Nintendo Warns Against Using Wi-Fi USB Connector

gamerant.com:

It’s inevitable that, as time passes and technology advances, video games, consoles, and peripherals that were once ubiquitous will become increasingly obsolete until they are only dusty keepsakes in the collections of a few retro enthusiasts. Online servers shut down and DLC becomes inaccessible as in the case of Ubisoft recently, storefronts close, and with some accessories like Nintendo’s Wi-Fi adapters, gamers are asked to simply stop using them.

The Wi-Fi USB Connector and Wi-Fi Network Adapter, which was available only in Japan, released in 2005 and 2008, respectively, an era when Wi-Fi wasn’t as prevalent as it is today and many homes still relied on ethernet connections. The USB devices plugged into a PC with broadband internet, and the Nintendo Wii and DS consoles could then connect to the internet via the adapter. This allowed people to access their console’s online features, such as the Wii and DS eshops that have unfortunately now shut down.

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Nintendo has posted a warning on its Japanese Twitter account that continued use of the Wi-Fi USB Connector or Wi-Fi Network Adapter is not advised. A link to a more extensive explanation was provided in the tweet and essentially stated that the old-school peripherals could leave gamers open to viruses or unauthorized access of their network. Owners were advised to cease using the adapters immediately and switch to a more modern device to go online.

The Wi-Fi USB Connector and Wi-Fi Network Adapter for the Wii and DS use the WEP security protocol, which is still the most widely used in the world but has long since been surpassed by WPA, WPA2, and 2018’s WPA3. WEP has several known security issues, can be easily hacked,