The security of your Wi-Fi network is very important: it is not too healthy to maintain the factory settings of your router, and it is also very risky not to put a password on your home network. Hackers and jokers can party with your connection, and often leaving behind a huge pineapple for you to peel.
4 Things About Wi-Fi Security You Need To Know
Some actions are essential to protect the network and thus avoid headaches. Here are four simple procedures that make all the difference.
1. Change your router login and password data
When you install a new router, it has a default access setting, provided with the device. It can be a label, present at the bottom of the router or an extra manual, containing the IP address (usually 192.168.1.1 ), login and password. The problem is that this information is often default, and all routers in the same model have the same credentials (login and password).
This allows a malicious visitor who has access to the router to access the settings using the default login and password data for that model if they are not modified.
Therefore, it is important that you change the login and password data (and if possible, to the IP address), so that only you can configure the router when necessary.
2. Change the name and password of your Wi-Fi network
Similarly with the router login and password data, the factory-configured Wi-Fi network comes with a default name and passwords, which can often be the same for all models of the device. So it’s always good to change the network name to something more recognizable, or even make some fun with the network name.
It’s up to you.
For the Wi-Fi network password (give preference to the WPA2, more secure), use a strong one, which prevents the entry immediately from the face. Incidentally, it is always good to remember that there was a risk of attacks, there are legal implications that prevent a user from keeping their Wi-Fi network open.
At the same time, avoid short passwords that are too difficult. Besides not being so sure, chances are you will have difficulty remembering it; use simple and long terms, easy to memorize and that already make difficult the work of invaders.
3. If possible, always use network cables
Problems of connection stability, and even security, can be solved with the good old network cable. Of course there is nothing to do with phones and tablets, but desktops, notebooks (models without the Ethernet port can use USB adapters ), TVs, set-top boxes and video game consoles, among others benefit greatly from a wired connection instead of hanging on Wi-Fi.
In addition to maintaining a more stable and faster connection, the network cable eliminates a number of alternatives to hackers, who use MitM (man-in-the-middle) methods to hack into computers and mobile phones, where the Wi-Fi connection is more vulnerable.
4. Keep your router up to date
New pests and attacks come up all the time, and users simply forget that the router is the first gateway to their Wi-Fi network, compromising security. There are not rare cases of infected routers, with hackers diverting traffic and stealing critical information from people.
It is extremely important to keep both software and firmware up to date.
To update the software, access the device settings and update it through the dedicated option. For firmware, which is a deeper intervention, check the model of your router, go to the manufacturer’s website, download the latest version and follow the instructions. In case of serious failures and absence of new firmware like a new one.
By following these tips, the security of your Wi-Fi network will always remain up to date.