How to Secure Your wifi
Although wireless networks have made it possible to access the unlimited wireless internet on multiple devices simultaneously and without cables, they pose a greater security risk than broadband since wifi signals are accessible even when you are not in your home.
If you’re using wifi at home in your office, understanding how to protect you and your wifi network is beneficial for your needs. The majority of us use antivirus programs running on devices for internet security. However, we may not know the security risks wifi routers present.
It’s not too easy for hackers to gain access to your network’s wireless, which is why it’s crucial to be aware of how to protect your wifi.
What exactly is secure wifi?
Wifi networks come with inherent security issues that result from the wireless signal being accessed from an extended distance. If you have a wifi router, chances are you haven’t messed with its settings other than the initial setup.
While it is a great way to gain access to the internet wirelessly, there’s plenty one can take to enhance the security of your device. While securing your wifi won’t completely stop hackers from taking over your privacy, it will make it more difficult to hack. What’s important is to protect your router but not compromise its performance.
Why would anyone need to protect their wifi?
Internet security and privacy are extremely difficult. Technology is evolving, and so is cybersecurity. With every advancement in security for the internet, it is possible to find new tricks hackers have in their arsenal. With the recent breach of data of video conference platforms Zoom and security worries over social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter, security threats seem to be growing.
Based on the Identity Theft Resource Centre (ITRC), The amount of U.S. data breaches in 2019 was up by 17% over the year before. The ITRC has been tracking more than 10,000 data breaches since 2005. It’s more accessible to others to connect to your website if connected via a wireless network instead of traditional wired networks. This is because the wifi signal could extend beyond your house to neighbours or even across the street.
Routers boost speed and bandwidth
As the top routers continue to boost speed and bandwidth, their default settings for the security of most routers can expose your network to hackers. This makes it straightforward for hackers to hack your wifi and create chaos.
For instance, if you’re conducting your banking online using your unsecured wifi connection, the skilled hacker might be able to get access to your private financial data when it’s being transferred over the network.
Security risks like this are more of a problem due to security threats posed by the Internet of Things (IoT) growing in popularity in homes and sharing data over the standard. IoT devices can store a significant amount of your data, and a breach in security could be devastating when you own multiple IoT devices.
For instance, hackers have employed the home assistants such as Google Home or Alexa to listen in on chats without their permission on many occasions in recent times.
The conclusion is that even if your computer has never had a hack and even if you have a top antivirus program in place, it’s a good idea to safeguard your wifi router with the simple techniques below.
How can you protect wifi?
Here are a few easy methods to secure your wifi router to ensure that your wireless connection is safe from hacking.
Method 1: Change the name of your network’s SSID
Your router’s SSID or wireless network name is typically pre-defined in the form of the branding name for your router. The change in the default name makes it impossible for hackers to determine what kind of router you’re using and the specific vulnerabilities it has. Here’s how to change your SSID name:
Step 1. Connect to the router’s web interface or application as Administrator.
Step 2. Navigate to your router’s “Wifi settings” page or the equivalent.
Step 3. Find your SSID Name in the settings. It is usually located on the main settings page. Common names to describe the SSID name are “Network Name,” “Wireless Network Name,” “Router Name”, or something similar.
Step 4: You will likely already have a name entered in the field. Click it and type in the name you want to use. Don’t use your name, address, or personal details within your SSID name.
Phase 5: Make sure to save the configurations, then restart your router.
Create a secure distinct wifi password by using WPA2 encryption
Wifi routers generally have either the default password or the absence of any password. The passwords are usually simple and are particularly difficult to crack, especially if they know the router’s manufacturer.
Changing this default to a distinctive and secure password is a crucial factor for the safety of the wifi network. A secure wifi password should be at least 20 characters long and is an assortment of small and capital characters, numbers, and letters. Here’s how you can modify your password for wifi:
First step: Sign in to the web interface of your router or app using the Administrator password. Using an Ethernet cable is best to use a device linked to your router. When you are connected to the router’s network interface via wifi, it will kick you out when you modify the settings, and you must sign again to adjust any settings.
Step 2. Go to the wifi settings and locate the security settings for your network.
Step 3. Choose the encryption method you want to use. The choices include WEP, WPA, or WPA2-PSK. WPA2 is the most secured among these.
4. Set your password when it is asked.
5. Set your preferences and then restart your router.
Method 3. Set the Administrator password of your router
To sign in with your router in the role of an administrator, you will need the user name and password. Most routers have bankruptcy username and password combinations such as “admin/admin” or “admin/password.” This basic login information is easily guessed.
If your router’s manufacturer has provided login information different from this, there’s a public database of passwords and usernames, or hackers could force them. It is therefore recommended to alter the default login information of your router. Here’s how:
Step 1. Connect to your router’s web interface or application as an administrator.
Step 2. Open your router’s settings and locate the administrator settings. It may require some digging since your router’s interface differs.
Step 3. Change the administrator login and password. Even if you can’t change the username to”admin,” the username defaults to “admin,” making your password more complex and unique to ensure it isn’t easily guessed or used to force.
4. Save these settings, then restart the router.
Method 4: Keep your router up-to-date
The firmware on your router is a key factor in the wifi security of your network. Like any similar software or program, the router’s firmware has flaws that skilled hackers can easily attack.
Most routers do not have an auto-update feature, or, if they do, the feature must be enabled manually. It’s therefore recommended to regularly check for updates and then install the updates. Here’s how to update your firmware:
First step: Connect your device to the router with the Ethernet cable (usually required) and login to the web interface or application as an administrator.
