Disable WPS on R9000 Nighthawk X10 AD7200

[joenetcomm]

I read this KB on the subject:

https://kb.netgear.com/19824/How-do-NETGEAR-Home-routers-defend-WiFi-Protected-Setup-PIN-against-bru...

It says this:

To disable the Router PIN method:

Login to the router GUI by typing www.routerlogin.net on an Internet browser's address bar. Note: Default logins are: Username = admin, Password = password. Go to Advanced Setup menu and select Wireless Settings. Under WPS settings, put a check mark on Disable Router's PIN box.

Note: If your model does not have a "Disable Router's PIN" option, uncheck the "Enable Router’s PIN" box instead. Hit Apply button to save settings.

Problem is, the R9000 does not have a Disable Router's PIN box or an Enable Router's PIN box. I have the latest firmware (V1.0.5.24), updated today.

Anyone know how to disable WPS (either all of WPS or just the PIN method) on the R9000? Thanks, Joe

[plemans · Accepted solution]

when your in advanced tab, is there a wps wizard on the left? if so, click that.
I can't see because not everything is showing. You got just enough 🙂

[plemans]

In that KB article, none of the "applies to" devices are the R9000. 

Do you have a screen snip of what you actual see when you go to that location? 

[joenetcomm]

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@plemans wrote:

Do you have a screen snip of what you actual see when you go to that location? 

Thanks for your reply. Here's a screenshot:

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Regards, Joe

[plemans]

photos have to be approved by a mod. it takes time. you can do the "choose file" option at the bottom and add it. 

[joenetcomm]

Well, the image looked fine when I uploaded it, but the forum seems not to be rendering it. It was a PNG file...I'll try again as a JPG...maybe it will like that better. Regards, Joe

[joenetcomm]

Our messages crossed...JPG also failed...thanks for explaining that it needs mod approval...and for the choose-file idea. Regards, Joe

[plemans · Accepted solution]

when your in advanced tab, is there a wps wizard on the left? if so, click that.
I can't see because not everything is showing. You got just enough 🙂

[joenetcomm]

Ah, very nice! Turns out that WPS requires a client to be installed and the WPS Wizard allows you to pick either the Push Button (recommended) or the PIN Number (see attached screenshot). Since I haven't configured a WPS client, I presumably have no WPS support (neither Push Button nor PIN Number), which is fine with me. Thanks for your help...very much appreciated! Regards, Joe

[antinode]

> Turns out that WPS requires a client to be installed [...]

   No.  The "WPS client" is the computer/device which you are trying to
connect wirelessly to the router.

   If you leave the "PIN Number" button unselected, then I'd expect the
PIN method to be disabled.

   Regarding "PIN Number", see: http://antinode.info/complaints/aer.html

[joenetcomm]

> If you leave the "PIN Number" button unselected, then I'd expect the PIN method to be disabled.

But I'd like the PIN method to be diabled entirely, not just for a specific device, because, to quote from the Netgear KB, "Since only the Router PIN method is vulnerable to brute force attack, NETGEAR recommends disabling this function to best protect your network from invasion."

So, is it disabled by default entirely on the R9000? If not, how to do it? Regards, Joe

[antinode]

> But I'd like the PIN method to be diabled entirely, not just for a
> specific device, [...]

   Sorry.  I read your picture carelessly.  The "WPS Wizard" is not
where that's determined.  According to the R9000 User Manual, what you
want would be at ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Wireless Settings : Enable
Router's PIN (or not).

   As you quoted above, "Go to Advanced Setup menu and select Wireless
Settings.  Under WPS settings, [...]".  Note that "WPS Wizard" and

"Wireless Settings" are spelled differently for a reason.

   Visit http://netgear.com/support , put in your model number, and look
for Documentation.  Get the User Manual.  Read.  Look for "WPS".  Keep
looking until you find "Specify WPS Settings".

[joenetcomm]

> According to the R9000 User Manual, what you want would be at ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Wireless Settings : Enable Router's PIN (or not).

Now we're back to square one. Problem is, the Enable Router's PIN checkbox does not exist on that page...a screenshot of that page was attached to one of my previous posts...attached here again (a fuller screenshot, as it includes everything on the left, too).

> Visit http://netgear.com/support , put in your model number, and look for Documentation. Get the User Manual. Read. Look for "WPS". Keep looking until you find "Specify WPS Settings".

That was the first thing I did before posting anything here. Problem is, the manual does not match reality. Regards, Joe

[antinode]

> R9000%20Advanced%20Wireless%20Settings%20WPS%20full.png

      WPS Settings (disabled when smart connect is enabled)

   What do we know about Smart Connect on this router?

[joenetcomm]

> What do we know about Smart Connect on this router?

I know nothing about it, and a search of the user manual comes up empty for both smart connect and smartconnect.

[antinode]

> I know nothing about it, and a search of the user manual comes up empty
> for both smart connect and smartconnect.

   If the R7000 User Manual is any guide, then it'd be under BASIC >
Wireless.

   If the firmware says "disabled when smart connect is enabled", but
there is no Smart Connect feature in the firmware, then I'd be looking
for a different firmware version.  (I'd like to say that they can't all
be this buggy, but I've learned not to be so optimistic about Netgear
router firmware.)  In case you don't already know the way:

   Visit http://netgear.com/support , put in your model number, and look
for Downloads.  (For older versions, under Firmware and Software
Downloads, look for "View Previous Versions".)  Find the kit(s).
Download the kit(s) you want.  Read the "Release Notes" file for
instructions.  (In the User Manual, look for "firmware", and,
especially, for a topic like "Manually Upload Firmware to the Router".)

[joenetcomm]

> disabled when smart connect is enabled

Good catch!

> it'd be under BASIC > Wireless

It is (but the manual has no mention of Smart Connect in that section...or, for that matter, anywhere in the manual).

> looking for a different firmware version

> In case you don't already know the way

As I mentioned in the initial post, I had already upgraded to the latest firmware (V1.0.5.24) before posting.

After un-checking Smart Connect, the WPS settings came to life. Attached two screenshots show the PIN enabled and disabled.

Thanks for catching the Smart Connect issue...much appreciated! Regards, Joe

Edit: Seems that you can't attach more than one file in this forum. I'll put both screenshots inline...hopefully, the Mods will be around to approve them.