HowToFixWiFiSimple fixes  •  Better connection
Security

Secure Your Wi-Fi Network

Protect your network and keep your devices safe from threats.

HowToFixWiFi

An unsecured Wi-Fi network lets neighbours — and worse — ride your internet connection and peek at unencrypted traffic.

These five checks take ten minutes and lock down almost every home network.

Step-by-step instructions

  1. Make sure your Wi-Fi uses WPA2 or WPA3 encryption — in the router admin page’s wireless security settings, avoid the obsolete WEP and “Open” options.
  2. Set a strong Wi-Fi password of at least 12 characters, and never leave the default password from the sticker.
  3. Change the router admin login (the username and password used to log into the router itself) from its defaults.
  4. Turn off WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) — its PIN method can be brute-forced.
  5. Hide or rename your network (disable SSID broadcast, or change the name to something that doesn’t identify you or your router brand), and turn off remote administration.

Helpful tips

  • Guest networks keep visitors — and smart gadgets — off your main network; turn one on if your router supports it.
  • Router firmware updates sometimes patch real security holes — check for them every few months.
  • If a stranger was ever on your network, change the Wi-Fi password: that instantly kicks every device off.
Secure Your Wi-Fi Network — HowToFixWiFi