You may have heard of the dangers of connecting to free, open-access WiFi networks. But did you know that your home network can also be hazardous to your personal data? If you have not taken the proper security precautions, your home WiFi is likely to be just as vulnerable as the open wireless network at your corner coffee shop. Without the proper defenses, your network could be accessible to anyone with even a modest set of cyber snooping skills. Show
Our infosec experts have identified the three most important security safeguards for standard home WiFi networks. “These protections,” they said, “should solve 99.99% of issues for 99.99% of users.”1 Take a read through the following tips and commit to taking these steps to make your network more secure. Though the idea of updating default passwords and changing WiFi settings might sound too technical for you to handle, it’s easier than you might imagine. If you’ve ever programmed a DVR (or—going back in time—a VCR), you can do this as well. 1 Like most networks, WiFi systems can include different types of equipment and different configurations. For the purposes of this article, we assumed a relatively common residential network setup featuring a single wireless router with a built-in access point. 1. Change Your Router's Default Administrator Password and Disable Remote AdministrationThe “admin” password on your router is totally different from the password that you use to connect to your WiFi network. Where your WiFi password will allow you to connect to the internet using your router, your router password gives you access to the actual configuration settings of the WiFi network itself. (See section 3 for information about setting/changing your WiFi password.) The problem with leaving a default password in place is that everyone from amateur teenage hackers to sophisticated cybercriminals can find that password somewhere online and use it to get into your network. Changing default passwords helps to reduce cybersecurity risks. Here’s how to change your default password:
Note: If the IP address is not listed on the side of your router, or you’re not comfortable making any changes to your router, you may want to contact your ISP (i.e. Comcast) technical support to assist you. The next thing to do while you’re in this screen is to disable remote administration. When remote administration is enabled, it’s possible to connect to your router from outside your home; leaving that on when not specifically necessary makes your network vulnerable to attack. To turn off the feature, look for a box or button that is labeled with something like “Enable Remote Administration” or “Disable Remote Administration.” Check or uncheck the feature as appropriate to ensure that remote administration is not on. Note: If you can’t find the spot to change your admin password within the interface, search “change <Router Brand> <Model Number> password” in your favorite web browser and you should quickly find the directions. 2. Update Your Router's FirmwareWhile you’re in the administration area, take the opportunity to upgrade your router’s firmware. As is the case with other electronic devices, router manufacturers often discover bugs and other issues that need to be addressed after products have already been shipped and installed. Updating the firmware on your router is akin to updating the operating system on your smartphone or tablet, and this step can help eliminate known cybersecurity vulnerabilities and improve performance. To complete the update, look for and select “Firmware Update,” “Router Update,” or a similar option in the administrator window. If you see the option to enable automatic firmware updates (look for a toggle feature such as “Router Auto Update” or similar), turn that on to ensure you automatically receive security and feature updates in the future. As noted in the first tip, if you can’t find what you’re looking for, an online search can help you identify where to go within the interface to complete the update. 3. Configure Your WiFi Security SettingsThere are three key settings to check (and, if necessary, change) within your WiFi network configuration: your SSID (which is the name of your wireless network), your encryption method, and your WiFi password. Here’s how to do it:
On a related note, if you are particularly worried about outsiders “piggybacking” on your internet access—that is, using your WiFi network rather than paying for their own connectivity—disable SSID broadcasting. (Unauthorized wireless use tends to be a greater concern in more populated residential areas like apartment complexes and multi-tenant buildings.) When SSID broadcasting is turned off, your WiFi network name will not be visible to devices when they scan for available wireless networks in your area. The benefit of disabling broadcasting is that it becomes much more difficult for outsiders to connect to your network because they would have to guess both your SSID and your password in order to gain access. The downside of this is that your SSID will not show up in your scans either, which means you will have to manually enter your network name into your devices when you connect. To disable this feature, look for “SSID Broadcast” (or similar) in the wireless setup area. Check (or uncheck) the box or button as appropriate to disable broadcasting. How can a smartphone join a WiHow can a smartphone join a Wi-Fi network if the SSID is not being broadcast? Enter the network name manually, as with a computer. What is the result of putting a phone in "airplane mode?" Wireless features are disabled.
What happens when other network devices are broadcasting back into the network?When different nodes are sending/broadcasting data over a network link, and the other network devices are rebroadcasting the data back to the network link in response, this eventually causes the whole network to melt down and lead to the failure of network communication.
Which feature allows data to be removed from a device if it is lost or stolen quizlet?advanced control mechanism. What feature allows data to be removed from a device if is lost or stolen? This is referred to as remote wipe or sometimes as a kill switch.
What feature allows data to be removed from a device if is lost or stolen?Remote wipe enables you to remotely erase the data on the mobile device if the device is lost or stolen. If you enable the remote wipe feature on your mobile device, you can permanently delete data stored on your lost or stolen mobile device. You should make sure the erase feature completely erases the data.
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