Choose a complex alphanumerical password with multiple characters. If possible, change the username of your network, too. After all, it makes up half of the log-in credentials. Wi-Fi Protected Access 2, better known as WPA2, is a commonly used network security technology used on wireless routers. It is one of the most secure encryption options available in the market since WPA2 scrambles the traffic going in and out of the router.
That means even if someone is within range and can see traffic, all they see is the encrypted version. Wi-Fi Protected Setup WPS was created with the intention of making the user experience easier and quicker when connecting new devices to the network.
It works on the idea that you press a button on the router and a button on the device. This makes both devices pair automatically. The user has the option to use a personal identification number, or PIN, to setup the device to create a connection. This eliminates the use of the character WPA password that most routers use. The PIN is an eight-digit number that can easily be hacked by repeatedly using various combinations of the usernames and passwords. This is carried out with the help of software.
This kind of an attack is called a brute force attack. Most routers allow users to disable WPS. In recent years, it was discovered that many routers from reputed manufacturers allowed PIN-based authentication even when it appeared to be disabled.
It helps to disable the internet when it is not in use. Take UPnP, for example. Universal Plug and Play or UPnP is an easy way to allow devices to find other devices on your network. When there's an update available, download and apply it in your router settings. Fortunately, you shouldn't have to do this often because router firmware updates tend to be infrequent.
And speaking of which, if your router is so old that it doesn't get updates anymore, it's probably time to replace it. These tweaks only take a few minutes to make, and won't impact the usability of your network in most cases. Protecting your network from intruders is important, and you'll be much better off with these tweaks applied. Now that your home network is strongly secured, next you can tackle slow Wi-Fi issues if you have those, too.
Need to download data fast, but have slow Wi-Fi? Why is this happening? Here's how to fix a slow Wi-Fi connection and speed it up. He left his IT job to write full-time in and has never looked back. He's been covering tech tutorials, video game recommendations, and more as a professional writer for over seven years.
Always Access Your Router's Admin Panel With Ethernet Logging into your router's administration panel is as simple as opening your web browser, typing in its IP address or sometimes a URL , and entering the router's admin username and password. This is fine, unless you're doing so on a wireless connection.
If you only ever log in while connected by Ethernet, you can eliminate this risk. Image Credit: pelfophoto via Shutterstock. Share Share Tweet Email. Ben Stegner Articles Published. Subscribe to our newsletter Join our newsletter for tech tips, reviews, free ebooks, and exclusive deals! Click here to subscribe. These password settings should be fairly prominently displayed inside the router settings panel, and if you router is a more recent model, you might well get warnings if the new passwords you pick are too easy to guess or brute force.
Before long, WPA2 will give way to WPA3 , which offers more set it and forget it security, but until then, pay close attention to your Wi-Fi password hygiene. Your router runs low-level software called firmware which essentially controls everything the router does. It sets the security standards for your network, defines the rules about which devices can connect, and so on. Some more modern routers update themselves in the background , but whatever model you have, it's always worth making sure the firmware is up to date.
This means you've got the latest bug fixes and security patches, and are protected against whatever exploits have just been discovered. The process varies from router to router, but as with the password settings, the option to update your router's firmware shouldn't be too difficult to find within the router control panel.
If you get stuck, check the router documentation or the official support site on the web. If you're lucky, the process will be automatic; you might even get alerts on your phone every time a firmware update gets applied, which usually happens overnight. If you're unlucky, you might have to download new firmware from the manufacturer's site and point your router towards it.
If so, it's absolutely worth the extra effort. A lot of routers come with features designed to make remote access from outside your home easier, but unless you need admin-level access to your router from somewhere else, you can usually safely turn these features off from the router settings panel. Besides, most remote access apps work fine without them. There, you can do things like change settings including the Wi-Fi network password. If a hacker managed to log into the admin side of your router, the hacker could change the settings including your Wi-Fi password.
That would undo any other security steps you may be taking. Contact the manufacturer directly. Keep your router up to date. To make sure you hear about the latest version, register your router with the manufacturer, and sign up to get updates. Some routers have features that can be convenient but weaken your network security.
WPS lets you push a button on the router to connect a device to the internet instead of entering the network password. Lastly, UPnP lets your devices find each other on the network.
These features may make it easier to, say, add devices to your network or let guests use your Wi-Fi — but they can make your network less secure.
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