Our houses are now packed with a variety of gadgets and equipment that require an internet connection, thanks to our increasingly modern environment. Our increased reliance on the internet to link all of our devices, whether it's our computer, tablet, phone, fridge, TV, or baby monitor, has opened the door to various threats and security issues.

Hackers are opportunistic, waiting to exploit any security flaw to launch a targeted assault. Hackers can steal personal and financial information, infect your devices with viruses and malware, commit cybercrime from your device, or launch a Distributed Denial of Service (DDOS) attack if they obtain access to your home network.

Top Tips To Protect Your Home Wi-Fi Network

Change your router's password.

Any novice with even the most basic technical knowledge can gain access to your router's admin panel. You should start by protecting your router's software to prevent your Wi-Fi from freeloaders who use your Internet without your permission. Make sure you login to your router's admin panel and modify the defaults before you connect it to the Internet.

Most users can access the admin panel by typing http://192.168.1.1 in the address bar of their browser. This is the router's default IP address, if it doesn't work, it might be 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.2.1 based on the manufacturer of your router. The default username and password should be listed in your router's documentation, on a sticker on the side of your router. Many IoT devices get hacked due to use of default passwords.

Wi-Fi should be protected by a secure password.

While this may seem self-evident, many individuals are still unaware that any password that is easy to guess (such as your name, phone number, or date of birth) is the reason why your neighbours are frequently the first to use your Wi-Fi without your awareness. Despite the fact that we are more dependent on the Internet than ever before, the most frequent password is still '123456.'

If you have to share your Wi-Fi password with friends or acquaintances, make sure you change your password afterwards. Periodically changing your password might sound like a task because you will need to login again from all of your devices, but the biggest advantage it serves is that every time you reset it, you reset the number of people who can connect to your network back to one - only you.

Upgrade the firmware on your router.

Firmware is the software that is embedded in your router and regulates how it functions. If you're having trouble with your wireless signal, changing the firmware on your router could cure your problems and provide steady connectivity. Check your router's firmware for any available upgrades on a regular basis to take advantage of the newest security fixes and safety enhancements.

UPnP should be disabled.

Because it bypasses your network's firewall and assumes some programmes are trustworthy, Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) poses a security risk. Essentially, as the name implies, it lets users plug in a device and immediately begin using it without having to configure it. A network printer, for example, can be accessible by any device on the network without the need for the printer to be installed on the device. Unless you often use P2P apps, gaming servers, or VoIP services, you should disable UPnP. Simply Google "disable UPnP" followed by the name of your router manufacturer to find out how to disable UPnP.

Do not enable port forwarding

Generally, in any router port forwarding is turned off by default. The router uses it to route network requests via IP to specific devices on the network also bypassing the network firewall. Unless you have an absolute need for it, like if you are using a CCTV camera, you should keep port forwarding disabled. Because after you connect to the Internet, by default your external IP address is shared in the public domain. In case, port forwarding is enabled then the same connection can be hacked by anyone. You can disable port forwarding from the admin panel of your router.

Disable WPS in router

Wi-Fi protected set-up or WPS works similarly to UPnP and is likely to be enabled by default. It was devised to be used as a secure and faster way to connect a router to wireless devices. However, in recent years, loopholes have been discovered. Thus, it was found that it made users susceptible to hacking, especially those on personal Wi-Fi. Ever since it has been repeatedly advised to simply turn off the WPS from your router's admin panel.

MAC Address Filtering should be enabled.

The physical address, also known as the Media Access Control (MAC) address, is a unique identification found on most broadband routers. By limiting the number of devices that can connect to the home network, this address tries to increase security. The MAC addresses of all devices in the residence can be typed in by homeowners, which restricts the network.

When it comes to keeping criminals out and protecting your data, securing your home network is critical.