We use our home routers to connect to the internet, but they can also be the gateway for intruders into our homes. If you have never set up your own router, you are very likely running it without a password or perhaps, a absurdly simple one. Any individual hellbent on gaining access to it might be able to connect to your Wi-Fi router, for the internet access or to access to other devices connected to it. Hackers can also snoop on data flowing in and out of the router. A few security setting changes on the router takes minutes, and it can help make your home network safer, and very difficult to break into.
Make sure you are connected to the router over Wi-Fi or a wired connection. First, we need to login to the router. This is done using a web interface. Open a web browser, and type in http://192.168.1.1 or http://192.168.0.1 to access it. This URL and interface, like the steps we will follow, differs from one router manufacturer to another. You can find this URL in the router manual, or at the back of the router. You will also find the default router password in it. The username and password for this login by default for most routers, might be a combination of admin / admin, or admin / password or admin and no password. If you had configured the router yourself at some point in the past and changed it, you should use that combination to login. We are using a Netgear branded router for this demonstration.
Note: Proceed carefully and at your own risk. Refer to the user manual for each step, in case of confusion. Take note of the passwords you change to prevent being locked out of the router.
Set a strong Wi-Fi password
Once you are logged in, the first thing to change is the Wi-Fi password. This is essential if you think your current password is weak. A simple one such as 12345678 is bad. Most of us will never type the password more than once and so a complex password is recommended. It makes it incredibly difficult to guess and brute-force into. You can create one, and there are also password generators you can use. Choose a password that has a mix of numbers and alphabets, in upper and lower case. You should be able to enter it into the Security settings screen under Wireless. Remember, this menu might vary from one model to another. Also, ensure the password is encrypted as WPA2-PSK (Personal), not WEP or WPA. There are different standards, some ideal for personal use and others for enterprises. The preferable one for most home users these days is WPA2. Newer routers have two SSIDs, one for the older 2.4GHz standard, the other for 5GHz. Ensure both your networks are secured. Note down the new password. Once you save the password, you will be required to relogin to the router if you were connected using Wi-Fi.
Setup the administrator password
The other password we ought to change is the admin password we used to login a while back. If an intruder has access to your router over Wi-Fi, he or she could access the administrator panel and make changes to the router settings, such as the password or allowing open access to others. This password is usually found under the Administration tab. Like the Wi-Fi password, use a complex password and take a note of it. Using a software such as KeePassXC can help you keep track of your passwords, even help generate complex ones that are impossible to guess.
Allow only specific devices to the network
Routers can also be configured to allow only known devices into the network. This feature is called MAC filtering. This is a good practice, once you have all the devices connected. This feature may not exist on all routers, so you might need to check. It may be called Access Control in some models, Wireless MAC filter in some others. Essentially, you choose the devices connected to your router by the MAC address or IP addresses. The routers list out all the devices so it’s easy to add. It’s important to keep in mind that when you decide to buy a new device, say a tablet or smartphone and connect it to your network, you might need to return to this interface to either temporarily disable the MAC filtering feature, or manually add the new device’s MAC details.
Disable Wi-Fi broadcasting
Wi-Fi routers constantly broadcast all available networks, which means they are easy to find and constantly attempt logging into. One way to reduce the chances is by disabling the Wi-Fi broadcast feature altogether. Do this after you have connected all the devices at home to your router. The SSID Broadcast disable feature might be under the basic wireless settings screen. If you need to add new devices, you can do so by enabling the Wi-Fi broadcast feature again, or by manually typing in the name of the Wi-Fi network. This is useful since we won’t have new users connecting to the router all the time like you might with a public Wi-Fi router.
Disable remote administration
Remote administration is how we are currently accessing the router to change settings, but it’s also possible to access it over the internet if we’re not careful. Most routers let you decide whether to allow users from remote locations, to change settings. If left unchecked, you might have users over the internet trying to break into your home network. This feature should be available under the Administration feature. Some routers let you choose exactly which IP address can gain access to the administration panel.
Update the router firmware
Routers have upgradable firmware like most other devices today. They receive regular security updates and features. Updating the firmware is simple and can be done through the Administration > Firmware Upgrade page. Some routers can auto-download and install the update, while some others might ask you to download the file first to your PC or laptop, then to the router. Do this to ensure your router has all the security patches in place.
Save your router settings
Once you are done with all the changes, you can save them on your computer or laptop. This is handy if you need to reset your router for some reason. You can restore all the settings with a few clicks. The option for backing up and restoring settings can be found in the Administration menu. It might be called Backup configuration or Save configuration.
These were some of our tips on securing your router. If you are using an old router or one that was provided by your ISP, it’s worth upgrading to a new one. Some of the features we described may not be available on them. Newer routers also operate on newer wireless standards that offer much higher speeds and range, which might be needed to stream full HD and 4K content. Some of the old routers may also use weaker security features, making it easier to break into. Reliance Digital has a large assortment of Wi-Fi routers to choose from and we also deliver products to your home in no time. If you need more advice, you could also head over to your nearest Reliance Digital store.
