I've Accessed the Mainframe

One of the many disadvantages that people have today is that almost everything is involved with technology. This leaves us with a lot of vulnerabilities regarding who can access our information digitally. Obviously, no one really wants a stranger to gain access to their personal information, which is why it is important for people to make sure they have a secure network, especially on those who own smart gadgets such as Alexa or Google Home. Here’s some of the things you might want to consider doing to your router in order to make sure hackers aren’t getting into your business:

Updates. If you have a newer router it probably does updates automatically. Others, you might have to update the firmware manually. But if it’s not an automatic process, it is important to check them every few months. In order to do that, you’ll need to access the router admin page, which requires the IP address of the device as well as the admin password. This information can be found on the user guide of the router brand you own. If you don’t have or can’t find this information, there are many sites that can help you find them. Once you’re in the router admin page, go to “Advanced” or “Management” to look for software updates. If there are any updates available, download them, and if there is an option to do automatic updates, turn it on as well.

Encryption. If you require a password in order to connect, then you already have it set up. But wait, there are many types of Wi-Fi encryptions. The most common Wi-Fi security is Wi-Fi Protected Access 3 (WPA3). I you are shopping for a new one make sure it support WPA3. to check your encryption settings, go to the router’s admin menu and select “Wireless” or “Security” menu, and select “WPA3.” If your router is not WPA3 compatible, the next safest option is WPA2. Oh, and don’t choose “Open,” which means no security at all; never a good idea.

Firewall. Almost every router in from the past decade has a built-in firewall. However, not every router labels their firewall as “firewall,” but rather “NAT filtering” or “services blocking” which can be found on the router’s advanced settings. Even though these settings let you customize incoming and outcoming data, be careful when tweaking it. The built-in firewall is good enough to protect you from hackers, but changing some of the settings might make you even more vulnerable. If you're ever in doubt, call your internet provider and request for a trained technician that will give you the most optimized settings for your device(s).

Remote Access. If you’ve talked with a technician on through your phone, you might know what “remote administration” means. Many hackers and scammers can use remote access to easily gain access to your home network(s). Fear not, there are also setting in router located under “Remote Administration” where you can disable those settings.