24/06/2022
We are increasingly reliant on technology and our homes are now filled with devices that connect to the internet. Whether it’s our computer, tablet, phone, TV or Door bell, our increasing reliance on the internet to connect everything has opened us up to many risks and poses a range of security issues
Fortunately, you can secure your home Wi-Fi network with some simple steps, and by doing so, can keep the cybercriminals at bay.
Here are some simple steps that only take a few moments and will to help secure your home Wi-Fi network:
Change Your Router’s Administrator Login and Password: When you purchase your Wi-Fi router you will have a default administrator login and password. These are intended to allow you to access the router’s settings after plugging it in for the first time, this should be changed immediately.
By changing your Wi-Fi router’s admin password to something only you know, you’ll ensure that no one else has access to your router’s settings.
Make sure the password is a random combination of letters, numbers, and special characters, But make sure it’s something you remember!
Also changing the password regularly reduces the risk of hackers guessing it.
Be smart with your passwords: You might be surprised how easy it is to hack into your home Wi‑Fi network nowadays so changing your password is something else that you’ll want to do straight away.
You're router will come with either no password or a default password so it's up to you to choose a strong password.
Again once you've set a new password, it's good practice to change it regularly, this reduces the risk of criminals lurking around. Also NEVER give your password to anyone outside your household.
Make sure you turn on Wireless Network Encryption: Encryption is one of the most effective ways of safeguarding your network and works by scrambling your data so that it cannot be deciphered by hackers. This is especially important when you’re using the internet to shop, do your banking or pay bills online.
Make sure your network is using the strongest Wi-Fi encryption available.
Keep Your Router Firmware Updated: Much like updates on your computer or mobile, a router's firmware is what sets the rules that the router runs by. The firmware rules all of a router’s online security settings.
The firmware will be updated by the manufacturer, however, you can also manually update the firmware so make sure you actually have the latest version.
Turn on Your Router’s Firewall: A “firewall” is designed to protect computers from malware, viruses, and other harmful intrusions.
Most routers usually contain in built firewalls, however most routers come with this turned off. So if your router has a firewall...ENABLE IT.
Firewall settings are usually found in the advanced settings of your router’s console.
Buy a new router: Even if after implementing the above steps, you are still concerned about the security of your home network, you could consider purchasing a new router. The majority of us simply use the router that was bundled up with the internet connection. It’s good to remember that router vulnerabilities are more likely to be discovered in popular and widely used devices as hackers can target lots of people through them.
If you have any questions regarding cyber security for the home, or anything else computer related, please do not hesitate to contact us!
