iOS 15 Hotspot Connections Feature Stronger WPA3 Security

[MacRumors]

Starting with iOS and iPadOS 15 later this fall, hotspot connections from iPhones and iPads will be secured with the improved WPA3 security protocol, offering improved security and upgraded measures in place to prevent password guessing.

WPA3 was announced by the Wi-Fi Alliance in June of 2018 with the goal to "simplify Wi-Fi security, enable more robust authentication, and deliver increased cryptographic strength." On iOS 14, hotspot connections from an iPhone or iPad are secured only with WPA2, and now on updates coming later this fall, connections will be further protected with WPA3.

Apple's products have been able to connect to networks with WPA3 security for several years, but until now, personal hotspot networks set up by those devices have only supported the older and weaker WPA2 standard.

For the typical user, the hotspot connection experience on iOS 15 will remain the same; however, there are added benefits. Despite recommendations to create strong, complicated, and advanced passwords for hotspot connections, many users continue to use simple passwords that may be easily guessed. WPA3 specifically targets such use cases, as it uses "more resilient, password-based authentication" that offers "stronger protections for users against password guessing attempts by third parties."

iOS and iPadOS 15 are currently being tested with developers, with a public beta being planned for later this summer. Check out our guide to see everything that's new.

(Thanks, Noah!)

Article Link: iOS 15 Hotspot Connections Feature Stronger WPA3 Security

 

[Apple_Robert]

I welcome better security, especially in this area. Diceware passwords for the win.

 

[Think|Different]

I had to disable WPA3 (on my Eero 6 Pro setup) – wanted the extra security but too many older/cheaper devices (esp some Homekit ones) simply can't/won't play nicely with it and I don't see some of these companies updating their firmwares.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Sweet! More secure and safe security.

 

[Spacedust]

Apple please update Time Capsule as well !

 

[827538]

5GHz + WPA3 for hotspots, nice improvements. It's a shame WPA3 is a bit of a mess and there's already tools out to crack it. The WiFi alliance really needed to do a ground up rethink of wireless security and encryption just like how 802.11ax introduced some fundamental changes to make WiFi work better and more efficiently.

 

[now i see it]

Anything that can improve the abomination called iOS Hotspotting. What a pain in the neck!

 

[thadoggfather]

I would say sweet but who cares

Someone is gonna crack into a WPA2 wifi hotspot someones using for the 20 mins where they are?

Unlikely. The effort not worth the gains.

 

[hvfsl]

I hope you can force WPA2 (or it will use both 2/3) I currently use an iPhone 5 as a bike computer and tether to my main iPhone for data. If I can't do this anymore, not going to upgrade and I don't see the need to throw again a device (iPhone 5) while it still works otherwise.

Edit: It seems you need at least an iPhone 7 era device to support WPA3, so I couldn't even replace my iP5 with an SE. Well going to be on iOS14 for a while then.

 

[transpo1]

Nice of them to upgrade it, but on a larger note, anyone else feel like MacRumors has been a little over the top with iOS15, iPadOS15 and Monterey posts lately? Just collect all the features and break them down in a few articles. I love MR, but this is getting out of hand.

 

[SFjohn]

That’s something I’m really looking forward to!

 

[szw-mapple fan]

Anything that can improve the abomination called iOS Hotspotting. What a pain in the neck!

What trouble are you having with it? I've always had a pretty reliable hotspot from my iPhone.

 

[DeepIn2U]

I would say sweet but who cares

Someone is gonna crack into a WPA2 wifi hotspot someones using for the 20 mins where they are?

Unlikely. The effort not worth the gains.

LMAO WHAT?

The effort is ALWAYS worth the gains. It’s about information and what the data carries. Wardriving (hacking WIFi sites encryption) has been a thing for a very long time now, it’ll not stop.

 

[Treq]

Anything that can improve the abomination called iOS Hotspotting. What a pain in the neck!

