Setting up a secure internet network at home is important since you need to ensure that unauthorized users don’t infiltrate your devices. It’s even crucial especially if you have kids at home that tend to visit unsafe websites with malicious content.
Well, for that, you can use parental control applications. But to have a secure network, you need to run some options and customizations to get the ultimate security. Fortunately, we’re sharing some of the tips for this purpose.
Using these, you should be able to create a solid internet network at home without any hassle. So, without further ado, let’s check these out now:
1. Get a Secure Internet In The First Place
Your internet provider plays an important part in securing your network. From internet security suites to parental controls, a provider connection has several safety features that help secure your network.
However, not all providers offer the same quality of security that you would want. For that, you need to find a reliable one. For starters, you can look up Xfinity availability or internet security near you.
This will give you insights into providers that offer internet security alongside their services. Similarly, you can look for security suites and it will list providers that offer such options. The goal is to strengthen your primary internet connection so that you can implement further security preferences in your home.
2. Enable Network Encryption
Network encryption helps strengthen your internet connection at home, making it difficult for unauthorized users to gain access to it. Your internet router runs encryptions by default; however, if you’re unaware of how to set or change it, you should let it be.
The best thing you can do is to turn it on and let it install and run the default options set by your provider. In most cases, you’ll find the WPA2 settings for encryption listed in the features of your internet router. You can also find other routers with advanced built-in encryptions.
3. Install VPNs for Accessing Your Network
Another way of ensuring network security is by using a VPN. You can set your network preferences in a way that your network only allows internet access through a VPN. This method helps secure your connection via encryption, allowing verification at both, the sending and receiving nodes of the network.
Moreover, it also helps to securely surf through the site especially the ones that contain potentially harmful or malicious content in them. Such sites can automatically initiate malware downloads, and having a VPN will keep your network safe from such attempts.
4. Keep Up With Your Router Updates
In addition to getting a high-end internet router, you should focus on regularly updating your existing router too. Updates include patches that minimize any loopholes in the router’s functionality.
Ultimately, installing updates not only helps strengthen the router’s capability but also enhances security features. We can take these as application updates that come with new features. Apart from this, if your router isn’t receiving any new updates, then it means you need to get a new one since the older version has been discontinued.
5. Set a Strong Security Password
Perhaps one of the easiest ways of improving your internet network’s security is to come up with strong passwords. Starting with changing the default Wi-Fi name, you should change the Wi-Fi SSID and passkey from the default credentials as soon as you set up your network.
In addition, you should invest in keeping strong passwords. A strong password consists of a combination of lowercase and uppercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Though it’s required to keep a strong password, ensure that you also keep a simple one so that you can input it anytime it’s required without locking yourself out of your devices.
6. Turn Off Network Name Broadcasting
Network name broadcasting means when your network’s name is visible when a device looks up for available networks. It’s a crucial step to securing your network since hackers tend to exploit networks available to them.
It’s also important if you’re using a hotspot in public. Therefore, you should turn it off, which will stop showing your network’s name to anyone. It’s a good step especially if you think your network can get infiltrated even by your neighbors, which tends to happen often when someone borrows your Wi-Fi password for access.
Moreover, if you have guests coming over, you can simply create a guest network instead of letting them access the primary network. This will not only minimize traffic and network usage but also keep it secure.
Closing Notes
Well, there you have it! Using the methods listed above, you should be able to secure your internet connection at your home. If you think it isn’t enough, then invest in a good internet suite with parental controls to have better control of things.