Whether it is your home Wi-Fi router or your office’s, securing it is essential to ensure the safety of your data and connected devices. The last thing that anyone would want is for their wireless network to be compromised and for a stranger to take advantage of security failures. Therefore, it is important that you focus on securing your router against cyberattacks, and below are 5 simple tweaks you can make to secure your router against cyberattacks.
Secure the Router’s Login Page
Most routers come with a set of default login credentials to access 192.168.1.1 or the router’s settings page. The router’s settings page is a very important webpage that has access to all of the routers and wireless network settings. For most router manufacturers, you can search on the internet for the default username and password to access them.
So, if you have never changed the router’s login credentials, you are at risk because anyone connected to the network can gain access to the router’s settings page and make changes to the wireless network and router from there. Always make sure to change the router’s login credentials as soon as you set up your new router. It is okay to continue with the default username, but you should really change the password to secure your router’s login page.
Change the Wi-Fi Network Name and Password
Just as it is important to change the router’s login credentials, it is also important to change the network name and password. Most routers come with a default wireless network SSID and password and you can find this information printed on a sticker attached to the router. You should avoid using the default network name (SSID) and password for long and instead, change the wireless network SSID and password to secure your network.
You can change these settings through the 192.168.0.1 login page, which again demonstrates the importance of securing your router’s login page. Keep in mind that once you change the wireless network name or password, you will have to reconnect all of your wireless devices to the network.
Disable the Broadcasting of Your Wireless Network Name (SSID)
If you really want to secure your wireless router, disable the broadcasting of the wireless network name or SSID. Disabling the broadcasting or displaying of your wireless network name will secure your Wi-Fi network from prying eyes since no device will be able to discover your network. Making your Wi-Fi network invisible will provide ultimate protection from hackers, and it can be done through the settings of the router. The only downside with this is that to connect a new device, you will have to manually enter all the details of the network, as the Wi-Fi network will not be available publicly.
Set Up a Guest Network
If you are receiving frequent guests in your home or office, it is best to set up a guest network for them. Setting up a guest will provide them with internet access but at the same time will keep them away from the primary network. This can be done through the router’s settings page, which further highlights the importance of keeping the router’s admin login page secure.
Keep Your Router Firmware Updated
Keeping your router firmware updated all the time is very important to protect the router and network against cyberattacks. Think of firmware as the software or operating system that runs the router. The firmware of the router needs to be updated from time to time and you should manually check for firmware updates to see if they are available. In case an update is available, you should download and install the firmware to keep your router firmware to the latest version.