How to Secure Your Router from Hackers

How to Secure Your Router from Hackers: A Comprehensive Guide

Internet safety has become
a major concern for all users. Small and large companies alike are
frequently targeted by hackers. However, few are aware that hackers can
also exploit home routers, gaining sensitive personal information. Therefore,
securing your router is an essential measure to safe-guard your data.
This tutorial provides tips on how to protect your router from hackers.

Miscreants
often hack routers to misuse personal information for fraudulent purposes,
causing considerable financial disaster. It is crucial then to ensure that
your home router is secure at all times to prevent these online violations.

Change Your Default Usernames and Passwords

When you buy a new router, it
comes with a default username and password. These credentials are easily
accessible since they are often the same for particular router models,
thus making it easy for hackers to gain access. It is recommended to change
these details immediately after installing your router for the first time.
Preferably, use a strong and unique password to increase security.

Update Your Router’s Firmware

Firmware updates often include
improvements in performance and security patches for vulnerabilities.
Regularly updating your router’s firmware is another step towards
ensuring your router is safe from hackers.

Disable Remote Management

Remote Management allows you to
access your router remotely. While it can be useful for technical support
personnel to troubleshoot issues, it could also provide a gateway for
hackers to infiltrate your router. Most home users won't require the use
of remote management, hence it is better to disable this feature.

Create a Guest Network

Users often allow visitors to use their
WIFI. In this case, it is better to create a separate guest network.
By doing so, you are ensuring that even if their device is compromised,
your main network containing your personal devices remains protected.

Encrypt Your Wi-Fi

Encrypting your Wi-Fi simply means
requiring a password for users to connect to your Wi-Fi. This ensures
that only authorized users can gain access. The recommended encryption
standard is WPA2 or WPA3 if your router supports it. WEP encryption should
never be used as it is outdated and less secure.

Turn Off WPS

WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) was designed to
simplify the process of connecting devices to your network. However, WPS
is an insecure method that hackers can exploit. Therefore, it’s better to
turn off WPS and connect devices manually.

Keep Your Network Invisible

Your router broadcasts its SSID
(Network Name) to tell others it is available. By making your network
invisible or disabling SSID Broadcast, your network will not appear in
the list of available networks, thus making it harder for hackers to spot.

Internet safety should be a
priority for every individual and implementing these tips will significantly
increase your router's security. Remember, the more walls you put up,
the harder it is for trespassers to gain access.