Today the internet is one of the essential things for all of you. Life without a network connection to the online world is unimaginable. It comes as no surprise that the internet has managed to become an indispensable portion of our lives despite its pros and cons. Convenience has mandated a constant and strong presence of the common router for offices and workplaces alike.
About 90% of all adults in the United States admit to internet usage in 2019. From the same age group, more than 75% admit to the usage of home broadband services. As the usage is gaining rapid momentum, matters of internet security too cannot be left alone.
Internet security, especially in connection with the home broadband services, are seldom protected or secured. Approximately 24.7% of Wi-Fi hotspots do not have any form of encryption at all. It means that any individual can gain access to your network and intercept and store your internet data.
Fortunately, banking transactions are highly encrypted and secure; otherwise, there is nothing to prevent the snooping of your internet data. These are principally why there is an alarming rise in the matters of cybercrime rates. It is even more important today to opt for the best secure network for your home broadband and prevent any form of cybercrime.
The following ways can prove to be favorable, should you opt for securing your home network.
1- Password Access
The foremost step in network security is encryption through password access. This form of password protection limits the access of the network only to trustworthy members and their systems. Password access also gives you complete control over the usage of the home broadband network.
However, passwords must be tough enough for anyone to guess it. Most routers contain guidelines on password character length and usage types. For example, uppercase, lowercase, special and Numeric characters, or a combination thereof can be an effective password.
Ensure that the password is at least 1 or 2 characters more than the minimum limit. Additionally, passwords must be such that they cannot be easily guessed or remembered. Complicated and random character arrangements and combinations, therefore, work best in such a scenario.
2- Device Access
Sometimes when friends and family are visiting, it is hard to say no to access Wi-Fi. It is where most passwords tend to get circulated outside your circle of trust. Thus, it may make your network unsecured and susceptible to any cyber attack. It is why most networks come with built-in features to restrict the number of devices which can access your home network.
Apart from this, these networks are remotely programmable to increase or decrease such limits. It ensures that even though you circulate the password, the potential risk is less. Besides, it is easier to monitor and control network bandwidth sharing if the number of devices is limited and known well to you.
3- Make Frequent Changes
Making frequent changes to the network and password credentials can mitigate the danger of your Wi-Fi network. You must change the network name and password at a regular short interval of time, such as weekly.
Alternatively, you should also change them when multiple people are aware of the credentials. Consistency makes it easy for hackers to get access to your network. Ideally, while changing the SSID, one should never put personal details either in the network name or the password, like home addresses, phone numbers, etc.
Besides that, instead of traditional WEP password encryption, you may switch to a more secure WPA 2 encryption. Hackers find it difficult to crack WPA 2 secure encryption rather than WEP.
4- Hide Your Network
One of the main ways to prevent any attack is to be untraceable. Usually, routers show the SSID, which is the identifier of the network.
However, if you block or restrict your router or modem's settings to restrict your identifier's display, your Wi-Fi becomes a hidden network. Before connecting to any particular network, the list displays a hidden network.
Though the message shows a hidden network, it becomes impossible to know the SSID and password specification. It makes it even more impervious to any attack whatsoever.
5- Change the Admin Details:
The person who has access to the network details and can perform changes or alterations to the same is the admin. Admins generally log in to the system network using their credentials. These admin details or credentials must be frequently changed to prevent anyone from accessing the system from the inside.
Most routers have an external button or an internal configuration to reset the admin. Frequently, resetting the admin details helps the network NOT to remember any particular detail. Therefore, data unbeknownst to the network cannot be accessed by any hacker remotely.
Most router manufacturers set up the router manufacturing process with the same id and password for all the systems they sell. Periodically, changing these details makes your system less susceptible to unauthorized access.
6- Restrict Remote Access to the Network
Most hackers gain entry into your Wi-Fi networks without physical entry by using an antenna capable of receiving and sending signals at 2.4 GHz and above. This gaining entry to a system, server, or network without physically accessing the same is Remote Access. Remote access works both ways. It means that Wi-Fi also remembers systems that had previously gained entry as trusted devices and allows access.
On the other hand, devices can also use an antenna of the requisite GHz to gain entry and get recognized later. By disabling the Remote Access feature, you restore the controls in the hands of the admin.
Every other system would have to physically and manually gain entry at the admin's hands. It gives you greater control over network space sharing and prevents criminals from accessing your network again.
Conclusion
Overall, network security is a matter of concern that can be remedied with due care and caution. Vigilance and awareness about the system traffic and unauthorized intruders can prevent any untoward incident in the future.
Guest post courtesy of Kimberly Clark