How To Set Wireless Router Security

How to secure your home wireless network router

Updated: 06/07/2019 by Computer Hope

Having an open wireless network is a security run a risk equally it may allow anyone shut plenty to your router (e.k., a neighbour or someone war driving) to access your network. To make your home wireless network more secure, consider the below suggestions.

Tip

The steps beneath require access to the router setup, and we also recommend configuring wireless security over a computer with a wired connection to the router if possible. For assistance entering the router setup, see: How to access a abode network router setup or console.

Note

Because all routers are different nosotros cannot provide specific steps for every router. Check your router'southward documentation for exact instructions.

Close the network

If y'all have never been prompted for a key, password, or passphrase when connecting to your wireless network, it is an unsecured network. In other words, if anyone is close enough to your router, they could connect to your network. To enable security, open your router setup screen and expect for a Wireless Security section. The motion-picture show shown here is an example of a Linksys router fix up in the Wireless Security section.

Select the wireless security method of either WEP, WPA, or WPA2 (we advise WPA or WPA2, which is mentioned further down on this folio). The, enter a passphrase to generate the keys. Afterwards enabling security on the router, any wireless device must have the key to connect to your network.

Change default countersign

Make sure the router password is non using the default countersign. If the default password is used, it tin be easily guessed and give someone admission to your router. With admission to the router setup, a person could change your router settings, including viewing any security keys.

If bachelor use WPA, not WEP

Many routers today offer 2 or three different security schemes: WEP, WPA, and WPA2. We recommend WPA or WPA2 security since it is more than secure than WEP. Withal, for compatibility with some older devices, such equally gaming consoles, TiVo, and other network devices, WEP may be the only security pick possible to use. Using WEP is still better than no security at all.

Disable remote administration

When enabled, remote administration allows anyone close plenty to your router to view or change your router settings. If you never programme on remotely administrating your network (e.one thousand., wirelessly connecting to the router), we recommend disabling remote assistants. With routers that support this option, information technology is often disabled through the Administration section.

When disabled, the router settings can withal be changed using any figurer that is straight connected to the router using a network cable.

Modify the default SSID name

The SSID is the proper noun that identifies your wireless router. By default, many routers use the name of the router as the default SSID. For example, Linksys routers use 'Linksys' as the SSID. Using a default SSID is a security risk, considering it identifies the make of the router. It would assistance an attacker discover a fashion to exploit vulnerabilities in the device.

Tip

When naming the router, exercise not use your family's name or any other personally identifiable information. For example, if the SSID contains your family's concluding name, it tin can exist identified by whatever neighbor that knows you.

Enable router firewall

Many routers also take a firewall that tin can be enabled. If available, nosotros likewise advise enabling this feature, as it helps add an extra layer of security to your network.

Disable SSID circulate

To help make finding your wireless network easier, wireless routers broadcast your SSID, which means anyone looking for a wireless router could see your SSID. To help brand it more hard for someone to find your network when browsing for a wireless network, you can disable the SSID circulate feature. Notwithstanding, when disabling the SSID broadcast, it requires yous manually enter your router'southward unique SSID when connecting whatsoever new device to your network.

Enable wireless MAC filter

The wireless MAC filter feature only allows a wireless device to connect to your router if the MAC Accost is entered in the filter list. Doing MAC filtering can make connecting new devices to your network more hard, only improves the overall security of your wireless network.

Tip

A quick and piece of cake style to set this upwards is to connect any wireless device yous want on your network to your router earlier enabling the wireless MAC filter. After each device has continued, access the router setup and open the DHCP client table, often institute in the Condition or Local Network section. Each device connected to your router tin can be copied to the Notepad, then pasted in the wireless MAC filter section of the router Security section.