Before we continue, take a moment and answer the following questions:
- Do you change your router password regularly?
- Are you updating the router?
- Are you aware of ways you can protect your router?
If you answered No to any of the above questions, your router may not be secure. Don’t worry, it’s not just you, most end-user routers are routinely intact.
Why is the security of your router so important?
Routers are a key point in connecting these devices to the Internet and are therefore highly vulnerable. Network attacks in this crashed environment can cause chaos and loss of privacy – for example, an attack against a router can give an attacker access to a connected surveillance camera and provide direct input to the household.
The threat is even stronger given that this is the Decade of the Internet of Things (IoT). Internet-connected devices are now becoming more common in households, ranging from smart lights and fans, refrigerators to surveillance cameras, baby monitors, and more.
Ways to keep routers secure
Here is a list of recommendations for configuring your router to protect your home router.
1. Change the default passwords
Always remember to change the router’s default password. This is how you change your password.
1. Type the IP address of the router into your browser. You can find it on the back of the device or in the user guide that came in the box. It’s something like this http://192.168.0.1/login.htm
2. Enter your username and password. Usually the default ID is ‘admin’ and the password is ‘password’ for most routers. You can check the back of the device to make sure once.
3. After logging in, go to the settings tab. Click Change Password
4. Enter your username and old password, and then set the new password of your choice
5. Click Save / Edit, depending on your router
2. Set strong passwords and change them regularly
Just changing the default password won’t do. You need to make sure you have set a strong password and then execute a routine where the router password is changed regularly.
Follow these steps to change your password:
1. Type the IP address of the router into your browser. You can find it on the back of the device or in the user guide that came with the box.
2. Enter your username and password.
3. After logging in, go to the settings tab. Click Change Password
4. Enter your username and old password, and then set the new password of your choice
5. Click Save / Edit by Router
3. Change the Wi-Fi network (SSID) name
To improve the security of your router and Wi-Fi network, be sure to give your network a unique name so that it is difficult to encrypt. Here’s how to do it.
1. Type the IP address of the router in the address bar of your browser. You can find it on the back of the device or in the user guide that came with the box.
2. Enter your username and password.
3. Go to the Wireless Router Settings page
4. Enter the network name in the specified table.
5. Click Save / Apply
4. Hide the network
Hiding your Wi-Fi network is a great way to prevent router fraud. Log in to the router settings and uncheck the “Broadcast” option to hide the network. Here’s how to do it.
1. Type the IP address of the router in the address bar of your browser. You can find it on the back of the device or in the user guide that came in the box
2. Enter your login and password.
3. On the Router Settings page, go to Wireless → Wireless Basics
4. Clear the Enable SSID Transmission check box.
5. Click Save / Apply
5. Enable encryption
An unencrypted network makes it easier to intercept your personal information. If you have the ability to encrypt your data on your home network via WEP, WPA, TKIP, WPA2, etc., select the option and enable it. You must log in to the router settings to enable this. Here’s how to do it.
1. Type the IP address of the router in the address bar of your browser. You can find it on the back of the device or in the user guide that came with the box
2. Enter your username and password.
3. Click Wireless → Wireless Basics
4. On the Security Settings tab, select WPA-PSK / WPA2-PSK AES from the drop-down menu.
5. Click Save / Apply
6. Disable WPS if you have it
Most security experts agree that Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) opens a router and, in the extension, a Wi-Fi connection. It is a good idea to remove this feature from your router. Here’s how to do it.
1. Type the IP address of the router in the address bar of your browser. You can find it on the back of the device or in the user guide that came with the box
2. Enter your username and password.
3. Click Wireless → Advanced Wireless Settings
4. On the WPS Settings tab, clear the Enable WPS check box
5. Click Save / Apply
7. Make sure that remote access is not granted
Remote access to the router opens the way for a malicious operator who wants to use a Wi-Fi connection. It can even happen covertly without the end user knowing until the end of the billing period! To ensure that this does not happen, disable the remote access features that came with your router.
8. Enable the firewall
A firewall is necessary to prevent unauthorized access to the Internet. Quick Heal Internet Security Firewall protects your computer from external threats by blocking potential threats within the networks connected to your system.
Keep your router and Wi-Fi network secure with Quick Heal Internet Security. Click here for more information about the product.
PS: Router connections vary by vendor, model, and firmware version. See your model’s user guide for instructions on navigating the router settings. You can download it from the seller’s website.
