Today internet connectivity has become a necessity, and with the increasing dependency on wireless networks to stay connected with friends and family. WiFi networks are more popular than wired networks because they are more convenient as they allow users to access the internet without a physical cable.
However, there are also setbacks when connecting through these wireless networks. Hackers take advantage of this connectivity by stealing personal information such as passwords or credit card numbers. It is pretty easy for intruders to break into any home or business wifi system and steal data or use your network to download unauthorized content. If you don’t have an excellent privacy policy, hackers can intercept and use your wireless internet connection for their personal use without your permission. In addition, companies need to implement periodic reviews of access rights to their networks and systems and the users who have access permissions. Developing a user access review policy is crucial for any organization’s security. The development of a user access review policy should always be geared toward achieving a Zero Trust policy. This type of policy allows users access to only the bare minimum needed for job duties. It’s a data-centric model that applies the concept of least privileged access to every access decision.
Therefore, protecting your wifi network is extremely necessary, and it is paramount to understand how to protect yourself from hackers. With the right tools, you can protect your wireless networks from hackers with relative ease through the following ways:
Use a VPN
One sure way to protect your wifi network from hackers is by installing a VPN program on your device. Using a VPN service to keep your data safe is the most secure and fastest way to protect your wifi network from hackers. VPN hides your activity and for an even extra layer of protection, use one of recommended VPN is CyberGhost, which encrypts and hides your local traffic going into the internet. The VPN blocks spying websites from what you are doing online. It encrypts all the data such that no one can see or use it.
Install a firewall
To ensure an intruder doesn’t gain access to your wifi network without permission, it is prudent you invest in a high-quality firewall software program. Several excellent programs are available for purchase online that will help you secure your network from unwanted guests and hackers. These programs also allow you to set up restrictions on who can connect to your WIFI networks, including limitations on the types of applications they can run and websites one can visit.
Change the admin password for router management
Routers come with default administrative credentials that make it easy for you to log in and configure them. However, these credentials may not be unique, which means that someone could potentially guess them without much trouble. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to change the default credentials immediately after setting up your router and ensure you always use a stronger password bearing a combination of numbers, letters and special characters. You may even opt for a password generator to get strong passwords.
Disable remote administration
By default, most routers allow you to log in and manage them anywhere, which is convenient but exposes your network. If you’re worried about hackers, disable remote administration so they can’t access the router outside your local network.
Update router software
Since talks are rife that hackers have cracked the WEP encryption, WPA3-PSK (AES) is the most secure option that uses WPA3, the latest wifi encryption standard, and the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) encryption protocol. Therefore, it is paramount to use the latest encryption and security standards.
What are the risks of a hacked wifi network?
The consequences hacking has on your wifi network vary depending on the motive of the hacker. Some hackers are only after a challenge, while others do it for personal gains. If a hacker targets you, you will likely suffer the following consequences:
- Theft of your data from all your devices connected to the network, including credit card info or other accounts that you use on other devices connected to your wifi
- Slow wifi speed or downtime for your network
- Sending spam messages or images from your devices without your knowledge
- Hackers can hold your private data hostage for ransomware
- Your computer may malfunction or stop working entirely because of malicious software Hackers may use your computer to launch attacks on other computers
- Worst of all, you might even find yourself facing legal consequences for cybercrime.
Final Take
As hackers get more sophisticated, so does the way we protect our networks and ourselves from them. We can do most of these things ourselves to be on a safer side while using wifi networks, but sometimes it’s best to hire experts who know the ins and outs of wireless security.
You can ward off hackers from your wifi network through the above ways since protecting your wifi network from hackers is vital to keeping your computer and other devices safe from viruses and malware.
When you need to change or reset the password of your wireless network, always change the default password of your router. Do away with preset passwords, i.e. both wifi network password and router admin password, then keep your wifi password secret.
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