Home Wireless Router Secure

Is your home network’s wireless router secure?

A lot of people are working and playing on their own wireless network at home. So when we received this question, it stood out:

I recently read that a lot of wireless routers haven’t been secured by the people who use them. Is this true? If so, what should people do?
Across the country, the answer is yes. Many people using wireless routers haven't secured them. The reason they haven’t is simple - they didn’t realize they had to, or how straightforward securing their router can be.

Unfortunately, a poorly secured network can lead to unwanted results as it allows hackers to browse your personal or financial information, assume your identity on the Internet, or perform other malicious activities.

How can I secure my router?

You secure your network by encrypting it. It's like locking the door of your house, so no one can get in without a key.

The most common form of encryption is called WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy). Check your wireless router’s user guide or instruction manual to find out how to turn on WEP. It will likely give you a couple of options, such as 64 bit and 128 bit. It may even provide 256 bit. Keep in mind, the higher the encryption level, the greater the security (though it may have some impact on performance).

By accessing your router, you can also confirm whether you've already enabled WEP and its encryption level.

You can secure your wireless network by changing your 'Service Set Identifier' (SSID). SSID is the name you give your network.

To help protect your network, never give your network a name that someone else can easily identify. For example, don’t call your network by your last name or phone number. Instead, call your SSID something that only you or authorized people will recognize.