Leaving your home Wi-Fi network unsecured might be worse than leaving your wallet in a crowded coffee shop. It gives outsiders easy access to sensitive information, such as credit card numbers, bank records, social security numbers, login credentials and live camera feeds.

In today’s increasingly connected world, especially with more people telecommuting after COVID-19, securing your home Wi-Fi network is crucial.

It’s never too late to protect your wifi network; even the best internet providers aren’t always secure. In this guide, I will introduce you to expert recommendations on how to best protect your Wi-Fi from hackers.

What is a home Wi-Fi network

A home Wi-Fi network, called a local area network (LAN), allows devices within a home to connect wirelessly to the internet. A Wi-Fi network shares an internet connection via a wireless router, which connects directly to the internet modem and broadcasts the signal throughout the house. That broadcast ensures internet access within the network’s coverage area.

However, the more devices that connect to the network (laptops, tablets, phones, smart TVs, etc.), the higher the risk of hackers breaking into the Wi-Fi network. That increased risk makes it important to implement strong security measures.

Why you should secure your home network

Securing your home network is critical for many reasons, especially to protect your personal and financial data and avoid potential legal risks.

Prevent unauthorized access

A lack of security can allow intruders to gain access to your Wi-Fi network. This vulnerability exposes you to data theft, ransomware, unauthorized access to personal information and even illegal activities performed using your network.

Protect personal information

One of the worst things that can happen is someone stealing your personal information. That includes logins, passwords, text messages, emails, financial data and other private communications.

With the right information, an outsider can also steal your identity. That crime often happens from phishing attacks when hackers deceive you into disclosing sensitive information, typically through emails or messages that seem authentic.

Prevent malware

Phishing and malware are among the most common threats, says Dr. Franklin Orellana, program chair of computer information system and data science programs at Post University. He says hackers know how to infiltrate networks through various methods, such as emails, malicious software, unauthorized programs, apps or non-verified websites.

“Once this threat has entered your computer, hackers can easily get your information, encrypt your information for ransom or use your devices for criminal activities,” Orellana says.

Ensure privacy

An unsecured network jeopardizes your privacy by giving intruders a way to gain access to your online devices and the chance to camp out and watch you surf online in the future. Outsiders can gather information about websites you visit, online transactions and other activities — anything you do over your Wi-Fi network.

Protect devices

If you don’t secure your network with a strong password, it’s not just your data that is at risk. Hackers can take advantage of weaknesses in connected devices such as smartphones, computers and smart home gadgets. If someone hacks your phone through your in-home network, your phone is potentially vulnerable everywhere you take it.

This opening can lead to someone stealing anything on your phone: Texts, photos, emails, search history, future data, etc. Unauthorized control over devices that may allow for spying or manipulation and installation of malware that disrupts device functionality or makes future attacks possible

Prevent network intrusions

On an insecure Wi-Fi network, attackers can interfere with network traffic to redirect users to harmful websites, insert unwanted content into web pages or execute man-in-the-middle attacks. Such manipulation can result in data theft, disruptions of online activities (such as a denial of service) and other issues.

Avoid bandwidth hijacking

One other potential issue is bandwidth hijacking. If you live in an apartment building or in a condo building and your Wi-Fi connection has slowed down and you can’t figure out why, it’s possible a neighbor is hijacking your network. Bandwidth hijacking occurs when unauthorized users connect to your network and consume a large portion of your internet bandwidth, slowing down your connection speed.

Protect your reputation and avoid legal consequences

Attackers can use an unsecured Wi-Fi network to conduct illegal activities. If these activities are traced back to your network and linked to your identity, it could harm your reputation and expose you to potential legal issues.

Expert tips to secure your home Wi-Fi network

Implement strong security measures to stay safe. The expert tips below will help you protect your home network and safeguard your personal information from potential threats.

