9 Tips To Safeguard Your Wi-Fi At Home

Introduction

The moment your wi-fi gets access to the outer world, it becomes tough to protect it. Unlike a physical network, wifi networks can go beyond the walls of your home.

When the password gets outside the house, it becomes difficult to protect it. That’s why it is important to implement some changes and routines that protect you from intruders.

Here are some tasks that will protect the security of your network.

Tips for Safeguarding Your Wi-Fi

1. Make a complicated password for the router

Everyone tries to make a password that is easy to remember for them, and they end up making passwords like 1234. But why do people do this? Of course, they do it so that they can remember the password.

Try to make a difficult password so that others don’t crack it and enter your network. You can consider changing the password frequently.

2. Change the admin credentials of the router

Many manufacturers set up the administrator account on routers with the same username and password for every piece of equipment they sell.

This is different from connecting the network as it grants control over the network configuration. With a bit of knowledge, anyone can get connected to the router and guess the login credentials.

With access to the admin console, anyone can hack the network and block you.

Read more: How to Increase Wi-Fi Range?

3. Turn off the plug and play

This methodology helps devices to discover the network and then communicate with the manufacturer for firmware updates. UPnP is an important element for creating the Internet Of Things.

This method helps a device to get set up and once the thing is working, switch off its UPnP capabilities. You must also turn this compatibility of your router. UPnP has become a gateway for hackers to infect household devices.

4. Turn off remote management

The console of the router must only be accessible from devices that are connected to the network. A standard router setting allows remote access.

This indicates that you can access the console over the internet from another location. If you can do it, then it’s easy for others as well.

5. Limited WPS

Wifi-protected setup provides an easy way to get new devices to recognize the network. The two methods used by it are:

If a router has a WPN button, pushing it will send out a signal that adds the device to a network and passes its login credentials so that you need not type a password.

Another method uses eight-character numeric code, which is entered into the settings of the device. WPS enables devices at your home to maintain a presence on the network even when you change the password.

WPS lacks strength because the code method is easy to crack.

6. Keep the router firmware up to date

The manufacturer must update the firmware on your gateway automatically. Just like making a schedule for changing the password, you should also regularly check for updates.

The console of the router must have this option. If it’s not, then check for the updates that are available at the starting of every month.

7. Turn on the firewall

Most routers have a firewall and you must not forget to turn it on. Routers make use of a system called network address translation. This means that each computer on your network is allocated an address known by the router only.

The positive side of NAT is that it prevents outsiders from identifying the addresses of individual devices on the network. Turning on the firewall is a good option because it adds another layer of protection.

8. Keep your devices healthy

The computer and other devices might become a gateway for hackers to enter your wifi. With devices that are portable, chances are high for virus infection or intrusion outside the house.

Equipment that remains at home has less chance and has only one point to get infected. You must be careful about people transferring files to your computer with USB memory sticks.

9. Turn off your network when going away for a long time

If you are going for a long holiday and won’t be needing your home wifi for a long, then you should consider turning it off. Hackers or other unauthorized activities cannot take place if the network is off.

Turning off your router will not only safeguard your wifi but if you unplug it you can prevent it from getting damaged from power surges.

Key Takeover

The thought that someone can enter your wifi is itself a horror one. For improving the security of your wifi, you need not be a technician.

Instead, you need to improve little bits of your habits. Simple solutions to security problems can also work for you. Make sure you keep your network safe so that your data remains safe.

Now, when you have got the idea, get started today!

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