The button you should never use on your router: disable it to protect your Wi-Fi

In Spain, most homes have private Wi-Fi. In the midst of a boom in cyberattacks, something as everyday as your home router can become a weak link if not managed properly.

Many routers still have the WPS (WiFi Protected Setup) feature enabled by default . What few people realize is that this option is one of the most commonly used ways to access home networks.

The WPS feature, designed to connect devices to Wi-Fi by pressing a button or entering a short PIN, is convenient… but also dangerous. Keeping it active allows cybercriminals with specific tools to crack the PIN or exploit old vulnerabilities to break into your network.

Thus, leaving WPS activated when not in use can open the door to possible cyberattacks .

In this article, we explain why disabling WPS significantly improves your security, how to do it, and what other simple steps you can take to protect your connection from intrusion attempts.

Why should we turn off the WPS button if we don't use it?

Despite being a fast and secure method, as long as it's done on a closed, private network, WPS has some risks that should be kept in mind. By using this router feature, our network is open and accessible to anyone . While it's normal to have to enter the WPS PIN to connect, it's still much easier. decipher an 8-digit code than a long, secure password like the ones routers come with.

Cybercriminals have applications capable of generating these codes or even spying systems that allow them to spy on users and monitor their online activities. This allows them to copy passwords to try to access personal or bank accounts and steal your money, so we must be aware of how exposed our connection is.

This button is located on the router itself , so to find it, just take a look at the device and look for the acronym (WPS) that appears next to it. To use it, it's as simple as pressing it until the LED starts flashing. To deactivate it, press it again until the lights stop flashing , thus avoiding the potential complications mentioned above.