Preventing WiFi Leaks: WPA3 and Other Security Measures

KOMPAS.com – A post asking how to crack a WiFi password is busy on social media.

The upload was made by X’s social media account (formerly Twitter) @tanyarlfes, Thursday (26/10/2023) afternoon.

As seen in the uploaded screenshot, 16 devices are connected to the uploader’s WiFi network.

“Is it true that WiFi can be hacked? Is there anyone who can tell me? It’s really annoying that the internet is so slow,” he wrote.

Responding to the upload, several netizens advised the uploader to change the WiFi password.

“Just change your pw,” commented netizen with the account @artxztic.

“I’m not sincere, so I change my pw once a week and hide the user,” wrote account@Amayangmanaya.

“Once you give it to a stranger, he can just show them the WiFi QR code. Because on some cellphones now you can do this. Plus the PW will also be visible. That’s why you should change your password regularly and don’t give it to random people,” said netizen @MyfavMeerkat.

As of Friday (27/10/2023), this upload about WiFi passwords had been viewed more than 467,500 times, liked by 4,900 users, and re-uploaded by more than 300 netizens.

So, how do you prevent WiFi leaks?

Also read: Is it true that m-Banking transactions using public WiFi are at risk of data theft? This is what the experts say

Routinely changing passwords does not guarantee that WiFi is safe

Technology and cyber security expert from Akuncom, Alfons Tanujaya, said that breaking WiFi passwords is very possible.

He explained that Wireless Fidelity, aka WiFi, is secured with a password so that it is not easily used by other people.

Not just passwords, this wireless network that connects electronic devices to the internet also has many security fences.

“But there are many WiFi security fences. There are WiFi Protected Setup (WPS), WiFi Protected Access (WPA), WPA2, and WPA3, that’s the term,” explained Alfons, when contacted by Kompas.com, Friday (27/10/2023).

According to Alfons, WPA2 is an old security standard, which has now been updated with the presence of WPA3.

However, routers or connecting devices between internet connections and various electronic devices still often use WPA2.

“WPA2 can be broken through with a simpler program, with simple hacking,” he said.

With this type of security, Alfons explained, someone can steal a WiFi network even though they don’t actually know the password.

“There’s no point in changing your password regularly. No matter how many times you change your password, if you use WPA2, it can still be broken,” explained Alfons.

Because, the thing that allows someone to penetrate WiFi security is not only a leaked password, but also old password security technology.

“The password could be leaked, someone will let you know. Second, the password won’t be leaked, even if people can find out (because of WPA2). That’s a headache, right?” he said.

“So it is recommended that all WiFi use WPA3, so it is more difficult to hack,” he continued.

Also read: How to find out the WiFi password on a Windows laptop or PC

How to prevent WiFi leaks

Alfons explained that the main way to prevent WiFi hacks is to replace password security with WPA3.

“Don’t use WPA2 or earlier versions,” he said.

Owners can change security technology by entering the respective WiFi router menu.

Unfortunately, not all password security on router devices can be updated to WPA3.

“But the problem is if you use an old router, many of them don’t support WPA3. So the solution is to replace the router,” he continued.

Apart from that, the second way, the owner can also prevent this by hiding the service set identifier (SSID) aka the name of the WiFi network to the public.

By only showing the SSID to household devices, other people will not be able to detect the existence of the network.

Third, according to Alfons, owners can limit the number of devices that can connect to the WiFi network.

“For example, there are ten devices at home, the IP address of any device, the data is entered into the WiFi network,” he said.

An IP address is a series of numbers belonging to an electronic device connected via the internet.

Consisting of numbers that are different from each other, the owner can record the IP addresses of devices that are allowed to connect to the WiFi network.

“Others will not be able to enter because there are restrictions on the device’s IP address,” said Alfons.

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2023-10-27 12:15:00
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