With the explosion of internet-connected devices and gadgets in today’s world, it’s no surprise that many of us have a broadband connection in our homes, and effective home networking ensures all your devices stay connected seamlessly. Our increased reliance on the internet to link all of our gadgets has opened the door to a wide range of hazards and security issues.
Many individuals are unaware of the security hazards these devices provide until they come into touch with an authorized home internet agent.
While we would never leave our home door unlocked, leaving our Wi-Fi networks unprotected exposes us to the same security threats. Hackers are willing to take advantage of any security breach to execute a specific attack at any given opportunity.
With accessibility to a home network, hackers can steal personal and financial details as well as spread viruses and malware, conduct cybercrime, or start a Distributed Denial of Service (DDOS) assault from your computer.
How to Safeguard Your Wi-Fi Network at Home
To safeguard your house against intruders, you might take the following measures:
#1 Change the Default Password and Username
To make your home Wi-Fi network more secure, you must update the default username and password. The default passwords that Wi-Fi service providers provide for their networks are readily available on the internet, making them an easy target for hackers. When hackers gain access to the network, they can change the password, lock the owner out, and take over the system.
Security experts recommend changing the Wi-Fi network’s username and password so that intruders will have a more difficult time accessing the network. To make it extremely difficult for hackers to guess your password and username, you should use a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols in your password.
#2 Turn on Wi-Fi Network Encryption
Safeguarding your network’s data is easier with encryption. Hackers can’t interpret encrypted data or the contents of communication since they’re scrambled in the process. WPA2 is the most secure kind of Wi-Fi encryption that you may use at home. WPA2 may not work with devices older than ten years; therefore, it’s critical to replace them if you want to improve your home’s security and performance.
Check your network configuration and wireless settings to see if your router employs WPA2 encryption. This enables you to choose the optimal encryption technique while connecting to a wireless network.
#3 Use a VPN
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a technique to interact privately across an unprotected, unencrypted network. Thanks to VPN, hackers can’t figure out what you’re doing on the internet or where you are located. A VPN may also change your IP address, creating the illusion that you are using your system from a place other than your current address.
#4 Avoid Public Viewing of Your Network
When you first set up your home network, you will be prompted to choose a network name that will be accessible to the public. This network name is referred to as an SSID.
In most cases, the default network name assigned by the device’s manufacturer is used. If your neighbors have a router from the same manufacturer, they’re likely to have the same SSID, which might pose a security risk if both connections are unencrypted.
With the SSID concealment option, your network name will be hidden from the list of persons in your immediate vicinity. It’s far more difficult for a hacker to figure out what kind of router you have if you change the default name.
#5 Update Your Router Software