Secure home Wi-Fi
Is your home wireless network (Wi-Fi) safe from snooping criminals?
Securing your devices and information
- Configuring your router to use WPA3 is one of the best options for securing your Wi-Fi network. If WPA3 isnāt an option, use WPA, but stay away from using WEP, which is an outdated standard that offers almost zero protection.
- Finally, choose a strong password to secure your Wi-Fi. In the configuration options, look for Pre-Shared Key or PSK. This is the password that youāll use for all devices connecting to your Wi-Fi.
- Most routers come with a default password thatās used to access its settings, or no password at all.
- These default passwords are well known to everyone, including online criminals.
- When you set up your router use a strong password thatās different from the one you used to secure your Wi-Fi.
- Your neighbors and hackers in range of your Wi-Fi (called SSID) can read its name, so you should change it to something that only you recognize.
Additional recommendations
Here are a few additional tips you can use once you've secured your Wi-Fi using the steps above.
Turn off remote and wireless access to the routerās settings
This restricts access to the routerās settings to devices that are physically connected to the router by a network cable. This helps prevent someone on the Internet or within range of your Wi-Fi from logging into and tampering with your routerās settings. Update the settings to require HTTPS (and disable HTTP) to access the routerās settings. If you donāt have a computer connected to your router, you must use a wireless device to configure it.
Enable a guest network
Some routers can create a separate guest network with its own password and network name. This allows you to provide guests with Wi-Fi access without sharing your password or giving them access to the rest of your personal network.āāāāāāā
Update your firmware
The term āfirmwareā refers to the software that drives hardware. Itās a good practice to check your router manufacturerās site periodically to see if updates are available. If you do find firmware updates, be sure to install them. Firmware updates sometimes close newly discovered security holes in your router
Search online for more help
Search online. You can find helpful tips and videos by searching online for your specific router (check the bottom of the device for the model number) or by reaching out to the routerās manufacturer or your internet service provider.