Wi-Fi router is a common sight in every household these days. It is utilized globally to provide internet access to multiple people at a particular location. As your Wi-Fi signals extend beyond your home’s walls, it is essential to realize that anyone can access your network if your wireless access point is not secured and not registered on network. This weak security could lead to a loss of personal information and even your connected devices getting hacked.
When it comes to securing your home Wi-Fi network, two main problems need to be addressed. The first issue is to handle who can access the network and the second is to control the signal coverage. Hence, it is crucial to take these preventive measures to secure your home Wi-Fi network from hackers.
Frequently Change Your Password
You should frequently change your router’s password to keep your network secure. Although there is no hard and fast rule about how often you should change it, changing it regularly is a good preventive measure. It is also less of a hassle to change a router’s password compared to others because it doesn’t ask you to sign in repetitively. You are only required to log in once to gain access to the network.
Some modern routers have also created convenience with a “Guest network” option. This option comes with its SSID and password, enabling you to hide your primary password from other people.
Create a Strong Password
Passwords play a huge role in keeping your network secure, and a complicated password always maintains your Wi-Fi security. Always create a strong password by using a combination of alphabets, numbers, and special characters. This password will be impossible to guess and hard to remember, which will stop your guests and friends from sharing it with others.
Change Your Wi-Fi Network’s Name
Manufacturers often install the same administration software on all their router models, making it easy for hackers to breach the network. Each network is identified by an SSID, which is its username. Hackers use free network detection software to discover the surrounding networks. Then, they use your SSID to identify the network’s credentials easily.
This SSID is mentioned on the router, and you can find information about the router’s brand and the model in it. Many internet providers who offer routers with their internet service, often change the SSID to their name. Changing your SSID is one of the best preventive measures, as it makes it difficult for hackers to breach your network. Keep the name simple, and avoid including any personal information in it.
Hide Your Network
Another highly recommended preventive measure to keep your network secure is to hide it from the public. This will block hackers from entering your network. To disable your SSID from being broadcasted, open settings, select wireless settings, and then select the disable option on SSID broadcast.
Your devices that are already connected to the network will still be able to connect to it after hiding it. However, you’ll have to enable your SSID Broadcast to connect a new device to the network. This feature is also convenient for blocking visitors from asking for your password.
Improve your Wi-Fi Network Security with Strong Encryption
If your Wi-Fi network’s encryption is weak, hackers can use various available free tools to breach your network. Encryption helps secure the information transmission between the router and your device, and many Wi-Fi routers come with built-in encryption. While there are three security protocols, Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) is weak and outdated, and Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 are the recommended options.
Among the various versions of these protocols, WPA2 AES is a robust encryption protocol as its cipher is impossible to crack. You can configure your encryption settings in the router console.
- Sign in to your router’s settings
- From the wireless security or the wireless network page, select the wireless configuration section
- Select WPA or WPA2
- You can select AES from the second list
- Click Save and then Apply
- Reboot your router
Use a Firewall
A firewall can protect your devices and home network as it separates from each other. Hence, it blocks unauthorized users from accessing your devices. Although Wi-Fi routers come with embedded firewalls, they are often disabled. Browse through your router’s settings to see if your firewall is activated.
Use a VPN
Although VPNs are often used to improve privacy on the internet, they also offer security measures to your router. They are especially convenient if you often use public hotspots as they help to protect your connected devices from attacks by unsafe Wi-Fi hotspots.
VPN protects your devices as it encrypts your information, and even if hackers can breach your network, they would be unable to read your data. VPNs often slow down your connection speeds, but if you have a robust internet plan like Spectrum internet ultra and a good VPN, your online experience won’t get impacted. Thus, it would also be impossible for hackers to breach your network.
Update your Router’s Firmware Frequently
Frequently updating your router’s firmware is necessary for keeping up with the latest security updates. This step is crucial for securing your home Wi-Fi network as cyber threats evolve with time, and hackers find new vulnerabilities to exploit.
Final Words
Cyber threats are also evolving with technology, and identity theft and ransomware are common issues these days. As routers are an unavoidable part of our homes, it is essential to take preventive measures to maintain your home network security. Although it might sound daunting, you don’t need to be a technical expert to do that. Following the simple steps mentioned above can keep your home Wi-Fi network secure.