With more people working from home, it’s important to have a secure personal internet network to protect both private personal and work information. In homes, internet service is often delivered through a router that may have Ethernet cable connections and also broadcast a wireless (wi-fi) signal for online connectivity. Some routers are provided by internet service provider companies, but many consumers prefer to buy and set up a wi-fi router themselves.
For anyone who purchased a wi-fi router for their home, they could become not just a user, but the technical administrator of the router, responsible for managing its settings, updates and security protocols. Router settings can get rather complex and technical, so an owner may not take the time to go through and thoughtfully adjust every operating and security option. If an owner is trying to set up a router quickly, they may hurriedly run through certain basic settings and adopt some usage habits that are not quite as secure as they could be.
Some of the information in this post was provided by the U.S. government agencies Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and Federal Trade Commission, the National Cybersecurity Alliance, Duke University and the federal government’s National Security Agency.
5 home Wi-Fi security tips to consider implementing
For anyone managing a home wi-fi router, following are five easy tips that could help enhance the security of your personal network:
- Give your home wi-fi network a generic, anonymous name to lessen the chance you’ll be targeted by hacker. A home wi-fi signal can be detected across the street and several homes or apartments away from where you live. Giving your network a name that can be quickly traced back to you such as “TommyJohnsonATL” or “AndersonNetwork” can allow a hacker to easily identify your network. Further, they can likely determine where you live, and they may assume that if you’ve been somewhat careless with your network name and that just maybe your other security protocols aren’t as strong as they should be. Essentially all of this means you’re an attractive target for an attack to breach your network.
- Make your home wi-fi password longer and more complex—consider a password length of a minimum of 16 characters. Passwords are often short and easy to remember—which is a common security weakness since they may be easier to guess or be revealed by a hacker’s computer program. Make the password to access your router’s settings long and complex, with random upper and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. Some security organizations recommend passwords that are at least 15 characters in length, so going even longer should add to the password’s toughness.
- If your router provides it, set up and use the guest network signal for friends or work. Some modern routers will broadcast two signals, one for your use and a second “guest network” signal that can be used by friends visiting your home or potentially for a separate work connection. Having two separate signals can improve security, since increasing the number of people on a network provides more opportunities for someone to use a weak password or share log-on credentials with someone who shouldn’t have them. Keep the primary network for close family and the guest network for everyone else.
- Always keep your home internet router’s built-in operating and related system software (firmware) up-to-date by downloading and installing new versions from its manufacturer. Internet routers always have firmware, which is operating system software controlling your router that is built into the router’s memory hardware, a specialized computer chip. The firmware software can be downloaded from the manufacturer’s website and used to update the router. Separately, the router may have other, different software from the manufacturer that can be installed on your computer or as a mobile phone app to help manage the router. Updating firmware and software to the most recent version helps ensure that any errors or security weaknesses in earlier versions have been corrected by the manufacturer.
- Get your own Virtual Private Network (VPN) for your computer. A VPN is often computer-based software—along with a service— that creates what is often described as an encrypted data tunnel which all of your internet traffic (audio, video, email, chat, websites and gaming) can go through, so that your data will be shielded from hackers. Companies usually provide VPN service for employees, and it may be required to be turned on before using a corporate computer and accessing the company’s communications network. For home use, a VPN is often both software and a paid monthly service with a subscription plan, but some VPN providers offer a free tier of more limited service that’s worth investigating. These home VPN providers will also occasionally offer sales with discounted rates that can last for several years, so research reputable providers, their service features and compare pricing.
For users who are technically curious and willing to research the many choices in router settings, there are more decisions that can be made that could improve security. With more casual users, adopting the above tips may provide additional protection for both personal and business online activities.
Would you like to know more about improving your online security?
More information on protecting yourself, your network and your personal computing and communications devices is available from Delta Community’s blog and security posts; here are just a few more recommendations on handling online personal security:
