What is a home WLAN?
A home WLAN means the wireless connection from multiple devices (e.g. smart phone, TV, laptop...) to an internet access point.
In many cases, we install a wireless router, find a place in our home for it and never remember that it is there. As long as all our devices are connected via the Wi-fi network and there are no faults, that's all that matters, isn't it? Wrong!
Probably many of you don't notice it, but the router is one of the most important devices in our house. Why? Because it is the gateway to the internet and also vulnerable to attacks from cyber criminals who can sneak into your devices and gain access to your system. So you should worry about the security of your home network and take all necessary security measures to increase Wifi security.
Most people only set up a password to protect their home network and prevent other people from taking control of your data. But that's not enough. Use following tips to rise the security of your home wireless network:
Why should you change the name, although called SSID of your WiFi network?
Because it makes it harder for attackers to know what type of router you have. If the attacker knows the manufaturer of your router, he knows what vulnerabilities your model has and will try to exploit it. Please don't use your name for the name of your WiFi.
Change the default username and password - often "admin" and "password" - which is needed in the first place to install and connect your router. If you don't change the default settings, it is pretty easy for the attacker to guess it, especially if they know the manufacturer of your router. Please make sure to choose a secure password that consists of at least 20 characters, including numbers, letters and symbols.
Use a network encryption protocol that complies with the current standard. At the moment you should only use WPA2-PSK. It is not recommended to use the WEP standard anymore because it is very easy to hack. WPA2 is also a standard security system now, so all wireless networks are compatible with it. Use a secure wireless password, that consists of at least 20 characters, including numbers, letters and symbols.
Current router model can switch the wlan off and on again time-controlled.
Here are some advantages of disabling your wireless network:
- Security: It minimizes the chances of bevoming a target for hackers.
- Save energy: When the wlan is off, the router needs less power.
- Health: The exposure to electromagnetic radiation is reduced.
Changing the default IP address (often 192.168.1.1) to a less common one (e.g. 10.10.10.1) is another thing you should consider doing to better secure your home network and make it more difficult for hackers to track it. Note: After you’ve changed the IP address, you’ll need to type the new IP address into the web browser bar.
If you turn off the remote access, it is impossible for attackers to access your router's settings from a device which is not connected to your wireless network.
The operating system of your router is an essential part of your wireless network security. It often contains contains flaws which can become major vulnerabilities and be ruthlessly exploited by hackers. Unfortunately, many wireless routers don’t come with the option to auto-update their software, so you have to go through the hassle of doing this manually.
Firewalls aren’t just software programs used on your PC, they also come in the hardware variety. A hardware firewall does pretty much the same thing as a software one, but its biggest advantage is that it adds one extra layer of security. The best part about hardware firewalls is that most of the best wireless routers have a built-in firewall that should protect your network from potential cyber attacks.