With the increase in cyber threats, securing your home Wi-Fi network has become essential to protect data privacy and ensure the safety of connected devices, there is no guaranteed way to fully protect your Wi-Fi network, but there are effective steps you can take to make it more secure.
Simple tips to enhance the security of your home Wi-Fi network
Amid the increasing electronic threats, securing the home Wi-Fi network is essential to safeguard our privacy and the safety of our connected devices. While there is no perfect method to fully secure the network, there are measures that can be taken to make it more secure. Among these measures:
Change the network name (SSID) or create a new one
When you install a new wireless router, a default network name is assigned by the manufacturer. However, it's important to choose a new network name that is different from your name or address, as this makes it more difficult to hack your wireless network.
- Use a unique name that doesn't indicate your location or personal information.
- Avoid using easy-to-guess names, such as "home Wi-Fi."
Create complex and strong passwords
When setting up a home Wi-Fi network, the router may provide you with a pre-configured password for initial access. This password is added by the manufacturer to facilitate access to the router's settings. However, these passwords are easily discoverable and are not designed to provide long-term protection for your network. Therefore, you should choose a completely new password from the one provided previously, preferably one that is complex and free from any numbers associated with easily discoverable personal dates.
- Use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
- The password is at least 12 characters long.
- Avoid using easy-to-guess words, such as your name, date of birth or home address.
- Change your password periodically, at least every 3 months.
Turn on encryption
Encrypting Wi-Fi at home has become easy with the development of technology, as you can now easily activate WPA 3 or WPA 2 encryption from the settings of your modern router. However, be aware that older routers may lack these options, making them much less secure, and making their use increase your network's exposure to online risks.
- Use modern encryption standards such as WPA2 or WPA3.
- Avoid using legacy encryption standards such as WEP or WPA.
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Disable remote access to the router
Most routers can enable remote management, allowing you to manage the device settings from any computer not connected to it. Additionally, many of them allow any connected device to access settings without requiring a password, enabling instant connection by pressing a designated button on the modem.
- Do not allow anyone to access the router through the Internet.
- Change the default username and password for the router.
While these features are beneficial in facilitating router management, they may expose your network to unauthorized access. Therefore, disabling these features may be necessary to enhance the security of your home wireless network.
Activate firewall
The firewall is usually enabled by default in the router settings. Most routers come equipped with a firewall to protect the Wi-Fi network and connected devices. However, you should make sure that it is turned on to enhance the security of your home Wi-Fi network.
- Enable the firewall on the router.
- A firewall helps prevent unauthorized access to your network.
Monitor devices connected to your home router
- Use the Network Monitor tool to identify devices connected to your network.
- Make sure all connected devices are known to you.
Restrict guest network access
- Create a separate guest network for guests.
- Set a different password for the guest network.
By following these simple steps, you can significantly improve the security of your home Wi-Fi network and protect yourself from cyber risks.
