NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.

Forum Discussion

ausgumbie's avatar
ausgumbie
Aspirant
Nov 10, 2015

Can WPS be disabled on AC790s hotspot?

Hi All   I'm a raw newbie, and the odds are this thread is in the wrong place, and apologise if so.   I've already posted something similar on Telstra's CrowdSupport forum, but suspect only by ca...
AC790s
Disable WPS
Security
WPS
TheEther's avatar
TheEther
Guru
Nov 10, 2015
  1. It doesn't look like the 790S keeps logs of activity, but you can see the connected devices by going to Home > Wi-Fi > Devices on the Aircard. You can also see the list of connected devices by logging into the Aircard. According to the manual, you can reach the Aircard by entering http://m.home or the Aircard's IP address (default is 192.168.1.1 unless you changed it) into a browser. If the suspected device is currently connected, you will see it.
  2. I didn't see any way to disable WPS in the manual. You may have to poke around yourself. I would look under Home > Wi-Fi > WPS. If WPS cannot be disabled, then you may have to physically secure the Aircard from prying hands.
  3. Returning the unit to factory settings will disconnect all devices, including ones that joined using WPS. What you really need to do is change the Wi-Fi password. Once someone successfully uses WPS to connect, they will have the Wi-Fi password.
ausgumbie's avatar
ausgumbie
Aspirant
Nov 10, 2015

Thanks,

 

When we got the hotspot originally, the hotspot's name (I gather the Main name) was displayed on the "top" screen with a numerical password eight digits long.

 

We then changed that password to a personalised one and, (ironically, so visitors couldn't see it) hid the hotspot name and password on the screen that everyone sees.

 

If a factory reset is done, will the original screen (with visible factory password) be restored? If not, I have to hope the factory pw is one I see I wrote down. Otherwise, we're in strife I think.

 

Cheers

 

ausgumbie

  • ausgumbie's avatar
    ausgumbie
    Aspirant
    Nov 11, 2015

    Quick addition

    A factory reset was done (without problems), and the factory password  was there. Presumably any WPS connections went then.

    We then changed both WiFi Name and Password.

    One final question. To the best of anyone's knowledge/experience, do devices which have been connected by WPS always show up in the "number of devices" or (in the case of the "home" browser pages) appear named on the Overview page when they access the hotspot? Or can they be cloaked in any way? Again, that's a personal knowledge and experience question - I bet the manual says nothing about it.

     

    And, if anyone DOES know how to disable WPS on the AC790s, great!!!!!!!

    Many thanks

    ausgumbie

    • TheEther's avatar
      TheEther
      Guru
      Nov 11, 2015

      Think of WPS as a clever way for a device to obtain the Wi-Fi password. Once it has the password, it uses it to join the network. So, devices that connected with WPS should show up.