How To Apply Maximum Security to Your Wifi
Your home’s wireless internet connection is your Wi-Fi network. Typically, a wireless router is used, which broadcasts a signal into the atmosphere. You can connect to the internet using that signal. However, if your network is not password-protected, any nearby device can grab the signal off the air and connect to your internet.
Perhaps the most significant device in your home is your router. It acts as a sentry, monitoring all incoming and outgoing communication to make sure that nothing hazardous enters the network and nothing sensitive leaves. All of your mobile devices—including phones, tablets, computers, and more—are under its control, including access to your home Wi-Fi network. It can be simple to compromise those devices if someone else acquires access to that network, whether it’s a faraway hacker or your next-door neighbor.
Keeping your router safe is crucial but the good news is that doing these steps won’t take much time or effort and they will considerably lower your risk.
STEP 1: CHANGE YOUR ROUTER’S DEFAULT PASSWORDS
Changing the Wi-Fi password frequently is a smart practice. Yes, doing so requires reconnecting all of your gadgets, but it also chases away any unwanted guests that might be skulking. You should be able to see a list of connected devices in your router’s settings panel, albeit it could be difficult to understand.
Changing the password needed to access the router’s settings is also advised because many individuals leave the default settings in place, making it possible for someone with access to the defaults or who can guess them to change your router. Make it extremely difficult to guess but impossible to forget, just like with any password.
STEP 2: SET-UP A GUEST NETWORK
A guest network with a unique name and password can frequently be created on routers. It’s a smart security measure for two reasons: first, fewer individuals will know your main Wi-Fi network password; second, if a visitor (unknowingly) brings malware with them on their phone or tablet, it won’t be able to infect your main network and your devices.
STEP 3: UPDATE YOUR FIRMWARE
The firmware of a router is prone to hacking and virus infection. Even though it is impossible to completely eliminate the risk of hacking, you may greatly lessen it by just keeping your firmware up to date. Security updates are frequently released by developers to fix any flaws and include new features.
The majority of contemporary routers provide automated firmware updates. For more assurance, you can check the website of the company that makes your router for the most recent version. If it’s more recent than the one that’s already installed on your router, download and install it.
STEP 4: DISABLE UPNP AND WPS
Universal Plug and Play is a different characteristic to watch out for. UPnP was created to simplify web access for gadgets like gaming consoles and smart TVs without requiring you to wade through numerous configuration panels, but it may also be exploited by malware to gain root access to your router’s security settings.
Although keeping UPnP and remote access enabled won’t immediately expose you to the worst aspects of the internet. You should disable them if you want to be as secure as possible. You won’t have to worry too much if it turns out that some of the programs. And gadgets on your network depend on them.
Consider turning off Wi-Fi Protected Setup as well. With WPS, you may connect additional devices with a button press or a PIN number. While this has noble intentions, it also makes it simpler for unauthorized devices to access systems. Because a numerical PIN is simpler to brute force than an alphanumeric password. Disable it unless you specifically require it.
STEP 5: CHECK YOUR REMOTE ACCESS
Many routers have capabilities built in to facilitate remote access from outside your home. But unless you want admin access to your router from another location. You can typically safely disable these features from the router settings panel. And most remote access programs don’t need them to function. Another useful suggestion to increase the security of your router is to access the admin access interface. Through an Ethernet connection rather than WIFI.
Routers are usually packaged in home broadband plans. To find out if your desired offer comes with a router, contact your provider to learn more.
