Wireless networks are designed for easy access anywhere in your home or office. It is essentially a regular network, but with WiFi routers. They allow multiple WiFi-capable devices to connect with your network without using cable. However, there’s a consequence to this convenience. Everyone can access your network. Any WiFi router should have integrated protection feature, which is quite easy to set up. Many people still don’t realize that they really need to enable the protection feature. Even if people don’t have bad intention, they could still consume a lot of bandwidth by downloading files or watching high definition videos. Here are things you should to secure your WiFi network:
- Enable WPA2: You may choose WEP, WPA or WPA2, however the first two are older standards and not as secure. When any of these protection systems are enabled, data will be encrypted. You can gain access only by typing username and password. You can tell devices to remember your network automatically, so you don’t need to log in manually each time.
- Disable WPS: WPS or WiFi Protected Setup is a feature found in many modern routers. With this feature, you can easily connect a new device to the router by entering a PIN number or pressing a button on the router. However, this method can be quite insecure if used improperly. It will be easier for hackers to guess a PIN number than getting a complex encryption key. If someone wants to access the router, he could simply push a special button on the router. It is highly advisable to disable the WPS feature of your router, unless your router is placed in a highly secure area.
- Don’t broadcast SSID: By default, a WiFi network broadcast its SSD or WiFi network name. It will be appear on WiFi-capable devices, so users can enter username and password. If you don’t broadcast SSID, the name of the network won’t appear and people won’t even know that your network exists. To connect, authorized individuals need to manually type in the name of your network, then the username and password. It will be more difficult for hackers to intrude your wireless network, because they need guess your SSID.
- Use different IP address: By default, routers use 192.168.0.254 or 192.168.0.1 for the IP address. Choose a random, allowable IP address, so your wireless network will become more secure. Actually, it’s somewhat easy for hackers to scan your IP address with the right tool. Even so, any little obstruction is helpful to secure your wireless router.
- Change admin password: Routers come with default passwords that are easy to guess. If hackers manage to reach the login screen, the first thing they do is to try the default password. Make sure to use complex password, so unwanted access can be prevented. A strong password combines uppercase letters, lowercase letters, symbols and numbers. To ensure that you can remember the password better, make sure that it resembles a word.
