Keep outsiders out of your home network by taking a few easy steps to protect it. Your home computer holds personal data that you might save on a NAS drive in a network that’s theoretically connected to the Internet, making it vulnerable to outside attacks. How to build a secure home network ? We’ve got some tips for you to keep your data safe and secure.
1 – Keep your operating system and firmware up to date
The devices directly connected to the Internet, like your router and any PCs, laptops, tablets, and smartphones connected to it, are the biggest targets for attacks on your home network. Each of these devices has an operating system, like Windows, iOS, Android, Linux, MacOS and your router has firmware. Although many protective mechanisms are already built into these systems, they’re complex, so attackers can use security gaps to access devices or parts of them.
Read: How to Make a Website Secure: Tips to Protect Your Online Store
2 . Either secure a WIFI network properly or use it sparingly
It’s important to be careful when it comes to your WIFI, as anyone in its range could potentially connect to it. One way to increase security is by creating a strong WiFi password, which doesn’t necessarily have to be a jumbled mess of characters. Instead, it just needs to be long enough to deter potential hackers.
However, using cables to connect your devices to the router is an even more secure option, though it can quickly lead to a tangled mess of wires and be impractical in larger spaces. In these cases, turning off your WLAN or router when it’s not in use – such as at night, while you’re at work, or on vacation – can also help increase security. While it’s not necessary to do so, turning off your WLAN or router can offer additional peace of mind.
Read: How to find out who is using your wifi
3. Don’t stick with the defaults: Change your router settings ASAP
As soon as you set up a new router, it comes with default settings that are already in place. These settings include a username and password that you use to access the router interface. When you buy a new router, the WLAN is often pre-configured with the name of your router and the password is written on the back. It’s important that you change all the preset data right away to keep your network safe. This means giving your router a new username and password (which is usually done automatically with the setup wizard), renaming the WLAN, and assigning a new password to it.
The issue with preset configurations is that they can be the same or similar across multiple devices from the same manufacturer, which experienced hackers are aware of. If you include your router model in the WLAN name, it can give an attacker an idea of what vulnerabilities to exploit. So, it’s crucial to change the default network data to protect your network from potential security threats.
Read: How to remove unused WiFi networks in Windows 10
4. Rely on https and not on WPS
Firstly, when you need to make changes to your router settings, you can usually access the interface through a web browser. Just enter either the IP address of the router or a standard address like “myhome.box” in the address bar. This connection is made through “Hypertext Transfer Protocol”, or http for short, which is susceptible to outside attacks. To avoid this, it’s better to use the more secure “Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure”, or https for short. You can easily switch to https by making sure the address in the browser’s address line starts with “https” instead of just “http”.
WPS is short for “Wi-Fi Protected Setup” and it lets you add a device to your WiFi network. Typically, you just need to push the WPS button on your router and your device, and they’ll connect automatically. However, this process requires a PIN, which is often located on the back of your router. Unfortunately, writing down PINs or passwords somewhere can be risky because they’re easy to access it. So, it’s not often that you’ll use the WPS feature on your router. That’s why we suggest turning it off in the router settings and only enabling it when you really need it.
Read: HTTP or HTTPS: What’s the Difference and Which One is Better to Use
5. Create a separate network for vulnerable devices.
As more household appliances become network or Internet-enabled, it’s important to keep in mind that each of these devices is a potential point of attack. However, it’s unrealistic to expect the same level of security from a coffee maker manufacturer as from a router manufacturer. To prevent attackers from accessing your home network through vulnerable smart home devices, there’s a simple trick: connect them to a separate WLAN network instead of the same one you use with your other devices. Most routers offer a guest network for this purpose, which is meant for visitors.
You can configure your router to create a separate network that only allows devices to access the internet, but not other devices in your network. This way, even if your smart coffee machine gets attacked, your other devices like your home server or PC are still safe.
However, there is an exception to this rule. If you have a smart home center that is controlled via WiFi, it needs to be connected to both the end devices and the smart home devices in order to function properly. Therefore, it should be set up to communicate with both networks. Thankfully, Typically, smart home hubs are well-guarded against security breaches as they are the central hub of the system.
Conclusion
How should you secure your home wireless network for teleworking for instance? Safeguarding your home’s digital space has become more critical than ever in the present era. As the number of internet-connected devices in our households continues to rise, it is crucial to take precautionary measures against cyber intrusions. By adhering to the vital suggestions provided in this article, such as creating strong passwords, keeping software up to date, and segregating a separate network for vulnerable devices, you can significantly decrease your chances of falling prey to cybercrime. Keep in mind that acting now to secure your home’s digital frontier can save you from the trouble of handling the consequences of a cyber attack in the future.
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