Improve Home Wireless Network Security the Easy Way! Here’s your Go-to Guide

We live in the age of malware attacks, data theft, and several other online threats. That’s why it is necessary to not ignore the wi-fi routers installed in your house and take all necessary steps to upgrade security. But, how do we do it? Let’s discuss the ways to enhance the network security of your home’s wireless router.

The Basic Step

Setting up a password is the basic step that almost every homeowner does to prevent others from taking control of the data. But, this won’t protect your devices from cybercriminals who can get sensitive information or launch a malicious attack on your network system. That’s why, start with changing the name of default home network SSID (Service Set Identifier). The default name of a router often has the name of the manufacturer, which makes it easier for the intruder to know the model type and how to enter the network. By keeping a different device name, you can make it a little more secure.

Pay Attention to Password

Every wireless router comes with a default username and password. Not changing the default credentials can make it easier for hackers to guess the password. Try keeping a long password of a minimum 20 characters with a mix of numbers, symbols, and letters.

Activate Network Encryption

Wireless networks have different encryption languages such as WPA, WPA2, and WEP. Presently, WPA2 is a standard in the industry. It is an upgrade to WPA and replacement for the less secure WEP network. It is mandatory for all Wi-Fi certified products to have WPA2 standard. Other than this, WPA2 AES is also becoming a standard security system and many routers are compatible with the new entrant. The standard is a solution to the common security problem of open Wi-Fi networks. The WPA2 AES has many security enhancement features that are easy to configure for both - users and network service providers.

Change Location of the Router

The location of wifi router can also impact security. Always try to keep the router in the middle of the house. This way, the range of the signals might not reach outside the house, protecting it from intruders. The other reason is that all the spaces in the house will get equal access to the Internet. Another point to consider is not to keep the router close to a window, else the signals will go outside the home.

Final Words

Even if you aren’t tech-savvy, following these to-dos will be a cakewalk. While paying attention to enhance the security of your wi-fi router and preventing a data breach, make sure that you don’t neglect the potential threats that are related to usage within the house. Yes, we are talking about access to restricted websites, high amount of data transfer, and low speed because of too much Internet usage.

Having kids at home often makes it difficult for parents to keep a tab on the usage of Internet. The result could be your kids exposed to wrong content, wi-fi password leaking out, and poor internet speed. Having a parental control wifi router can be a solution to these internal problems. With many options available in market, it won’t be difficult for you to find an ideal wifi router that resolves the internal and external security issues.

Mark Jepson is an IT Engineer and his recent presentation about having parental control on computer has made many parents think about having parental control router settings enabled on their computing devices.