How to secure your home network

Network security is a big part of your cyber security, as hackers can exploit your Wi-Fi to install malware, for example.

18-07-2022 - 11 minute read. Posted in: cybercrime.

How to secure your home network

Best way to protect your home network

From smartphones to smart fridges, the Internet of Things is producing more and more devices designed to be connected to a Wi-Fi network. It was expected that the average household would own 50 connected devices by 2021, up from just 10 devices the year before. With so many gadgets connected to the home Wi-Fi network, it has never been more important to increase your Wi-Fi security.

A home network can be connected in two ways:

  • A wired network. A wired network is used to connect printers and scanners.

  • A wireless network. The wireless network connects devices such as mobile phones and computers without wires.

Achieving better security on your home network is a big part of your overall cyber security, as intruders can exploit your Wi-Fi to install malware or create botnets, for example. It also often results in better router performance. Learn more about how botnets work and their risks in our blog post.

Understanding network security

What is network security?

Network security refers to the practices and technologies used to protect a computer network from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. This includes safeguarding both the physical and logical components of the network, as well as the data that flows through it. Essentially, network security ensures that your data remains confidential, intact, and available only to authorized users, thereby preventing cyber threats from compromising your network.

Why is network security important?

Network security is crucial for several reasons. First and foremost, it protects sensitive information from unauthorized access and theft. Whether it’s personal data, financial information, or confidential communications, a secure network ensures that only authorized users can access this data. Given how valuable personal information has become to cybercriminals, safeguarding it is more important than ever. Explore our blog post to learn more about personal data and who should have access to it.

Additionally, network security helps prevent malware and other cyber threats from spreading across your network, which can cause significant damage to your devices and data. By implementing robust network security measures, you can safeguard your home network against potential cyber attacks and ensure a safe online environment for all connected devices.

Common home network security threats

Home networks are susceptible to a variety of security threats, including:

  • Unauthorized access: Hackers may attempt to gain access to your network by guessing or cracking your Wi-Fi password. Once inside, they can exploit your network for malicious purposes.

  • Malware: Malicious software can be installed on your devices through phishing emails, infected downloads, or exploited vulnerabilities. This can lead to data theft, device malfunction, or even complete system compromise.

  • Data theft: Cybercriminals may steal sensitive information, such as financial data or personally identifiable information, from your devices or network. This can result in identity theft, financial loss, and other serious consequences.

  • Denial of Service (DoS) attacks: Hackers may overwhelm your network with excessive traffic, rendering it unavailable to legitimate users. This can disrupt your internet access and cause significant inconvenience.

By understanding these common threats, you can take proactive steps to secure your home network and protect your devices and data from potential harm.

The basics of home Wi-Fi security

Many of the steps needed to strengthen your home network involve adjusting some settings. Each router and Internet Service Provider (ISP) will have some variation in the way you can access and change these settings, but you should easily be able to find the information you need on your ISP's website.

If you can't find the instructions online, contact your ISP directly or contact the manufacturer of your router.

1. Change the default name and password for your Wi-Fi network

The first step and one of the simplest ways to protect your Internet connection is to change the default name and password for your Wi-Fi network. Additionally, changing the default router login credentials is crucial to prevent unauthorized access to your router settings. Your ISP or router manufacturer will assign a preset name to your wireless network, called a Service Set Identifier (SSID). These preset names make it easy for hackers to look up or crack the default password assigned to your network.

Don’t choose a name with any identifiable information - try a username generator for something completely random. Your Wi-Fi password should be a strong password that is unique and completely random, just like all your passwords. It involves symbols, characters and lower and upper case letters.

2. Turn on Wi-Fi network encryption

The latest and most secure form of wireless encryption is called Wi-Fi Protected Access 3 or WPA3. This protocol further protects your Wi-Fi network from unauthorized access by encrypting your data and making it inaccessible to hackers who don't have your password.

WPA3 has been around since 2018, so most current wireless routers come with this kind of encryption. But not all routers have it. If your router is older and doesn't support WPA3, it's a good time to upgrade to a newer model.

3. Keep your router updated

Like all your devices, your home router needs to be updated from time to time so that security holes can be patched. If you can, turn on automatic and new updates or check regularly for new security patches. You should also protect your router with a strong, unique password, which is needed to change many of the settings mentioned.

4. Use a firewall

A firewall is like a barrier between the Internet and your Wi-Fi network. All incoming and outgoing data moving between the Internet and your home network is first scanned by the firewall to protect your security and prevent malicious activity from reaching you.

Fortunately, most routers come with built-in firewall protection, but it sometimes needs to be enabled in your router's security settings.

5. Turn off Universal Plug and Play (UPnP)

Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) lets devices on the same available network, such as printers and computers, find each other and connect automatically without having to manually authenticate anything.

While this is convenient, there is a problem: UPnP cannot distinguish between a secure device and one infected with malware. UPnP is usually automatically enabled, so it's best to turn this off in your router's settings.

