Bolster Your Security By Adding a Password to Your WiFi

You must be aware that changing passwords from time to time is essential with regards to security. Open wireless networks are very unsafe, and hijackers and cybercriminals can misuse them. For this reason, setting up a password for the wireless router is a must. Factory set default passwords are available on the internet, therefore create a new and unique password for your Wi-Fi.

Let’s go through the steps for adding a secure and robust WiFi password.

Step 1: Accessing the wireless router.

Usually, this can be done using the setup CD of the wireless router. However, you can also access the router remotely over the internet. For accessing the router from the browsing software, just input the router address in the URL space. A regular router address will have a string of numbers.

• If possible, try accessing your router via a computer that is hooked up to it using an Ethernet cable. Users who access the router using Wi-Fi will get logged out when they try to alter the settings, and they will have to connect the network again and sign in again to make any changes.
• Usually, the username and password are set as admin by default. If it isn’t the case, then confirm it with the manufacturer.
• If you cannot remember the passwords after you changed it, then just long-press the Reset button, and then enter the default login credentials.
• If you cannot find the original documents, then you can check the router on the internet to get the default Internet protocol address along with the default login credentials.

Step 2: Locate the wireless settings or security settings.

Depending on the router you use, navigate to either wireless settings or security settings. If you cannot find it, then just look it up on the internet.

Step 3: Choose the encryption option.

A majority of wireless routers come with several encryption types. So just click on the drop-down next to Security and choose an option. WPA2 is an extremely secure type of encryption for Wi-Fi.

Step 4: Select AES as the encryption algorithm.

If you have selected WPA-2 Personal as the type of encryption, then click on the drop-down menu next to WPA encryption and choose AES. AES or Advanced Encryption Standard is one of the most secure algorithms for WPA encryption.

Step 5: Key in the password and SSID.

SSID, an abbreviation for Service Set Identifier, refers to the name for your Wi-Fi network. You will have to key in the password. Just select your wireless network, and enter the password.

Make sure that the password is robust and contains a combination of special characters, lowercase, uppercase letter, and numbers. You can use any Password Manager or password generator to create and securely store the password.

 Step 6: Save the wireless security settings.

In the end, click on the Save or Submit button to make the changes effective. After that, just refresh the wireless router.

When the router fails to refresh automatically, then you need to power off the router and wait for a while before powering it back on.

Bradon Wilson is a self-professed security expert; he has been making the people aware of the security threats. His passion is to write about Cyber security, cryptography, malware, social engineering, internet and new media. He writes for Norton security products at norton.com/setup.

Source : security