If you've connected your smartphone to the WiFi only to become a "Privacy Warning" message, you lot might be wondering what's going on. Is your abode WiFi network unsecure? Is information technology something to do with your phone? And how tin yous prepare this state of affairs?

When Apple released iOS 14, Apple users started seeing "privacy warning" and "weak security" under their WiFi connection. In this article, we'll explain what both notifications mean and what you can practise to fix them on your devices.

Learn how to fix a WiFi privacy warning.

"Privacy Warning" on WiFi

Apple is big on privacy, and a recent update express the way networks rail users by masking what is called a Media Access Control (MAC) address.

Retrieve of it like an IP address for your smartphone. Before the update, WiFi networks, network operators, and network observers could track your activity using your MAC accost. It essentially immune networks to capture data almost y'all, which could lead to user profiling.

To protect their users' privacy, Apple released iOS 14. This update makes it so your Apple device generates a unique MAC address for each network you lot access, and then you can no longer be tracked.

If you are getting a "privacy warning" on WiFi on your device, information technology means that your MAC address is not being masked and the network can see your device's address and track it.

What y'all can practise:

You can set up this notification by taking the following steps.

1. Become into the Settings on your Apple device and select "WiFi."

Follow these steps to fix a WiFi privacy warning.

2. Locate your active network in the listing and bear upon the "i" icon.

Choose the "i" icon to fix a privacy warning on WiFi.

3. Then touch the toggle to enable "Private Address."

Choose to toggle on Privacy Address to get rid of a WiFi privacy warning.

four. Rejoin the network. The "privacy warning" message should be gone.

Rejoin your network. Your WiFi privacy warning should be gone.

To continue to protect your device's address, enable the "Private Accost" setting in the same way whenever yous access public WiFi or other networks.

"Weak security" warnings on WiFi

If your Apple device says "Weak Security," it ways that your router has not been secured. This doesn't refer to your provider's (such as CenturyLink) network security, only your dwelling house WiFi network. All you lot demand to do is log in to your router and change the security type in the settings to something stronger. Follow the steps hither to fix a "Weak Security" message.

Last words

It's not difficult to fix "Privacy Warning" notifications on WiFi. Notwithstanding, even if this message but refers to your MAC address, information technology'due south a adept reminder to brush up on online privacy best practices. It could help go on your private information safe as you surf the spider web.

For more on cybersecurity, check out the following articles:

  • How to secure your home WiFi in iii elementary steps
  • How to tell if someone is using your WiFi
  • Online gaming safety: Tips to prevent cyberbullying and more

Kirsten Queen is the Senior Content Marketing Manager for CenturyLink and Quantum Fiber. Since she started writing professionally, Kirsten has dabbled in nonprofit grant writing and communications, social media marketing, and at present writes content virtually life with technology. In her free time, Kirsten likes to cook, garden, and hike in the mountains of Colorado. Her name rhymes with get-go, not cheer.