Wireless networks have become ubiquitous in homes, offices, and public spaces. While Wi-Fi offers great convenience by allowing multiple devices to connect without wires, it also poses security risks if not properly secured. In this guide, we will discuss best practices for securing your wireless network and protecting connected devices.

Use a Strong Password

The first step to securing your wireless network is using a strong password. Avoid common or predictable passwords like “password123” or your address. Instead, use a password with at least 8 characters, upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. You can also use a password generator to create a more secure password.

Your wireless password should be unique and not used for any other accounts. Change the default admin password provided by your router, and update your password regularly.

Using a strong password makes it much harder for hackers to gain access to your network. Enable WPA2 or WPA3 encryption on your router for better security than the outdated WEP standard.

Change the Default SSID Name

Wireless routers often come preset with a default network name or SSID like “Netgear” or “Linksys.” It’s important to change this to a custom name so that attackers can’t easily identify your wireless equipment.

Avoid using personal information like your address or phone number in the SSID. Instead, create a unique name that won’t easily identify you.

Changing the default SSID makes your network less obvious to hackers and more secure.

Disable WPS

The Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) feature found on many routers allows devices to easily connect to the network by pressing a button. However, WPS has proven vulnerable to brute force attacks that try guessing the 8-digit PIN.

Unless you regularly need to use the push button connectivity, the best option is to disable WPS altogether. Doing so removes this attack vector and makes your network more secure.

Use MAC Address Filtering

MAC address filtering allows you to restrict wireless access to only devices with certain MAC addresses in their network adapters. This way, only specific devices like your laptop, phone, and tablet can join the network.

Enabling MAC address filtering blocks anyone else from connecting even if they have the password. Keep the list of allowed MAC addresses up to date as you add and remove devices.

Enable a Guest Network

Many routers have the option to create isolated guest networks separate from your main network. This allows visitors to access the internet without joining your primary network and accessing connected devices like computers and printers.

Guest networks typically have a separate SSID and password. Set up an additional guest network and disable file/printer sharing to limit access.

Separating guest access improves security and makes it easy to revoke access when needed.

Use the Latest Wi-Fi Standard

Older Wi-Fi standards like 802.11b/g are more vulnerable compared to newer versions. Upgrade your wireless router to support the latest standards like 802.11ac for better speeds and security.

Using the latest Wi-Fi standards takes advantage of improved encryption and authentication methods to protect against attacks. Newer standards also allow for more secure connections.

Update the Router Firmware

Outdated router firmware can contain security vulnerabilities that have since been patched in newer versions. Logging into your router’s admin console regularly and checking for firmware updates is important.

Updating to the latest firmware ensures you have the most up-to-date security patches. Enabling automatic firmware updates is ideal to always stay current. Some routers even allow bug bounty programs to identify and resolve firmware vulnerabilities.

Monitor Connected Devices

One of the risks of an unsecured wireless network is unauthorized devices secretly joining it. Thankfully, most routers have the ability to view all connected clients through the admin dashboard.

It’s good practice to regularly check connected devices and make sure you immediately recognize each one. If any unknown devices appear, change the Wi-Fi password and address the security flaw they exploited.

Use a Firewall

A firewall provides an additional layer of protection by monitoring incoming and outgoing network traffic and blocking threats. Firewalls built into Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android offer basic filtering.

For stronger security, use a third party firewall on each computer and mobile device. A hardware firewall installed between your modem and router offers whole-network protection as well.

Properly configured firewalls halt traffic from dangerous IP addresses, block risky ports, and help prevent attacks.

Encrypt Sensitive Traffic

While router encryption secures the wireless connection itself, the internet traffic transmitted can still be intercepted. For better privacy when accessing banking and other sensitive information, use a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

A VPN encrypts your internet traffic so that hackers and spies cannot see your activity even on public Wi-Fi. Enable a VPN on each device or install one on your router to cover all connected devices.

Position the Router Securely

The physical placement of your wireless router impacts security as well. Position your router centrally in your home or office to optimize the signal. Don’t hide the router away in a closet where the signal can bleed outside.

Place the router up high to minimize the range outside your building. Avoid putting the router right next to exterior walls or windows which allows the signal to be detected from outside. Proper router placement reduces the external signal footprint.

Disable Remote Administrative Access

Most routers permit changing settings from anywhere by logging into the admin console over the internet. While convenient, this also allows hackers to potentially access the router remotely.

Disabling remote administration forces any changes to be made directly on the router using a wired connection. Doing so reduces the attack surface and makes exploitation harder.

Monitor Your DNS Settings

Domain Name System (DNS) settings on your router translate domain names to IP addresses. ISPs often configure routers to use their own DNS servers by default.

