In today’s world, it can be difficult to keep your home network secure. New vulnerabilities are discovered all the time and hackers are always finding new ways to access your data. However, there are steps you can take to better protect yourself, including updating your router and turning on password protection. In this post we’ll cover these topics and more as we explore some simple ways you can protect your wireless network at home.
Change the admin password.
- Change the admin password.
The first thing you should do is change the admin password on your router and all devices that use it, such as computers and smartphones. The best way to do this is by using a combination of letters, numbers and symbols–at least 10 characters long. If you have trouble remembering complex passwords or can’t create one yourself (or if you’re not sure what “complex” means), there are many websites that will generate random but secure passwords for free; use one from there instead!
- Regularly update security patches for software like Windows 10 Update Assistant or macOS Mojave Automatic Updates Software Update Service for Apple computers/laptops running macOS High Sierra 10.14
Enable password protection on wireless access points.
You should also enable password protection on wireless access points. This is the first line of defense for your home network, so it’s important that you use a strong password that isn’t easily guessed or cracked. You should also change this password regularly, especially if you have kids or housemates who may be tempted to try and log into your network (and potentially leave it open).
Even if you use WPA2 encryption with a strong passphrase as described above, it’s not enough on its own: there are ways around encryption that are relatively easy for hackers to execute–but only if they have physical access to your router! So make sure all physical connections are secure as well by locking them down with something like an old-fashioned padlock or cable lock (or both).
Limit wireless access points to specific devices.
Limit wireless access points to specific devices.
While it’s not always possible, you can limit your wireless network’s access points by using MAC address filtering. This is a feature that allows only those computers whose MAC addresses are on a list provided by the administrator of the router (or in some cases, the ISP) to connect with said router. If someone tries connecting without permission and has entered an incorrect password, they will be denied access until they get their device added onto this list or reset its MAC address so that it matches one already approved by management.
MAC addresses are unique identifiers assigned by manufacturers; they’re what allow devices like smartphones or tablets to connect wirelessly without having any kind of username or password requirements set up beforehand–but since each one has its own unique combination of numbers and letters (for example: “00A0B4F8A9”), only those with knowledge about how these codes work can figure out what yours might be before trying them out at random!
Encrypt your Wi-Fi network.
Encrypting your Wi-Fi network is the best way to protect it. It makes it harder for intruders to access your network, and it’s easy to do. You can use a free encryption service, or pay for one like WPA2 if you want more options in terms of settings and features.
Change default SSIDs and passwords for Wi-Fi networks.
Changing default SSIDs and passwords for Wi-Fi networks.
- Don’t use the default SSIDs and passwords that come with your router.
- Don’t use SSIDs or passwords that are easy to guess, such as “linksys” or “password12345”.
- Change them regularly! Do not reuse a password on multiple devices, especially if they’re all connected to the same network (e.g., your home).
Keep devices up to date with software updates.
Keeping your devices up to date with software updates is one of the most important things you can do to keep them secure. Software updates often contain security fixes and patches, so it’s important to make sure that your devices are always running the latest version of their operating systems, browsers and apps.
If you’re unsure how often or even if a particular device should be updated, check its manufacturer’s website for details. Keep in mind that not all devices will automatically update themselves–it’s up to you!
You can take steps to protect your home’s wireless network from intruders
- Use strong passwords.
- Use a VPN.
- Use a password manager.
- Use a firewall, like Windows Firewall or an antivirus program, to help protect your computer from malware that can steal your personal information and use it for malicious purposes (like accessing your home network).
- Disable guest network access if you don’t need it by changing the settings on your router or gateway device (which may be provided by your ISP).
As the world becomes more connected and reliant on wireless networks, it’s important to take steps to protect yourself from intruders. You can do this by changing the admin password on your router or access point, enabling password protection on these devices, limiting which devices can connect to them, encrypting your Wi-Fi network and keeping devices up-to-date with software updates.
