  When I looked in my wifi settings, I noticed my iphone had changed to my primary wifi router.

     

    the iphone and ipad automatically switch between working wifi networks.  I noticed that my computers are dumb and I have to switch manually between networks.  Pita. [ actually, I am recalling this from memory ]

     

    Could your iDevices be switching to a different wifi network?

     

    You may want to try sets 5 & 6 here:

    If your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch won’t connect to a Wi-Fi network - Apple Support

  • by WhyIsEverythingSoDarnComplex,

    WhyIsEverythingSoDarnComplex WhyIsEverythingSoDarnComplex Mar 18, 2016 3:22 AM in response to rccharles
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 18, 2016 3:22 AM in response to rccharles

    I figured out the problem with your help. It was obvious, but not to me at first.

     

    I have an Airport Extreme router, in which I changed the password. But I also have a Airport Express extender which I use on another floor, in order to increase throughput to those devices that are on that floor. I did not realize I must change the password on that device as well. I thought the Airport Extreme controlled all internet access. Apparently, the Airport Express must be changed in the same ways as the Airport Extreme.

     

    Problem solved. My network is secure again.

  • by rccharles,

    rccharles rccharles Mar 18, 2016 10:54 AM in response to WhyIsEverythingSoDarnComplex
    Level 6 (8,439 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Mar 18, 2016 10:54 AM in response to WhyIsEverythingSoDarnComplex

    Great.

     

    I tried adding an access point to my wifi network, but had troubles getting the access point to work with wpa encryption. Had to return it. Thus, my experience is limited.

     

    R