How to secure your wireless network
How to secure your wireless network? you probably have a wifi router in your home to provide internet access to all the family. When people drop by, they ask for the password so they can check something on their smartphone or show off vacation photos stored in the cloud. wifi systems can extend beyond the walls of your home.
Once the password for access gets out in the world, it is very difficult to control who can access your home network. you need to consider implementing some changes and routines that protect you from intruders, snoopers, and internet carpetbaggers.
The first is that you need to control who can actually get on your network. The second problem is that of the signal footprint. If people outside your home can pick up a signal from your router, they can also capture data and reap all of your passwords.
Here are some simple steps but important tasks to improve the security of your network:
1. Change the default name of your home Wi-Fi
The first step towards a safer home Wi-Fi is to change the SSID. SSID is the network’s name. Many manufactures give all their wireless routers a default SSID. In most cases it is the company’s name. When a computer with a wireless connection searches for and displays the wireless networks nearby, it lists each network that publicly broadcasts its SSID. This gives a hacker a better chance of breaking into your network. It is better to change the network’s SSID to something that does not disclose any personal information thereby throwing hackers off their mission.
2. Make your wireless network password unique and strong
Most wireless routers come pre-set with a default password. This default password is easy to guess by hackers, especially if they know the router manufacturer. When selecting a good password for your wireless network, make sure it is at least 20 characters long and includes numbers, letters, and various symbols. This setting will make it difficult for hackers to access your network.
3. Enabling network encryption
Almost all wireless routers come with an encryption feature. By default it is turned off. Turning on your wireless router’s encryption setting can help secure your network. Make sure you turn it on immediately after your broadband provider installs the router. Of the many types of encryption available, the most recent and effective is “WPA2.”
4. Turn off network name broadcasting
When using a wireless router at home, it is highly recommended that you disable network name broadcasting to the general public. This feature is often useful for businesses, libraries, hotels and restaurants that want to offer wireless Internet access to customers, but it is usually unnecessary for a private wireless network.
