What does the wps reset button on the router mean? WPS - what is it and how to set it up? How is WPS implemented at the access point?

Hello! I decided to talk about technology today WPS (QSS) , I’ll tell you the same thing What is the QSS button for on a Wi-Fi router? and how to put it into practice. It seems to me that now all modern routers have WPS (QSS) technology, so the information is relevant. In my TL-WR841N router, and in TP-Link routers in general, this function is called QSS.

QSS, or WPS, is a technology that allows you to semi-automatically create a wireless Wi-Fi connection between your router and the device you want to connect to the network.

Deciphered as:

WPS – Wi-Fi Protected Setup
QSS – Quick Security Setup

Now I’m describing it in my own words. For example, guests come to you and they want to connect to your Wi-Fi network. What do you usually do? Look for your Wi-Fi password, then you need to enter it on the device and that’s the only way to connect. And QSS technology simplifies this procedure.

You simply find your network on the device, select WPS in the additional settings and press the “Puch button” (I have this on my phone), then click connect, and on the router press the button QSS. The devices exchange a PIN code and connect to each other. As you can see, everything is convenient, you don’t need to enter anything. I checked it myself, everything works fine.

Now I will write in more detail:

How to enable (disable) QSS on a TP-Link router.
How to connect a device (phone) to a Wi-Fi router using QSS technology
What are the dangers of using WPS (QSS) technology?

How to enable/disable QSS on a TP-Link router?

When I wrote an article on setting up, I mentioned the QSS button, on this router it looks like this:

Right away, before I forget, I want to give an answer to those who ask: if I click on this QSS button, does that mean that everyone will be able to connect to my router? The answer is no, this button only works when you press it, and for some time after pressing it (not for long), and at that moment you connect your phone or tablet. The process of connecting and exchanging a PIN code takes just a few seconds.

The QSS function can be enabled or disabled in the router settings. Immediately after setting up the router, this technology was enabled for me, and it still works. In order to enable or disable the QSS protocol, or generate a new PIN code, as well as to add a new device from the router control panel, you need to go to the router settings.

I have already written several times how to do this, type the address 192.168.1.1 in the browser address bar, enter the login and password to access the settings (admin and admin by default) and confirm the login.

Then on the left go to the “QSS” tab, the page will open “QSS (Quick Secure Setup)”. If you have the opposite QSS Status: Enabled, it means the technology is enabled, to disable QSS, click the “Disable QSS” button. And accordingly, if it is disabled, then to enable it you need to press the “Enabled” button.

How to connect a device to a Wi-Fi router using QSS technology?

I will show you the process of connecting to a router using QSS technology, using the WR841N router and HTC One V phone as an example.

We turn on Wi-Fi on the phone and wait until our network appears in the list. We click on it, and the phone will immediately prompt us to enter a password. But we choose “Advanced options”, then “WPS” and “Push” button. At this moment, hold down the QSS button on the router, and on the phone click “Connect”. That’s all, the phone will connect to the router, you can release the button on the router.

What are the dangers of using WPS (QSS) technology?

There are vulnerabilities, friends, and there is a danger that your network will be hacked via QSS. In principle, it is impossible to completely protect your Wi-Fi network, but enabling QSS only increases the risk of hacking.

And my advice to you is that if you rarely connect new devices to your router, then it’s better to disable the QSS protocol, you practically don’t need it. Well, if you often connect new devices, then use QSS and don’t think about the bad things :), sometimes. If you are comfortable with this technology, then you should not give it up. Good luck!

Also on the site:

What are QSS and WPS? What is the QSS button for on a Wi-Fi router and how to use it? updated: March 3, 2014 by: admin

If you bought a new router, then when examining the outside of it, you most likely noticed that it has a small WPS button. What it is? Three letters WPS is an abbreviation for Wi-Fi Protected Setup or translated into Russian: Protected Wi-Fi Setup. This technology was invented by the global Wi-Fi Alliance, which promotes wireless technology and certifies related technologies.
The WPS button enables a special router mode that makes it easier to connect third-party devices - phones, tablets, Smart TVs, etc.

What is WPS and how does it differ from WPA?

In layman's terms, WPS mode is a wireless networking standard that helps you connect other wireless devices to your router faster. A WPS connection between two devices is created only when the user physically presses the WPS button first on the router, then on the connected device. Many users often confuse WPS mode with the security standard WPA and WPA2. Here the acronym WPA stands for Wi-Fi Protected Access. At the same time, WPS and WPA / WPA2 are technologically different. WPA/WPA2 security protocols use encryption technology to connect Wi-Fi devices. WPA uses older technology that can be easily hacked, while WPA2 uses secure encryption technology. WPS, on the other hand, does not use encryption technology and is unfortunately more vulnerable to attack by hackers.

