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Does WPS button have a limited range for recognization?

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  • Routers
  • WiFi
Last response: in Networking
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September 16, 2014 5:20:28 AM

Greetings,
May this is a stupid question, but my mind is wrestling with it!

I have a WiFi device and I want to match it with my WiFi router. I will press the router's WPS button and then turn my WiFi device on to these two recognize each other easily. No problem to this point!

Well, now my question is what will be happened if at the same time as me, a strange person (e.g. one of my neighbors) that I'm not aware about him/her, turn an unauthorized WiFi device on too? Does my router will recognize her/his device as an authorized device too? or WPS have a limited range and will not recognize long distance devices at all?!

Best Regards

More about : wps button limited range recognization

September 16, 2014 5:32:42 AM

No - if you can see the network, then WPS will work. That's why there's a timeout; only the first device to try after you push the button will work.

However, there are some fairly large vulnerabilities in WPS. Disabling it entirely is recommended.
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September 16, 2014 6:04:09 AM

Someone Somewhere said:
(...)However, there are some fairly large vulnerabilities in WPS. Disabling it entirely is recommended.


Thanks dear for your answer. My router have disabled it automatically because I have enabled WPA2 PSK encryption, but the WPS button will work yet, if I press it. It is unsafe still?

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September 16, 2014 6:15:00 AM

Having WPA-PSK (or WPA2-PSK) is a requirement for WPS in the first place.

Unless you can separately disable the pin method and the push-button method (it's the pin that's vulnerable), then it can still be done. Takes a couple of hours of being within range of the network, by memory.
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September 16, 2014 7:05:35 AM

Thank you so much. I disabled WPS completely and did invisible my network for more security too.
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September 16, 2014 7:20:53 AM

I would not hide the ssid it does not make your network any more secure and some application that enforce the 802.11 rules very exactly will refuse to connect...I think it is related to WPA2 but I forget now.
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September 16, 2014 7:47:00 AM

Yeah, disabling WPS is good for security, but hiding the SSID doesn't really help. It's sent in the clear every time someone tries to connect.
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September 19, 2014 2:36:47 AM

Greetings,
I can not understand when my network is invisible and no one can see it with a normal scanning, why it is not safer?! When a hacker can not see there is an active WiFi net exist, how he will try to enter to that illegally?

Can you describe me some more please?
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September 19, 2014 3:06:55 AM

They can see there's a network, though the usual windows tool won't show it. Not invisible, just has a "Don't look at me" flag. Easy to ignore.

Every time someone disconnects (and you can force a disconnect trivially), they broadcast the name of the network.

Also, any time your device isn't connected to the network it will be trying to connect. Shortens battery life and means that anyone scanning near you can see the name of your network.
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Best solution

September 19, 2014 3:19:34 AM

Because only wannabe hackers use "normal scanning". A wannabe hacker can't get into a SSID even if it was broadcast.

Someone that really can compromise your security knows very well how to see your so called hidden SSID. All it means is the router does not broadcast it. It is still very clearly visible when it is used. Just because microsoft has their head up their a.. in the sand..and pretends you can't see wireless data all that means is windows is telling you lies to keep you a dumb happy sheep.

So if you hide the SSID and then you never USE it sure it would be safe. But if you are never going to use it you might as well turn the router off which makes it even more safe.

If I am a hacker I would actually tend to favor hacking a hidden SSID because I know that the person who did this is likely unskilled at securing their network. People who think hiding the SSID is security tend to not take other actions that take more effort to implement.

There is no magic to this. You need to spend the time reading the details of how wireless really works. Only the lazy script kiddies that want a button to click that says "hack now" are defeated by silly things like not transmitting the SSID.
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September 19, 2014 8:50:58 AM

I see. Thank you two so much, truly most enlightening in every way.
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