I have been using Square for years with no problems.  When the Chip Reader Magstripe came out I bought one, then another a year or so later for when I travel.  They have worked just fine up until about a month ago.  Some days they were slower to establish a connection than others but within a few minutes, they would always connect.  Now, I cannot get them to connect and I've waited upwards of an hour.

I'm using them in the same space I always have, they have a full WiFi signal and I've tried mobile data too.  I've opened the app first, tried unplugging and replugging.  The app recognizes the reader is plugged in but the orange bar is stuck at "establishing a secure connection."

I tried them on my iPad, the same problem.

I have made sure they are fully charged.  They are clean. 

I've tested both readers which previously worked just fine.  One is used regularly, the other one rarely, so it isn't "worn out."  

I logged out of the square app, uninstalled it, rebooted my phone, reinstalled the app still, same. 

I checked my app settings, the microphone has permission and was previously working fine.

So WTF, is there some sort of hardware update?  I had to resort to pulling out my old fashioned plain old mag stripe reader, yeah that works.