How does WPS mode work?

While WPA technology requires the user to select a specific network to connect to, as well as enter a password to connect devices, WPS mode simplifies the connection process. It offers two ways to connect devices - the "Press the WPS button" method and the "Unique PIN" method.

Where is the WPS button on the router and how does it work?!

Most modern routers have a WPS button located on the back of the router, usually next to the Ethernet ports, or on the bottom cover of the router. Sometimes the WPS button is located on the side. It is usually marked with a logo with arrows:

When you press a button on your router, it starts searching for other devices within its wireless network coverage. Now all you need to do is press the WPS button on the connected device - phone, tablet, TV, Wi-Fi printer, etc. After this, the new device will easily connect to the wireless network and exchange data with its other clients. The WPS pairing system works like a Bluetooth connection and does not require a password. In the future, you won't need to press WPS buttons to have the same devices connect to the same network.

Connecting to a router via WPS PIN code

Another method of WPS mode operation requires a unique PIN code to create a connection between the router and the client device. This is usually done if the router does not have a WPS button, but supports this mode. The PIN is usually an eight-digit number printed on a sticker that can be found on either the bottom or back of the device. To connect to a wireless network, the user will have to enter this PIN, which will act as a password since it is randomly generated and cannot be changed by users.

Is WPS technology dangerous?

Recently, due to massive hacking of wireless networks, WPS technology is considered potentially dangerous. This is not entirely true. Only the WPS mode that uses a PIN code is dangerous. Firstly, because the code can be selected - it is numeric and consists of 8 digits. Secondly, because some wireless routers that connect devices using the PIN method check the first four numbers when creating a connection. This makes them vulnerable to brute force attacks. This method is called WPS PIN Hack. With the help of several programs, an attacker can crack the PIN code in a maximum of 48 hours and use your system. Routers that do not have restrictions on the number of trial passwords are especially susceptible to this.

Therefore, routers with a WPS button are more secure, since in order to hack, a hacker must have physical access to the WPS button on the router.

Summary: WPS mode is necessary and useful, it simplifies your life by quickly and reliably connecting your Wi-Fi enabled devices to your home network. In this case, you can only use the technology that involves pressing the WPS button on the devices to connect them!

Most modern routers have a WPS function. Some, in particular novice users, are interested in what it is and why it is needed. We will try to answer this question and also tell you how you can enable or disable this option.

WPS is an abbreviation for the phrase “Wi-Fi Protected Setup” - in Russian it means “protected Wi-Fi installation”. Thanks to this technology, the procedure for pairing wireless devices significantly speeds up - there is no need to constantly enter a password or use an insecure remembering option.

How to connect to a network with WPS

The procedure for connecting to a network in which the feature in question is active is quite simple.

PCs and laptops

Smartphones and tablets

iOS devices can automatically connect to wireless networks with WPS enabled. And for mobile devices on Android, the procedure is as follows:

Disable or enable WPS

In addition to the undeniable advantages, the technology in question also has a number of disadvantages, the main one of which is a security threat. Yes, during the initial setup of a wireless network on the router, the user sets a special security PIN code, but it is much weaker than a similar alphanumeric password. This function is also incompatible with older desktop and mobile operating systems, so owners of such systems will not be able to use Wi-Fi with WPS. Fortunately, this option can be easily disabled using the router's web settings interface. This is done as follows:

Open your browser and go to your router's web interface.
Read also:
How to enter the router settings ASUS, D-Link, TP-Link, Tenda, Netis, TRENDnet
Solving the problem with entering the router configuration
Further actions depend on the manufacturer and model of the device. Let's look at the most popular ones.
Click on “Wireless Network”, then go to the tab "WPS" and use the switch "Enable WPS", which should be in position "Off".

Open the blocks sequentially "Wi-Fi" And "WPS". Please note that models with two bands have separate tabs for each frequency - you need to change the secure connection settings for both. On the frequency tab, uncheck the box "Enable WPS", then click "Apply".

On budget single-band models with a “green” interface, expand the tab "WPS"(otherwise it may be called "QSS", as on the external adapters mentioned above) and press the button "Disable".

On higher-end dual-band devices, go to the "Additional settings". After the transition, expand the categories "Wireless mode" And "WPS", then use the switch "Router PIN".

Expand the block "Wireless mode" and click on the item "WPS". Next click on the button "Off" WPS".

