The security of wireless networks has evolved and improved a lot since the implementation of WPA encryption and, above all, WPA2. Configuring our network to use WPA2 encryption, all routers, like Movistar’s, have the WPS button . Now, can we disable it on our own? What is it about?

The WPS of the router, a button to facilitate the connection

One of the essential devices to benefit from the high speed through fiber optics offered by our company is the router, which in many cases includes a physical button called WPS. If you take a look at the Movistar device, you may see it or even find it among the different lights with the same name.

Thus, today most devices in our home have the ability to connect wirelessly to the router we have at home to access the Internet. In this, the most common way to connect these devices is by entering the WPA/WPA2 password that we can find in the router itself, but there is an alternative way to do it through WPS .

As such, this WPS that we can find on our router is an acronym for ‘WiFi Protected Setup’. Basically it provides us with a series of tools to facilitate our connection to a local wireless network from an external device. Currently it is a standard of the WiFi Alliance, so it is practically a norm that it is included in current routers.

Deactivate it to avoid risks

However, and in favor of facilitating the connection to the wireless network, it makes it unnecessary to know the long password to access said network. It does so in two possible connection ways : either through the router’s WPS button (WPS button) or by entering an 8-digit PIN code.

If we opt for this option, just press the WPS button on the router for a few seconds and search for the network with the device you want to connect to. The device will find the network and be connected automatically without the need to enter any password or PIN code.

But it is also true that this action can carry some security risks , so it is also advisable to disable it to avoid this. In the case of the Movistar router, it is also allowed, taking into account that, once done, it is still possible to activate it again, if we need it.

In the case of the Movistar Smart Wifi router, you can find two physical WPS buttons , which correspond to each of the WiFi networks that your device emits:

  • Wi-Fi/WPS button.
  • Wi-Fi Plus/WPS button.

Follow these steps to disable it

As we say, and although it is presented as an ideal solution to save us time and searches for the WiFi key, the WPS button built into the router has also become the target of malicious users who hope that our WiFi network remains open to access to her.

For this reason, more and more WiFi routers require a security step despite having the WPS open. To deactivate it we must access the configuration page of our router:

  • The default access address is usually 192.168.1.1
  • Enter the username and password for access. If we have not changed them, they are usually written on the back of the router and in the device manual, although it is highly recommended to change the default credentials.
  • And disable the WPS option.

Also, and if we want to do it in a simpler way, we can go to the Alejandra portal , from Movistar, which is Movistar’s exclusive service that allows you to configure your router without having to access it directly from the access door 192.168.1.1 . To do this, simply access it from its website, identify yourself with the Movistar user or with the main mobile phone and Access.

  • Go to the WPS Security section.
  • Place it in the OFF position and save the changes.
  • Proceed the same for the 5 GHz Wifi Plus network, Click on Wifi Plus/Password.
  • Place it in the OFF position and save the changes.
  • Proceed the same for the 5 GHz Wifi Plus network, Click on Wifi Plus/Password.
  • Switch to the OFF position and save the changes again.

These steps are valid for most devices, but may vary depending on the router model used. Once the WPS functionality is disabled, the correct thing to do would be to change the WPA/WPA2 password and we can also take the opportunity to change the default username and password.

Categorized in: