How to secure your home Wi-Fi router & network

Criminals no longer need to physically enter your home to steal from you: now, they can just as easily hack into your Wi-Fi network. Here are some reasons you should secure your home Wi-Fi network:

• Your login information on any website can easily be intercepted if your Wi-Fi connection is unsecure. For example, a hacker could access your online bank login.
• Third parties can use your internet to download illegal or copyrighted files. Should the authorities track the illegal activity, it would lead back to your home.
• Your data can be intercepted over an unsecured Wi-Fi network. For example, a hacker could read your emails or social media messages.
• If unauthorized users can easily access your internet connection, this can slow down your bandwidth.
• Viruses and malware can easily infect your devices if a cybercriminal got into your network.
• Cameras inside your home, like pet cameras or webcams, can be hacked into and watched if they are connected to your Wi-Fi and your network is unsecure.

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How to secure your home internet

Follow these tips to keep your home Wi-Fi safe from unauthorized access.

Change the default name and default password of your Wi-Fi network

One of the easiest ways to secure your home network is to change its SSID (Service Set Identifier), which is a fancy term for your Wi-Fi’s default name. By holding onto the default network name, you’re making it easier for hackers to access your network. Your default network name often contains clues as to what kind of router you have. If hackers can immediately tell what kind of router you have, it can make it easier for them to hack into it. When changing your Wi-Fi network name, don’t use change it to an obvious, identifiable name, like “The Smiths’ House” or “Apartment 5E.”

It’s also important to change the default password that comes with your router since it’s possible for hackers to get their hands on default router passwords. Keep your password secure; the best passwords are at least eight characters, including uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Again, make sure your password isn’t something that would be easy to address, like your street address or last name.

Encrypt your network

Most routers give you the option to encrypt your network. Encryption scrambles your data so that only authorized people can access it. Without network encryption, it becomes much easier for hackers to get access to your data. To make sure your network is encrypted, you’ll need to access your Wi-Fi settings, then enter your router’s IP address and the login credentials of your router. If you don’t know your log in info or simply can’t find it, you may need to restore the router to its default factory settings.

Turn on your router’s firewall

Having a firewall is a crucial step in ensuring secure internet access. Many routers come with a firewall. Firewalls work by protecting devices against viruses, malware, and unauthorized traffic. If your router does have a firewall, you should ensure that it is turned on. You’ll need to access your router settings to see if the firewall toggle is turned on. Note that having your firewall on may slow down your network. If your router didn’t come with a firewall, you should consider installing one.

Update your router’s software

Keeping software up to date on any device is important. The manufacturers of your router will occasionally create updates in the device’s firmware, sometimes to improve its security features. On some routers, you can turn on automatic updates in your router settings. This way, you’ll never miss an update.

Consider a WPA3 router

WPA stands for Wi-Fi Protected Access. WPA3 routers were introduced in 2018 and are much more secure than their WPA2 predecessors, which most people still have in their homes. WPA3 routers have stronger encryption and stronger brute-force attack protection. By purchasing a WPA3 router, you’ll provide greater network security for your home without having to sacrifice internet speed.

Much of our personal data exists online and on our devices. Taking the steps to secure your home network may not sound like the most fun thing to do with your free time, but in the long run, it’s completely worth it.