In the web interface, go to the tab "Wi-Fi Settings". Find the item there "WPS" and click on it.

Next, click on the switch "WPS".

TRENDnet

Save the settings and reboot the router.

To activate WPS, follow the same steps, only this time select everything related to enabling. By the way, a secure connection to a wireless network is included out of the box in almost all the latest routers.

Conclusion

This completes the inspection of the details and capabilities of WPS. We hope you find the above information useful. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask them in the comments, we’ll try to answer.

WPS(Wi-Fi Protected Setup) - a technology designed for fast and secure installation of a wireless Wi-Fi network (In TP-Link routers the function is called QSS(Quick Security Setup) and performs similar functions.). The advantages of using WPS are obvious, a person withoutspecial knowledge will set up a Wi-Fi network within 2-5 minutes. This is exactly what this article is devoted to - setting up Wi-Fi using WPS technology.

To understand if you have a WPS function in your router is quite simple, just look at the back of the router and see the WPS or QSS button.

Let me make a reservation right away that setting up Wi-Fi using the WPS button will be possible with the router’s factory settings (since in this state the Wi-Fi network is not protected, you can connect to it and, knowing the code, enter your settings), i.e. must be configured either immediately after purchase (preferably) or by resetting the settings to factory settings with the Reset button (usually located near the WPS button or this one button, only WPS turns on when you hold it for 2-3 seconds, and Reset works when you hold it for 10-15 seconds) .

I will describe two ways to get into the Wi-Fi settings window using WPS, choose which one is more convenient for you.

1 METHOD Using the WPS button.

By connecting power to the router on your computer/laptop in Wi-Fi networks, find the wireless network of your router. And press the button Connection"At the same moment, press the WPS button on the router for 2-3 seconds.

As a result, you should see a window asking you to install a network, click the " OK", if this does not happen, try repeating the procedure - disconnect from the Wi-Fi router and connect to it again by pressing the WPS button for 2-3 seconds.

If everything went well, if not, try the second method (described below).

2 METHOD Using Windows settings.

Connect power to the router on your computer/laptop in Wi-Fi networks, find the wireless network of your router. And press the button Connection".

Then go to Computer ( "Start" - "Computer") and press " Net".

If you have network device discovery disabled, turn it on by clicking on the window that appears at the top and select "Enable network discovery and file sharing".

Select " Yes, enable network discovery or file sharing for public networks".

In the devices window, select the router and click on it.

Regardless of the chosen method, the following steps will be the same, first of all we find the password, which is on the label of the router.

Enter the password.

After this, you need to enter the network name and, if desired, change the password (the password should be strong - at least 6 characters, in capital and small letters, numbers and special characters (!@#...)).

After this, the settings will be applied within a few seconds.

As a result, you will receive a window confirming the successful setup of the Wi-Fi network and specifying the password to connect to it.

Thus, we set up secure Wi-Fi without connecting to the router’s web interface, without any specialized computer knowledge.

These days, wireless Internet connections using Wi-Fi technology are gaining immense popularity. This is explained by the fact that the user becomes completely independent from the web of cables and wires; now there is no need to be tied to the workplace. If you wish, you can move your laptop to any point in your apartment or take it out into the courtyard of your house without severing your connection to the Internet. However, the development of these technologies has raised the question of protection and because most users do not have the necessary knowledge. Therefore, wireless equipment manufacturers have developed a special WPS protocol. It allows you to automate the process, which saves inexperienced users from unnecessary hassle.

WPS - what is it and what is it for?

This abbreviation stands for Wi-Fi ProtectedSetup. This standard was developed by an alliance of manufacturers of Wi-Fi wireless devices, the main goal of which was to simplify the setup process, and this technology allows even an inexperienced user to simply and quickly establish a wireless connection to the Internet, without delving into all the intricacies of Wi-Fi encryption protocols. Thanks to WPS, the device is able to automatically set the network name, as well as the encryption that will be used to protect against attempts. Previously, all these procedures had to be done manually.

Setting up wireless networks using WPS

We found out what Wi-Fi ProtectedSetup is and why it is needed. Now let's figure out how to set up a wireless network. What is needed for this? We will need a personal computer (preferably with the Windows 7 operating system) and an access point that supports WPS mode. The setup process for this system is similar for all devices that support this technology, regardless of model and manufacturer. So, let's start describing the procedure. The first step is to turn on the router. On the computer we update the list of available wireless networks. Our router model appears on the monitor. Click the “Connect” button. Since the wireless network in question does not currently have security parameters set, the computer’s operating system will prompt you to configure the access point. Click “OK” and continue working. At the next stage, the WPS-wifi system will ask for a PIN code. You can find this information on a special sticker on the router body. Typically the factory code consists of eight digits. If desired, you can change it in the device settings. The code should be entered into the pop-up window and click “Next”. A window with the configurations of our router will appear on the monitor. The operating system will offer to assign the basic parameters of the created wireless network, namely: name, encryption type, security key. That's all, the WPS setup is complete, the access point is ready for use.

