Securing Your Devices: Best Practices for Home and Business Networks
As homes and businesses become more connected, it’s important to ensure that your network is secure. The last thing you want is for a hacker to gain access to your Wi-Fi, devices, or sensitive information. Whether you’re streaming movies or running an online business, securing your devices should be a top priority.
Start with Your Router
Your router is the gateway to your home or business network, and securing it is key to preventing unauthorized access. Did you know that many routers come with default passwords that are easy for hackers to guess? If you haven’t changed your router’s password, now is the time!
Here’s how to get started:
- Change the default password for both your router and your Wi-Fi network. Use a strong password with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols.
- Enable WPA3 encryption (or WPA2, if that’s not available) on your Wi-Fi settings to make it harder for hackers to intercept your data.
- Create a separate guest network for visitors or smart devices that don’t need access to your main network.
Looking for step-by-step instructions? The FCC has a helpful guide on how to secure your wireless network.
Keep Your Devices Updated
Keeping your devices updated with the latest security patches is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to protect against cyberattacks. In 2022, over 60% of data breaches could have been prevented by applying the latest updates .
This applies to everything from your smartphone to your smart thermostat. When updates are available, don’t hit “remind me later”—install them as soon as possible to ensure your devices are protected from known vulnerabilities.
At KWIKOM, we recommend setting your devices to update automatically, so you don’t have to worry about missing a crucial patch.