6. Disable remote access

Some routers let you connect to your administrator account remotely through remote management features. This means you can adjust settings even when you’re far out of range of your router or Wi-Fi home network.

Most people don’t need this feature, and it’s an easy way to increase your security. Turning this off means that a cybercriminal has to be within range of your home network before even attempting to hack it.

7. Consider using a VPN

A virtual private network (VPN) protects your online activity by masking your location and IP address and encrypting your data. By creating a secure 'tunnel' between your device and the website or service you're using, a VPN keeps your internet traffic hidden from third parties, such as hackers and your internalprovider.

Do you need a VPN? Not necessarily. Several websites use HTTPS, a web protocol that uses a strong form of encryption called SSL or TLS. And it does a lot to make the web a more secure and privacy-respecting place.

However, a VPN still has its advantages. If you do decide to go with one, do some research and make sure you choose a secure, reputable option. Dive into our blog post to learn more about what a VPN is and how it enhances online security.

8. Set up a guest Wi-Fi network

Do you often have friends and family over? If they connect to your Wi-Fi, it’s crucial to set up a separate guest network. This separate network can be set up in your router’s settings and will prevent anyone from exposing you by using an infected device or accidentally downloading a virus while on your Wi-Fi.

The guest network acts as a new access point to your router, keeping your home network and all devices connected to it separate so that only you have access to your network.

You can also set up a separate guest network to keep some of your own devices separate. Some Internet of Things (IoT) hardware is less secure than a computer or smartphone and much more vulnerable to hacking.

You can use a separate guest network to connect devices that don’t hold as much sensitive data, such as smart appliances like refrigerators. If a hacker found a way to hack one of your IoT devices, they would only have access to the separate guest network - not what your laptop, phone and other devices with personal information are connected to.

9. Turn off Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS)

Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) is designed to simplify connecting to a Wi-Fi network - which unfortunately makes it easier to hack. With WPS, anyone can connect using a short PIN or by pressing a physical button (Push-Button-Connect) instead of a password.

In the end, these options are only slightly more convenient and much, much easier for a cybercriminal to exploit. While it's unlikely that someone will break into your home and press the WPS button on your router, an eight-digit PIN won't take long for a hacker to crack with a brute-force attack.

If you want to keep your network as secure as possible, it's best to turn WPS off completely. WPS is usually enabled by default, so be sure to disable this as soon as you can.

10. Enable MAC Address Filtering

MAC address filtering is a security feature that allows you to control which devices can connect to your network by filtering out devices based on their MAC (Media Access Control) address. This can help to prevent unauthorized devices from connecting to your network and reduce the risk of cyber attacks.

To enable MAC address filtering, follow these steps:

  1. Log in to your router’s settings page: Open a web browser and enter your router’s IP address in the address bar. This is usually something like 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1. You may need to enter your router’s admin username and password to access the settings page.

  2. Locate the MAC address filtering option: This option is typically found in the advanced settings or security settings section of your router’s interface. The exact location may vary depending on your router model and manufacturer.

  3. Enable MAC address filtering: Turn on the MAC address filtering feature. You may need to select an option like “Allow” or “Permit only” to specify that only devices with approved MAC addresses can connect to your network.

  4. Enter the MAC addresses of your devices: Add the MAC addresses of the devices you want to allow to connect to your network. You can usually find a device’s MAC address in its network settings or on a label on the device itself.

  5. Save your changes and restart your router: After entering the MAC addresses, save your changes and restart your router to apply the new settings.

By enabling MAC address filtering, you can add an extra layer of security to your home network, ensuring that only trusted devices can connect. Just remember to keep your MAC address list up to date to maintain the effectiveness of this security measure.

11. Give your router a new IP address

Modern routers have default IP addresses and they are easy for hackers to find. Some IP addresses are even on the web.

In addition to changing the router's IP address, it's also important to manage the Wi-Fi network name to enhance security.

You can go to your router’s admin panel and search for network settings or LAN/DHCP. Change your IP address and store it somewhere safe.

It should be enough just to replace a few numbers in the address. Once changed, use the new address to access your router settings.

Final thoughts about your network

As smart devices become more and more a fixture in your home, it's time to get very serious about your Wi-Fi security so you can protect your network. IoT gadgets can be fun and incredibly useful, but if you're not keeping an eye on how and what you're connecting and whether it's a secure connection, you're putting yourself at risk.

Investing the time to strengthen your Wi-Fi home network will give you the convenience, security and peace of mind you need to make the most of an increasingly connected world.

This post has been updated on 05-02-2025 by Sarah Krarup.

Author Sarah Krarup

Sarah Krarup

Sarah studies innovation and entrepreneurship with a deep interest in IT and how cybersecurity impacts businesses and individuals. She has extensive experience in copywriting and is dedicated to making cybersecurity information accessible and engaging for everyone.

View all posts by Sarah Krarup

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