Connection setup features

1. Today, support for this technology is fully implemented in Windows VistaSP2 and Windows 7. However, if an earlier version of the operating system is installed on your computer, then do not despair; you can use a special utility to configure this system. It can be found on the disk that came with your wireless access point.

2. System developers recommend that when connecting to a wireless network that does not yet have security settings set, configuration is carried out. However, you can refuse this procedure and connect to the network without preliminary setup. To do this, you need to click “Cancel”, thereby you will bypass the procedure for selecting parameters.

3. When setting up a network, system security can be left as default. It is better to replace the PIN code, and the more complex it is, the better. Particular attention should be paid to the network name. It is very important that it does not contain spaces and is written in Latin letters.

Connecting new devices to Wi-Fi

If you have a laptop, smartphone, tablet, then they can also be configured to work with the created wireless network. To do this, we search for available connections. Select the name of our network from the list and connect to it. The system will ask you to enter a security code or press the WPS connect button on the router. Enter the password, and the device is ready for use. As you can see, we were able to configure the access point without going into the device’s Web interface. This is how convenient it is - WPS technology. What is a button on a router and what is it for, we will look further.

How is WPS implemented at the access point?

This function is present in most modern routers. WPS technology allows you to set a name for your home network, as well as set up encryption protection against hacking and unauthorized access completely automatically. This process is carried out using a special request, in which the necessary parameters are transferred from the router to the device controller. Next, the WPS system also performs all subsequent connections of new devices to the newly created Wi-Fi network. Such a request is made using a special WPS button. Almost every user of wireless networks knows, but only a few will answer what this button is for. So let's look at this question.

WPS button on the router

This functionality is most often located on the front panel of the device, less often on the back or side. The location depends on the router manufacturer and device model. Sometimes the manufacturer may combine the wireless settings button with a reset button. Therefore, you should be extremely careful when using this function. In this case, the choice of button is determined by the duration of its holding. To enable the wireless network setup mode, the press time is 1-2 seconds, and to reset all settings - 5-7 seconds. As you can see, the main thing is not to overdo it. If the element in question is missing on the router body, it means that the parameter transfer request mode is launched in the device’s web interface, which can be opened in the browser via

Reassigning the WPS button

The firmware of some routers allows you to change the action of the mentioned element. For example, ASUSWRT allows you to reassign WPS and use a mechanism to turn Wi-Fi on or off. Very often this button is simply not used by the user. Therefore, the mode of turning off the radio module without having to change the settings of the web interface may be even more useful. To redefine the purpose of the button, you need to go to the administration section and open the “System” tab. Next, you should override the WP Sbutton item and select Toggle Radio.

Disadvantages of WPS technology

Wi-Fi routers that support this system have a wireless network security vulnerability, using which it is possible to select keys for encryption protocols. To do this, there are many programs on the Internet that can carry out similar procedures. In addition, they have a database of ready-made, frequently used keys. The PIN code itself consists of eight digits, so in theory there are 10 8 possible combinations. However, in reality there are significantly fewer such options. This is explained by the fact that the last digit of the code contains a checksum calculated from the first seven digits. In addition, the WPS technology authentication protocol also contains vulnerabilities. As a result, we have the following picture: in order to select a key, you need to search through only 11,000 options (approximately). And this is relatively little. The disadvantage of the technology we are considering is that most routers have a strict PIN code. As a result, if the key is compromised, changing the password will not protect your network.

Conclusion

The advantage of this technology is its ease of use. The user does not need to understand all the settings himself. In addition, the system allows you to quickly and effortlessly connect additional devices to an existing network. This mode is launched in routers in different ways:

1. Push ButtonConnect - automatic settings are launched by pressing the WPS button, which is located on the router body.

2. Enter the PIN code through the router web interface window. The user using this method must first launch the browser, then open the access point interface and enter the key. Next, the setup process begins.

3. Entering a PIN code on a personal computer. The key is entered only after connecting the router to the PC and starting a special WPS session.

In general, this technology is very useful and convenient for inexperienced users, despite the fact that advanced users like to reproach it for its weak protection against unauthorized access.