Step 2. Search for the “Firmware Update” “Firmware Update” option on the screen and select it. You will need to search for it since it can be found present in all settings.
Step 3. You must wait until your router locates and installs the most recent update. After that, you can restart your router.
Method 5: Install a firewall
Firewalls are available in two types: Software Firewalls, installed on your PC, protecting you from suspicious applications and programs. There are also Hardware Firewalls, which are similar to the software version, except that they serve as the first security against attacks.
The best part is that most routers are equipped with an in-built firewall and default settings providing adequate security. Here’s how to check whether your router is equipped with built-in firewalls and then enable it:
First step: To verify if your router comes with a built-in firewall, begin by logging in to the web interface or application as Administrator. Then, look for a section titled “Security” or “Firewall.” If this page is found, your router is equipped with a firewall. To turn on the firewall, follow “Step 3.”
Step 2. If there’s no HTML0 page, it means that your router does not come with a firewall. If this is the subject, you should connect a reliable firewall to your router to guard your computer against attacks on the home network.
Step 3. To turn on the firewall, visit the “Security” or “Firewall” page, which is located within “Step 1.”
Step 4: Look for an entry with the label “Firewall” or its equivalent.
Phase 5: Click the icon next to it, with the words “enable” or “activate” or something similar.
Sixth Step: Save these settings before restarting the router.
How do you get people off your wifi?
If someone has access to the wifi network, they’ll likely keep having access until you remove them. Freeloaders can lead to all kinds of issues, not the least one of them being that internet bills will likely increase.
If the attacker is malicious, you may be using your wifi for illicit motives, and if such activities are found out and you are found guilty, you may be tagged as the person who owns the wifi. If your internet connection has suddenly slowed down for no reason at all or if your monthly bills rise without significant growth in internet usage, it could be because you have unwelcome guests. Here’s how to get them off your network:
Method 1: Change your wifi password
If you suspect that you are being a victim of a freeloader, The simplest way to stop them would be to alter your wifi password. This will forcefully disconnect every device from your network, including your own devices. Moreover, It’s a little bit of trouble to reconnect all of your devices with your new password; however, it’s among the easiest methods to shut down people from your network since anyone who doesn’t have the updated password will be unable to connect. If you have an acquaintance, it’s usually enough to deter them.
However, if the hacker is, you can minimize the possibility of the hacker gaining access to your network with a change to your router’s SSID name. This makes it more difficult for hackers to track your network and break into it. Follow methods 1 and 2 in the previous post to modify your password and SSID.
Method 2: Make use of the web interface of your router
If changing your password did not aid, or you’d like to remove certain users from your network, you can locate and block intruders by using the settings of your router’s website or application. Here’s how:
First Step: To identify intruders, first disconnect all of your devices that are connected to the web (except the one you’re planning to use to carry out this method).
This will allow you to identify them since the only connection will be your devices and theirs.
Second step: Locate your device’s MAC address of your device. This will permit you to make sure your device isn’t yours.
Step 3. Connect to the interface of your router as an Administrator.
Step 4:Find your “Wifi connections” section in which your router shows all connected devices. The section may be labelled “Wifi Connections,” “Connected Devices,” or similar. The list of connections can be found in the “Parental Controls” section for certain routers.
Phase 5: Check the device that is connected. Any device that isn’t yours (the MAC address you found in step 2) is likely to be safe to block.
6. Choose the connection you wish to block and then click the “Block” or “Block” or “Remove” option. The option should be located at the top or bottom of the page (usually on the bottom or top).
7th Step: Make the necessary changes. You should change your password for additional security if you’re not already.
Method 3: Reset your router
Resetting your router back to default settings will erase the devices that are connected to it. You’ll have to connect your devices to wifi, and this may be a bit tedious but is worthy of the time and effort. Here’s how you restart your router
Step 1. Disconnect the Ethernet thread that connects your router with your modem.
Step 2. Find the reset button of your router. It’s usually located in the back of the router. It’s important to search to find it since it’s usually difficult to find.
Step 3. Hold and press your reset switch for a minimum of 30 minutes. The duration of the hold relies on the router. Some require that an LED flash before you release the button, whereas others require a particular time for holding (like 30 seconds or even a minute).
4. Press the release button after the recommended time for holding and then wait for your router to restart.
Phase 5:After your router has turned on, connect it to your modem.
Sixth Step: Follow the specific directions of your router to set up your wireless connection.
Method 4: Contact the number of your Internet Service Provider (ISP)
If you are untrained to resolve the issue, If all else fails, you can always contact the consumer support service of the company that makes your router, as well as your ISP. In fact, They might have security measures specific to your ISP or router you can put in place to eliminate unwanted guests from your wifi network.
FAQs
1. Do I need to be a tech-savvy person to protect the wifi I use?
No! The majority of methods utilized to protect wifi are simple to apply. It is unnecessary to learn more than the fundamentals of using the internet to protect your wifi with these techniques.
2. Is a secure password able to protect my wifi secure from hackers?
It is true. A password that is at a minimum of 20 characters long using numbers, letters, and symbols make it hard to crack or brute force your password. Most hackers will not think it worthwhile to hack your system.
3. How often do I monitor my router for the latest firmware?
As often as you can. Check at least a month for updates if your router isn’t equipped with an auto-update function. Using outdated firmware could result in unnecessary security risks if you are using outdated firmware.
The most important thing is the bottom line.
The suggestions above are easy and cheap methods to protect your network and deter most hackers. But, more expensive routers are generally more secure and therefore don’t be afraid to spend a bit of extra money to make security your primary priority.
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