Securing your home’s WiFi network is essential for protecting yourself and your family from hackers and other cyber threats. With the proper precautions, you can save your router and confidently browse the internet without worrying about malicious attacks. Here are ten best practices to secure your WiFi router at home.
Change Your Router’s Default Password.
Changing your router’s default password is one of the most critical steps in securing your WiFi network. Most routers are set to come pre-configured with a generic password that is easy to guess or find online. Replacing this default password with something unique and secure can make it much harder for someone to access your home network without your knowledge.
Keep your Router’s Firmware Updated.
It’s essential to keep the firmware of your router up-to-date. Many routers have an auto-update feature that can be enabled, ensuring your device is always running the latest security patches. If you do not have this feature, check for updates manually every few months. Installing these updates as soon as they become available can help keep your network protected from emerging threats and risks.
Turn on Encryption.
It’s essential to enable encryption on your WiFi network. Without it, anyone with physical access to your router could gain unauthorized access. By default, most routers have encryption enabled, but if yours does not, turn it on so that your data is secure when it travels between the devices connected to your home network and the internet. Popular encryption methods include WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy), WPA (WiFi Protected Access), and WPA2 (WiFi Protected Access 2).
Use a Firewall to Block malicious incoming Connections.
Enable a firewall on your router to protect your home network from unwanted traffic. A firewall can act as an additional security layer, helping protect you from malicious attacks. Firewalls can block incoming connections and detect and stop viruses from entering your network. Ensure the firewall is always enabled to maximum security levels for the best protection against intruders and malware.
Create a Guest Network for People Visiting Your Home.
Create a separate guest network to keep your home network safe from visits from friends and family. By creating a different guest network, you can save control over who has access to what services in your home network and ensure that all of your devices remain secure. You can also customize the type of access guests receive and the data they can access. This way, you can ensure that visitors won’t have unrestricted access.