The Industry group that promotes WiFi technology standards is launching a simplified method for configuring the security settings between a wireless router, laptops and other devices, addressing a long-standing complaint that keeps many users from protecting their home networks.

The WiFi Alliance is planning to announce that it has certified the first products featuring the new specification, which is called WiFi Protected Setup. By making the setup easier and reducing the number of steps, the industry group hopes to encourage more consumers to turn on the security features that already come standard with WiFi equipment, but frequently go unused due to confusion and complexities.

An unprotected network can be vulnerable to hacker or. at the very least, slowndowns in an Internet connection due to neighbours and passerby “borrowing” the wireless signal.