In today’s era, a home Wi-Fi router is no longer just a means of providing internet. From smartphones, laptops, smart TVs, security cameras to smart bulbs and other IoT gadgets, many devices stay online with the help of these networks. In such a situation, if the security of the router is weak, not only the Internet connection but also other devices connected to it may be at risk. The good thing is that by changing a few important settings, home network security can be strengthened to a great extent.

First open the admin panel of the router

To change the settings, you must first login to the router’s admin panel. For this, usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 is typed in the browser. If none of these addresses work, open a command prompt in a Windows computer and run the ipconfig command. Here the IP address written against the default gateway can be that of the router. Even in Mac, the router address can be seen in Wi-Fi’s network details. Note that the router’s admin panel password and the password to connect to Wi-Fi are different.

Change the default password and Wi-Fi name

If the router’s admin username and password are still the company-provided defaults, they should be changed. Similarly, keep the Wi-Fi name ie SSID and its password new.

It is better to avoid showing router model or company name in SSID. This may provide some help to an outsider in identifying your router. If WPA3-Personal Wi-Fi Security is available, select it. If older devices do not work with WPA3, WPA2/WPA3 mixed mode can be used.

Create a guest network for guests

Instead of giving your home guests your main Wi-Fi password, give them a guest network option. Also, their phone or laptop may be isolated from your main network.

The guest network can also be used for smart bulbs, cameras and other IoT devices. This helps limit access to your main network in case any single device has a security issue.

Keep WPS off if not required

The purpose of WPS stands for Wi-Fi Protected Setup is to connect a device to Wi-Fi without entering a long password. But its PIN based system is considered weak in terms of security. If you are not using WPS, then go to the settings of the router and turn it off. Nowadays there are also simple options like QR codes to share Wi-Fi from phones.

Disable remote management

Some routers provide the facility to open the admin panel via the internet even when you are away from home. This can be a useful feature, but it leaves the router’s management interface more exposed to the Internet.

Turn off remote management or web access from the WAN if it is not needed. If services such as Telnet and SSH are not needed, it is better to disable them.

Be sure to check for firmware updates

Finally, go to the firmware update section of the router and see if a new update is available. If you find the Auto Firmware Update option, enable it. New firmware often provides fixes for security vulnerabilities. If the company doesn’t release security updates for your old router and the device has reached end-of-life, replacing it may be a safer option.

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