Protecting Your Home Wireless Network

Almost every home network starts with a wireless network. Most home wireless networks are controlled by your internet router or a separate, dedicated wireless access point (WAP). They both broadcast wireless signals, allowing the devices in your home to connect to the internet and each other.

Securing  your wireless network is a key part of protecting your home. Here’s how you can get started:

• Change the default administrator password to your router or WAP. The admin account is what allows you to configure the setting for your wireless network.
• Ensure that only people you trust can connect to your wireless network by enabling strong security. Currently, the best option is to use WPA2 (and WPA3 coming soon). This protocol requires a password to connect to your router/WAP. Once connected, online activities are encrypted.
• Ensure your network password is strong, and different from the admin password. You typically only need to enter the password once for each of your devices, so make it a strong one.
• Many wireless networks support a Guest Network, allowing visitors to connect to the internet, but keeping them segmented from your home network. If you decide to enable the guest network, make sure you use WPA2 and create a unique password.
• Consider not broadcasting your network name (SSID). You’ll have to explicitly type it in when connecting a new device, but your neighbors won’t be able to see it (like you can see theirs). I know there’s a strong urge to create a funny network name that others can see, but hiding it entirely will not only keep your network a little safer, but will also save  you the time it would take to come up with a clever pun or phrase!

Not sure how to do these steps? You have options:

• Ask your Internet Service Provider (or check their website)
• Read the documentation that came with your Internet router or wireless access point

Your Devices

Identify all of the devices connected to your network. There might be more than you think! With so many things connected to the internet, you could have more than 10 devices using your network at any given time. Think about it: there are computers/laptops, printers, smartphones, TVs, smart speakers (i.e. Google Home and Amazon Alexa), gaming consoles, baby monitors, smart watches, and even some everyday appliances like light bulbs and refrigerators.

Once you’ve identified them all, ensure that each one of them is secure. The best way to do this is to enable automatic updating wherever possible, so your computer and devices are always running the most current software.

Your Passphrases

• Use strong, unique passphrases for each of your devices and online accounts. A pass phrase is a sentence or series of words that are easy to remember (‘Where is my coffee’ or ‘sunshine-doughnuts-happy-lost’).
• The longer your passphrase, the stronger it becomes!
• Use a different passphrase for each critical device and online account. This way, if one is compromised, your other accounts and devices are still safe.
• Consider using a password manager, which is a special security program that securely stores all your passwords in an encrypted, virtual safe. That way, you’re not trying to remember each unique passphrase for all of your accounts.

Check out the News & Security section of our website for the latest on what’s going on at Clearview, as well as important security tips and updates!