For greater security and privacy, use third-party DNS providers like Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) or Google Public DNS (8.8.8.8). Monitoring your DNS settings ensures no unauthorized changes route your traffic through malicious servers.

Use Antivirus and Anti-Malware Tools

Although not strictly related to wireless security, using comprehensive antivirus and anti-malware tools is part of a complete defense. Scan all connected devices to remove existing infections.

Real-time protection blocks viruses, malware, ransomware, and other threats from compromising your devices over any network connection, wired or wireless. Keep all software updated and enable firewalls for layered security.

Connect IoT Devices on a Separate Network

Many Internet of Things (IoT) devices like smart home gadgets and web cameras have terrible security. Whenever possible, set up a separate network just for insecure IoT devices.

This protects your primary network in case any get compromised. At minimum, configure IoT devices to connect via the guest Wi-Fi network only. Segment your most vulnerable devices onto their own network segment.

Disable Wi-Fi When Not In Use

The simplest way to secure a wireless network is to disable it altogether when you don’t need it. There are no wireless vulnerabilities to exploit if Wi-Fi is switched off.

Some routers allow scheduling Wi-Fi availability during certain hours. You can also manually turn it off at night or when you leave home to minimize exposure. Every bit of wireless downtime improves security.

Use WPA3 Authentication

The WPA3 Wi-Fi security standard aims to solve vulnerabilities with previous standards. Key improvements include more robust authentication using Simultaneous Authentication of Equals (SAE), better data encryption, and forward secrecy.

Though not yet widely available, WPA3 will greatly strengthen wireless security when implemented. Evaluate upgrading your network devices to those already supporting WPA3 for a significant security boost.

Properly securing your wireless network involves steps for preventing unauthorized access, monitoring for threats, and protecting user traffic. Implementing strong router passwords, encryption, firewalls, and updated software keeps Wi-Fi usage safe and private. Take a layered approach for defending against attacks and unauthorized access.

Frequently Asked Questions About Securing Wireless Networks

Why is securing my wireless network important?

Securing your Wi-Fi network is critical to prevent unauthorized users from accessing your network and connected devices and stealing data. Attackers can intercept wireless traffic and leverage vulnerabilities if your network is not properly secured.

What are the risks of an open/unsecured wireless network?

Some of the risks of using an open Wi-Fi network include:

• Snooping on your internet traffic and capturing sensitive data like logins
• Accessing your computer, files, and printers if you have sharing enabled
• Spreading malware to devices connected to the network
• Illegal downloading that can be traced back to your IP address
• Capturing passwords and using credentials to access accounts

How can I check if my wireless network is secure?

To assess if your Wi-Fi network is secure:

• Make sure you are using WPA2/WPA3 encryption instead of obsolete WEP
• Verify your router admin password is strong and updated from the default
• Check that remote admin is disabled and the admin interface is not accessible over the internet
• Confirm practical wireless security precautions like password protection and MAC filtering are enabled
• Audit connected devices and remove any unknown/unauthorized ones

What is the most secure encryption standard for Wi-Fi?

The latest WPA3 wireless encryption is the most secure standard available today, improving on the weaknesses of WPA2. If your router doesn’t support WPA3 yet, WPA2 is still better than WEP or using an open network with no encryption.

How often should you change your wireless network password?

Industry best practices recommend changing your Wi-Fi password every 3 months. Salting and hashing the wireless password database also improves security.

You should change it immediately if you suspect unauthorized access or a password compromise.

Is WEP or WPA encryption more secure?

WPA is considerably more secure than the very outdated WEP standard. Introduced in 1999, WEP has known flaws making it easy to crack. No current networks should be using WEP anymore. Use WPA2 or ideally WPA3 instead for proper encryption.

How can I secure my public Wi-Fi usage?

To secure your usage on public Wi-Fi:

• Avoid accessing sensitive accounts or information on public networks
• Use a VPN to encrypt traffic and mask your IP address
• Ensure your device has up-to-date security patches and real-time antivirus
• Be careful with automatic Wi-Fi connectivity like hotspot auto-login
• Don’t enable file sharing over public Wi-Fi connections

What are the differences between WPA and WPA2?

WPA2 improves on WPA encryption through the use of AES 128-bit encryption instead of TKIP. WPA is still more secure than WEP, but has some vulnerabilities that WPA2 addresses. Use WPA2 for the most secure pre-WPA3 connection.

How can I tell if someone is using my wireless network?

You can identify unauthorized users of your Wi-Fi by checking connected devices on your router admin console and verifying you recognize each one. Unexpected slow internet performance can also indicate excessive network users. Finally, look for unknown devices with the same default gateway IP address.