Change the default router settings as soon as possible. Many routers come with default passwords that are well-known and easily exploited by attackers. Experts recommend creating strong, unique passwords using a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters, avoiding easily guessable information like birthdays or common words. Regularly update your Wi-Fi password. Also, rename your network’s default Service Set Identifier (SSID) to a unique name that doesn’t reveal any personal information

Debrup Ghosh, cybersecurity expert who is the principal product manager at F5, Inc., in San Francisco, shares a cautionary tale about a friend who was selling a house and had several groups visit during an open house. The next morning, “he couldn’t log into his home Wi-Fi because someone had changed the credentials to the network,” Ghosh says.

Once you are done changing your router settings, make sure to log out of the administrator account. Staying logged in as administrator allows you to change passwords and manage network security settings.

If a hacker gains access to your administrator account, they could compromise your network and connected devices.

Wi-Fi Protected Access 3 (WPA3) is the newest encryption standard for Wi-Fi networks, offering improved security compared to its predecessor, WPA2. Experts suggest enabling WPA3 encryption on your router if it supports this standard. Older routers that only support WPA or WEP are not secure, so experts recommend getting a new router to keep your information secure.

Many people place their router in a random place in their home, but computer experts suggest positioning it in a central location. This setup offers several benefits, such as increased speed, improved device connectivity and enhanced network security.

“By having the router in the center of the house, it is difficult for the signal to leave the limits of the home, and thus, other people will not be able to access it,” Orellana says

Keeping your router’s firmware up to date is another step to take for enhanced security. Before updating your router, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommends visiting the manufacturer’s website to check for a newer version of router software. If there is one, you should be able to download it. To stay informed about the latest version, you can register your router with the manufacturer and sign up for updates.

Another strategy to consider employing for Wi-Fi security is adding a firewall. A firewall is another obstacle for others who may try to access your network. It adds an extra layer of security, helping to prevent viruses, malware and even hackers. Most routers have built-in firewalls, so check your settings to ensure that you have your firewall turned on.

Some router features are convenient but can compromise your network security. Experts recommend turning off remote management, Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) and Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) features.

Remote management allows anyone not directly connected to your Wi-Fi network to access your router settings. This feature should be turned off unless you need remote access when away from home.

WPS allows devices to connect to the internet by simply pressing a button on the router instead of entering the Wi-Fi password.

Finally, UPnP enables your devices to automatically discover and connect with each other on the network, which can also pose security risks.

Setting up a guest network is another smart security measure. It not only limits access to your primary network by restricting the number of people with the password but also ensures that if a guest’s device carries malware, it won’t spread to your primary network or devices.

Regularly review the connected devices in your router’s settings to confirm that you recognize all of them. If you notice any unfamiliar or suspicious devices, disconnect them and change your Wi-Fi password. After updating your password, you’ll have to reconnect all your previously connected devices.

A virtual private network (VPN) hides your IP address and online activity, including browsing data. While VPNs are the most beneficial when connecting to public networks, they also add an extra layer of security and privacy to your network. Although free VPNs are available, choosing a paid VPN will provide you with complete security and privacy features, enhancing your cybersecurity.

Can AI prevent cyber attacks?

Technology experts expect advancements in AI and machine learning will soon enhance the security of Wi-Fi networks. Dr. Orellana says that AI helps find potential threats and vulnerabilities in devices and networks by detecting abnormal behavior patterns and monitoring real-time traffic for suspicious activity. It can also analyze events and audit logs to recognize and alert network administrators of unusual patterns that may show a security threat.

However, as AI technology advances, it could also aid hackers in cracking Wi-Fi passwords more effectively.

“There are pros and cons with AI in terms of Wi-Fi security. I believe potential attackers will be able to use AI to break passwords much quicker than traditional methods, therefore getting into your network at a faster rate,” says Gregg Smith, CEO of Technology Advancement Center (TAC). “On the pro side, I hope one day, AI is able to change passwords and upgrade your firmware automatically, so the burden is eliminated from the customer.”

Bottom line: Protect your home from Wi-Fi hackers

Unfortunately, no one can assure you your Wi-Fi network is 100% secure. Cybercriminals can almost always find new ways to exploit vulnerabilities in even the most popular Wi-Fi network providers. However, the tips above will help you implement the essential recommended security measures.