Archives - Router


Change default passwords on home routers and devices

Many devices in your smart home, from your Wi-Fi router to a new baby monitor, may ship with a default username and password, such as “admin” for both credentials. You should change them as soon as possible to avert exposure to botnets designed to take over devices with easily guessed login credentials.

Establish a guest login for your home wireless network

Most people know not to share their passwords with others, especially if they’ve been recycled. However, some people choose to disregard this advice when it comes to trusted guests who ask for access to their home network. Check with your internet service provider or update your router settings to establish a guest network instead.

Secure home routers

When using a home router, ensure you have changed the username and password from the common factory set of admin/admin. Disable WPS, which is both insecure and susceptible to brute force attacks. If possible, use a secure router for work use only, and monitor traffic to ensure your child isn’t using it for Minecraft access.

Lockdown your router

When you connect a computer to the internet, it’s also connected to millions of other computers—a connection that could allow attackers access to your computer. Although cable modems, digital subscriber lines (DSLs), and internet service providers (ISPs) have some level of security monitoring, it’s crucial to secure your router—the first securable device that receives information […]

Change the preset passphrase on your router

Leaving a default passphrase unchanged makes it much easier for hackers to access your network. You should change it as soon as possible. A strong passphrase is a sentence that is at least 12 characters long. Focus on positive sentences or phrases that you like to think about and are easy to remember (for example, […]

How to protect your smart home

A smart home has a network of devices that communicate and operate with one another seamlessly to provide convenience and efficiency. Since they’re all connected to the internet, these devices are controlled by the homeowner, usually through a smartphone app. Examples of smart home devices include door locks, thermostats, smoke alarms, coffee machines and security […]