How to Secure Your Home Network from Hackers and malware using best practices including Firewall and VPN usage.

August 26, 2023

Your home network is your gateway to the internet. It’s where you connect your devices, such as computers, smartphones, and tablets. And it’s also where you store your personal information, such as financial data and passwords.

A home network is a collection of linked devices within a home or other private place. Computers, cellphones, tablets, printers, smart TVs, and other internet-connected gadgets are examples of such devices. A home network allows devices to speak with one another and share resources such as files, printers, and internet connections.

A gateway is a device that links two or more networks. The router is usually the gateway in the context of home networks. The router is the device that links the home network to the internet.

That is why it is critical to protect your home network from hackers. Hackers are continuously seeking for new ways to get access to home networks, so you must take precautions.

How to secure your home network from hackers:

Change the default password on your router: When you first set up your router, it comes with a default password. This password is often easy to guess, so it’s important to change it as soon as possible.
Use a strong password: Your router password should be at least 12 characters long and include a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
Enable WPA2 or WPA3 encryption: WPA2 and WPA3 are the most secure encryption protocols for home networks.
Create a guest network: A guest network is a separate network for guests to use. This will help to protect your personal devices from being accessed by guests.
Keep your router firmware up to date: Router manufacturers regularly release firmware updates that fix security vulnerabilities. It’s important to install these updates as soon as they are available.
Use a firewall: A firewall can help to protect your network from unauthorized access.
Be careful about what you click on: Hackers often send phishing emails that contain links that, when clicked, will install malware on your computer. Be careful about what links you click on, and never enter your personal information on a website that you don’t trust.
Use a VPN when connecting to public Wi-Fi: A VPN encrypts your traffic, making it more difficult for hackers to intercept your data.

You can help protect your home network from hackers by following these guidelines as mentioned.

Additional tips that you can use to secure your home network:

Make use of a MAC filter: A MAC filter is a security tool that prevents specified devices from joining to your network. If you suspect that someone has acquired illegal access to your network, this can be valuable.
Turn off remote management: Remote administration enables you to access your router from a distance. However, hackers can exploit it to get access to your network. Disable remote management if you don’t require it.
Change your network’s SSID: The name of your Wi-Fi network is represented by the SSID. The SSID is the name of your router by default. Changing the SSID makes it more difficult for hackers to discover your network.
When connected to public Wi-Fi, use a VPN. Public Wi-Fi networks are frequently insecure. Your transmission is not protected when you connect to a public Wi-Fi network, making it easier for hackers to intercept your data. When you use a VPN, your transmission is encrypted, making it more difficult for hackers to steal your data.
Keep up to date on the latest security threats: Hackers are always coming up with new ways to infiltrate home networks. It’s critical to stay up to date on the latest security dangers so you can defend yourself.
Place your router in a central location where it is not easily accessible to unauthorized people.
Change your router password regularly.
Use a strong password manager to create and store strong passwords for all of your online accounts.
Keep your computer and other devices up to date with the latest security patches.
Be careful about what software you download and install on your devices.
Scan your devices for malware regularly.
If you think that your home network has been hacked, change your passwords immediately and contact your Internet service provider.