Please explain. I've had zero issues and seems like a very simple system. I don't even need to take the phone out of my pocket to connect. What are your issues so I can avoid them?

 

[DarthDon]

Quantum computing will hack any code. Remember that at any time.​

(edit)

 

[citysnaps]

Anything that can improve the abomination called iOS Hotspotting. What a pain in the neck!

An abomination? Please explain. I've never had trouble creating/using a hotspot.

 

[Shirasaki]

Please explain. I've had zero issues and seems like a very simple system. I don't even need to take the phone out of my pocket to connect. What are your issues so I can avoid them?

An abomination? Please explain. I've never had trouble creating/using a hotspot.

Wifi hotspot got self disconnected all the time. I mean, many times they disconnect right in the middle of me downloading something or loading a webpage. The range is ok but not great, and taking device around sometimes just break the hotspot even though there is no obstacle between devices.
I only pickup wifi hotspot recently cause my iPhone could not connect to computer anymore, and it is still bad.

 

[ian87w]

I had to disable WPA3 (on my Eero 6 Pro setup) – wanted the extra security but too many older/cheaper devices (esp some Homekit ones) simply can't/won't play nicely with it and I don't see some of these companies updating their firmwares.

Yeah, this is mostly the issue. My router only updated its firmware when customers complaints when iOS devices put weak security warnings for non-AES WPA2. So basically they wouldn't bother updating it if Apple didn't do those warnings.

 

[InGen]

Quantum computing will crack everything. Remember that at any time.​

Quantum computer: I can generate 10^6 passwords per millisecond
Service: You have Used 1 of your 5 login attempts, you have 4 remaining

How would a quantum computer help in this scenario or crack anything?

 

[Shirasaki]

Quantum computer: I can generate 10^6 passwords per millisecond
Service: You have Used 1 of your 5 login attempts, you have 4 remaining

How would a quantum computer help in this scenario or crack anything?

They don’t directly crack the password. They crack encryption algorithm. Once that is gone, no more secure transmission and no need to crack password.

 

[827538]

I would say sweet but who cares

Someone is gonna crack into a WPA2 wifi hotspot someones using for the 20 mins where they are?

Unlikely. The effort not worth the gains.

It’s a fair point, depending on the system it would probably take about 10 minutes to collect enough packets and about 20 minutes to crack.

It’s not like in the days of WEP where you could crack a WiFi network in seconds.

 

[Robert.Walter]

Apple needs to roll this out for Airport Routers. Which were still being sold in 2018.

Apple have developed most of the code already for their devices. They need to support this security essential.

 

[QuarterSwede]

Wifi hotspot got self disconnected all the time. I mean, many times they disconnect right in the middle of me downloading something or loading a webpage. The range is ok but not great, and taking device around sometimes just break the hotspot even though there is no obstacle between devices.
I only pickup wifi hotspot recently cause my iPhone could not connect to computer anymore, and it is still bad.

Yeah, definitely not family’s experience. It’s solid as far as our usage goes. Never had it randomly disconnect.

 

[liberte1776]

When will Apple update Time Capsule & Airport to support WPA3?!

 

[DeepIn2U]

Wifi hotspot got self disconnected all the time. I mean, many times they disconnect right in the middle of me downloading something or loading a webpage. The range is ok but not great, and taking device around sometimes just break the hotspot even though there is no obstacle between devices.
I only pickup wifi hotspot recently cause my iPhone could not connect to computer anymore, and it is still bad.

mom wondering if you’re using Hotspot as a dual meaning. By nature a hotspot comes from your phone, a wifi access point is anything broadcasting 802.11xxx for internet connection.

when using your iPhone as a hotpot, I’m curious if you checked:

a) provider to ensure your data plan allows for this?
- any continuous data connection limitations to you hotspotting
B) checked your computer to see if the connection is being dropped there OR if the computer network connections need to be removed and reinstalled - replacing driver if needed.

you can’t blame hotspot just on the phone itself without checking other issues that could lead to the same symptom.