Wi-Fi is the backbone of home communication. Your laptop, smartphone, or dozens of smart home devices scattered around your home, all connected to a Wi-Fi router to enable the world of experience. But going online means exposing yourself to viruses, hacks, or network interference. Learning how to protect your home Wi-Fi network is essential to ensure a secure online experience.
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Quick answer
The best way to protect your Wi-Fi network is to set up a special SSID or distribution name and use a complex alphanumeric password between eight and twelve characters. You also need to change the default username and password for your router administration page.
Great ways to secure your WI-FI network
Change the default SSID and password
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Most routers are sent by default, such as router SSID. This SSID, also known as Wi-Fi, can give you the name of the router you are using. Router manufacturers often use unsafe passwords, or reuse passwords on devices, and changing your SSID and Wi-Fi password is the first thing you should do when setting up your router.
The exact procedure for changing your Wi-Fi password may vary depending on the model you use, but look for Wi-Fi or WLAN settings under your router’s admin page. This page can usually be accessed through your browser by going to 192.168.1.1. From there, set up any known name as SSID. Feel free to create with his creativity.
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Regarding the password, it is highly recommended that you choose a combination of at least 8-12 characters. For added complexity, you can include different issues and even special characters. The harder it is to guess, the more secure your Wi-Fi network is.
Change the router’s username and password
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While a complex Wi-Fi password can play a key role in securing your home network, it can still be violated if someone is able to hide or guess the password. Blocking access to your router management page is the next step. Most routers have a default username administrator. This is obvious, very easy to guess.
Go to User Settings under the Router Settings page and change the default username to a unique username. Follow the same advice as Wi-Fi passwords to change the administrator account password. If you take a step forward, it is always a good idea to disable the default administrator account as it usually uses all router settings.
Enable encryption
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Encryption ensures that you cannot intercept traffic or data between your phone, laptop and Wi-Fi router. This hacking technique is called packet sniffing. Most modern routers automatically select WPA2 encryption as the default, however, it is a good idea to make sure you are up to date. Under the administrator settings of your router, go to the Wi-Fi page and make sure it is set to WPA2 or WPA3. Note, WPA and WEP are unsafe protocols and have been corrupted for a long time. If not, if your router does not support higher standards than WPA or WEP, it may be a good idea to upgrade to our new Wi-Fi router list.
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Enable firewall
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A firewall, as the name implies, acts as a filter between incoming and outgoing network traffic. Compare incoming Internet traffic with security laws and protocols and acts as a barrier to dishonest Internet traffic in attacks or hacking attempts. If the firewall thinks that an unauthorized computer is trying to gain access to your network, it may warn you or automatically block the threat.
Most routers have at least a built-in firewall. This is often hidden in advanced settings. On entry level routers, there is an additional function of firewall traffic that can affect the overall speed of the network, but enabling it is very important for a small hit.
Turn off remote management and UPNP
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Medium range and premium routers are routed through the built-in remote management utility. These apps can help you keep track of the current status, speed, and distance of your router to access point-related information. Some may allow you to use a router to download files. Unfortunately, the services have not been secure and up to date for years. It is a good idea to disable them for added security. If you want to access your router remotely, a reverse proxy service such as No-IP or DNDS can do the same but more peace of mind.
Similarly, UPNP was created to easily access other devices on your network. However, it is an ancient and unsafe protocol that can be hacked. Disabling Wi-Fi settings is generally a good idea.
Questions to ask
The Wi-Fi security key is the password used to access your Wi-Fi network. It is recommended that you use a complex alphabet code as a security key.
Password 2.0, often referred to as Hotspot 2.0, is a solution for accessing various commercial Wi-Fi hotspots. Pass your credentials across all password-compatible interfaces, making sure you no longer need to select an access point or enter a password.