We are all connected with the WiFi whether at home, en route, or at a shopping center. This puts us in a vulnerable position for phishing attacks as hackers and intruders are always looking for weak links in our network. There are always greater chances of our wifi routers getting hacked.
It is important to use precautions in order to prevent any strangers in your wifi network. It is good to be vigilant about networks hacked by ill-intentioned people.
Below we have discussed seven ways to secure your wifi connection. Let’s look at them one by one: forward secrecy, phishing attacks
Can you be hacked through home Wi-Fi?
Hacking through home wifi is a reality, but it is preventable. What to do if your home network is hacked? And What can hackers steal over Wi-Fi?
You would be surprised to find out the length hackers go to, to obtain personal data. Because our personal computers/laptops and mobile phones are connected with the wifi containing our entire information. That is why having a secured system around your wifi network has become a necessity.
Strong WiFi password:
People always wonder can someone use my wifi from far away or can someone steal my data through wifi?
Your wifi connection is insecure if you have an easy string of numbers as a password. Because a common string of numbers like 000000 is very predictable. We are afraid of forgetting our password and that puts us on spot. Because this way we give hackers an easy way to enter our network.
Having a strong and long password will go a long way in protecting your data. Even if it may be difficult to remember.
VPN:
Virtual Private Network or VPN is a sure-fire way to secure your wifi network. It is very easy to install a VeePN on a router. Configuring your router to use a VPN will create a tunnel, and all of your data will flow through it. VeePN will make your connection indecipherable for the hackers, hence complete protection.
A VPN will also secure your data footprint and leave hackers grappling in the dark. VPN offers a free trial as well as a paid version.
Make Use of Firewall:
Using a firewall to its full potential is also important for your network security. You can easily check your firewall settings on your console. Turn it on if it is turned off. Firewalls use NAT systems that allow users to allocate unique addresses in their network and it is only known to your router. And the router connects with the outside world.
Another unfair advantage of a firewall is that it blocks outsiders to decipher the networks allocated on the router and it makes a firewall beneficial to ward off any suspicious activity.
MAC Filter:
Make a habit of adding every new home device in a MAC filter. That way, only known devices will be capable of connecting to your router. MAC filter is a very useful feature and you can easily set it up even with your smartphone.
Your MAC address is available on your phone, copy-paste it into the MAC filter, and voila! You are protected No stranger can connect to your wifi network without your permission.
Don’t Connect to Open Networks:
Howsoever much you want to check that Facebook status update of your friend, never connect your phone or laptop to open networks. These networks are crawling with the hackers and you instantly become their target.
Always keep your phone wifi turned off when you are out or use your own cellular network if you need to.
Turn off WPS:
WPS-pixie attack is very common especially if you are connected to an open or unknown network.WiFi Protected Setup or WPS enables you to access the internet by pushing a button on the router. It allows the user to bypass entering login details and connects to the internet directly.
Turn off your WPS on your electronic devices at all times as hackers will be able to retrieve your password, however strong and long it is, in no time.
Unplug Universal Plug n Play:
Universal Plug n’ Play (UPnP) is essential for IoT devices. As this is what keeps them connected and sharing data. Hacking through IoT devices has increasingly become a headache because network security becomes weak and vulnerable. Unplug any UPnP you have at your home and create a separate wifi network for IoT devices.
Conclusion:
Apart from the above-mentioned precautions, there are several other ways of protecting your data for e.g. you can set up a separate account for IoT devices to avoid data breaches through the main router. Also, you can set up a guest account if you get many visitors. Always remember to turn off your wifi router when you are going to sleep or going on vacation. setting up VPN on router is also highly recommended.