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Wi-Fi Security

Your home router is the gateway to every device in your house. Securing it takes less than 30 minutes and significantly reduces your risk of being hacked.

Change your router's default password

Most routers arrive with a default admin username and password — often printed on the device. Attackers know these defaults. Changing them is your first and most important step.

  • Log in to your router admin panel (usually at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1).
  • Change the admin password to something long and unique — at least 12 characters.
  • Also change the default Wi-Fi network name (SSID) — avoid using your name or address.
  • Store the new credentials in a password manager, not written on a sticky note.

Use WPA3 or WPA2 encryption

Older Wi-Fi security standards like WEP and WPA are easily cracked. Check that your network uses WPA2 at minimum — or WPA3 if your router supports it.

  • In your router admin panel, look for "Wireless Security" or "Wi-Fi Security Mode".
  • Select WPA3-Personal if available, otherwise WPA2-Personal (AES).
  • Avoid "Mixed Mode" WPA/WPA2 if possible — it weakens the overall security.
  • Use a strong Wi-Fi passphrase — at least 12 characters with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols.

Create a separate guest network

Smart TVs, doorbells, and other IoT devices often have weaker security than your laptop or phone. Keeping them on a separate guest network limits the damage if one is compromised.

  • Enable the guest network feature in your router settings.
  • Connect all smart home devices (TVs, speakers, thermostats, cameras) to the guest network.
  • Set a different passphrase for the guest network to your main network.
  • Check whether your router allows guest network devices to communicate with each other — disable it if so.

Keep your router firmware updated

Routers receive security updates just like your phone or computer. An unpatched router can be exploited even if everything else is correctly configured.

  • Check for firmware updates in your router admin panel — some update automatically.
  • Subscribe to your router manufacturer's security bulletin if available.
  • If your router is more than five years old and no longer receives updates, consider replacing it.
  • Check your internet provider's support pages — they may push updates automatically for supplied routers.

Review connected devices regularly

Check what's connected to your network every few months. An unfamiliar device could be a neighbour freeloading on your broadband — or something more serious.

  • Your router admin panel shows a list of connected devices — check it for anything you don't recognise.
  • If you spot an unknown device, change your Wi-Fi password immediately.
  • Give devices meaningful names in the router interface so you can identify them easily.
  • Consider disabling Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) — it's a convenient but vulnerable feature.

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