Despite the huge advances that have been made in the world of routers and Wi-Fi networks, as well as in the field of security, there are still many vulnerabilities that attackers can use to gain access to Wi-Fi.
Your router can be accessed by attackers, neighbors or unauthorized persons, which, in addition to affecting the quality of your Internet connection, can be dangerous for the connected devices. Anyone who has accessed a Wi-Fi network can click on your phone, computer or other connected device, as well as change the internal settings of the router.
Recommendations to keep your Wi-Fi secure
As mentioned, there is currently no completely fallible method to prevent unauthorized people from accessing your connection and obtaining confidential information, despite the undeniable advantages of a VPN for example. It depends on router models, available technologies, and a host of other factors. However, by following a series of tips or recommendations, it is easier to avoid them.
1. Place your router in a central location in your home.
It is generally a good idea to put your router in a central location in your home. This position is necessary to prevent neighbors from accessing it. When choosing a Wi-Fi network to connect to, they tend to look at the strongest signal. For example, if you live in an apartment and you have a neighbor next door, they are more likely to get a stronger signal from your Wi-Fi if you put the router at one end instead of the other. Center.
2. Change your Wi-Fi password regularly
Another recommended point concerns the configuration of the Wi-Fi network itself. First of all, if you still have your operator router and you are using its default password, you should change it as soon as possible, by accessing your router’s configuration with a sufficiently complex and secure password. You can also take the opportunity to change the SSID or network name to one that you see more appropriate.
3. Modify the settings to access the management interface of the router
Another point that few people attach importance to is the key to accessing the router management interface. This can be used, for example, to create secondary Wi-Fi networks, change DNS, and modify any parameter of the Internet connection in general. Users and passwords are usually provided by your carrier or standard settings like 1234, 0000, or admin, which are easy to guess.
With the vast majority of routers, you have the option to change these access settings to other, hard-to-guess settings. A basic reaction considering the consequences that may arise from unauthorized access to the admin panel.
● Disable WPS if it is not in use
WPS technology seems very convenient, as it allows you to connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi just by pressing a button on your router. However, the truth behind this service is that in some cases it can be activated remotely. Your router can then share the password you set up for your Wi-Fi, which can be a serious security incident.
● Disable remote access to your router
Some routers, mostly provided by carriers or high-end routers, allow remote configuration. This is useful, for example, to be able to diagnose problems remotely, but it can also be a serious issue for your security. Thanks to the access data of your Internet service provider, any user can modify your connection parameters.
In many cases, remote access can be disabled directly from the router control panel, although in some cases it may be necessary to access the operator user panel to disable it.
● Use a VPN
The benefits of a VPN on your router are numerous. On the one hand, you will protect all the devices in your home by encrypting all your data. Thus, if you use smart objects, such as temperature or light regulators, the risk of hacking will be reduced. In addition, a VPN gives you more freedom of action: your data passes through a tunnel of secrecy making it difficult for malicious people to access it.
● Enable your router’s firewall
Another interesting point is the firewall, which allows you to detect certain threats early so that they can be resolved if they arise, while providing greater security. It is advisable to enable the firewall through the router management interface, for all types of attacks that your router is compatible with. It is also recommended to enable Wi-Fi encryption if it is disabled.