How Secure is Your Home Network?

A strong network holds up your Baton Rouge, LA smart home. Solid and reliable Wi-Fi creates a platform for all the new devices that are added. Therefore, take the time to improve your home’s performance with a home network installation that boosts the overall capability of your connection. A crucial part of this process is shoring up your network’s security. With the help of a professional integrator, you can take a few steps to ensure that you and your family are using the internet safely and securely. Read on to learn more about five specific solutions. 

Set Up Your Router

Working with your integrator, make sure that you’ve taken a few simple steps to secure your router. Start by changing the name of your router, or the SSID. If your name is something specific to you and not the name provided by the manufacturer, it will be more difficult to guess. Also, make sure you change the preset password. Use a password that is long and includes a combination of letters, capitalization, numbers, and symbols. These simple steps can be the first defense in your network’s security.

See Also: 5 Ways to Tighten Your Home’s Security

Enable Encryption

Routers often come equipped with many encryption languages, like WEP, WPA, or WPA2.  WPA2 is the most secure version while WEP is the weakest (and oldest). However, there are several factors to consider when selecting your encryption language. For one thing, some devices aren’t compatible with WPA2. Work with your integrator to find a balance between security and use value.

Disable Remote Access

Some routers allow you access to their interface even when you’re not connected. However, that also means that cybercriminals could potentially access your information as well. To prevent this, make sure that you’ve turned off remote access; your integrator can help you if you are unsure how.

Update Your Software

Your router’s firmware is a software that adds security to your home network. Often, hackers can take advantages of vulnerabilities in software to access a network. Software companies are constantly switching up their software is to stay one step ahead of cyber-attacks. Therefore, it is very important that you periodically update the firmware on your router. Most routers don’t offer an auto-update option, so this will need to be done manually. Talk to your integrator about coming up with a plan to monitor updates and stay on top of your home’s security.

Add Firewalls

Some routers come equipped with a firewall pre-installed, and that is a great way to add an extra level of protection. If this is the case with your router, your network installer can make sure that it is turned on. However, if your router doesn’t have one, talk to your integrator about installing a hardware version of a firewall directly onto the router. You can also install software versions of firewalls directly onto your devices. These will go a long way to keeping your network safe.

Throughout the home network installation process, trust an integrator who puts security first: Home Protection Systems. Contact us today to improve your smart home with superior Wi-Fi.