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8 Ways To Keep Your Internet Connection Secure

The internet has become an essential part of people’s lives. Many people use the internet for banking, social media, sharing vital information, accessing the cloud, and browsing, among other things. As a result, it’s extremely important to secure these connections because of cybersecurity threats. 

With cybercrime on the rise, you’d want to make sure your internet connection is as secure as possible. This is also why it’s very dangerous to access public Wi-Fi networks. 

That said, here are some ways you can make your internet connection more secure. 

  1.  Use Strong Passwords 

If you have a weak password, there’s a chance that hackers can guess the password and access your network. Therefore, you can’t rely on the default password that comes with your router. Instead, you ought to change your password and set a stronger one.  

Additionally, you have to change the name of your designated network or the Service Set Identifier (SSID). A great password usually has a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters. Just make sure to remember it.  

If you have a reliable service provider, such as Internet provider Mississauga, they can help you with setting a strong password and changing the SSID during or after router installation. 

  1. Use Network Encryption 

Now, encryption is a great way to secure your network. However, not all routers come with encryption set up. So, you may need to do it yourself. Nonetheless, setting up encryption for your network increases its security level by a significant margin. It’s best to opt for Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) 2 or WPA 3 as they are the most recent and secure systems. 

  1. Keep Router Software Up To Date 

Now, as with antivirus software, you must keep your router firmware up to date too. You constantly need to update the system software to ensure that it’s equipped to deal with sophisticated intruders.  

Without up-to-date software, your systems can be vulnerable to a cyber attack. Remember, with technology, things can go obsolete quickly. That’s true not only for anti-malware or anti-virus software but also for your router software or any computer for that matter. 

  1. Secure Connection With VPNs 

In this day and age, most people understand the importance of their privacy on the internet. So, some may already be familiar with Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) because they allow you to browse securely.  

This keeps hackers away because VPNs establish unique encryption that creates a barrier between you and the hacker. It does this by creating an alternative internet protocol (IP) address. So, even if a hacker gets through to your router, they won’t be able to access the data on your device. If you aren’t already using a VPN, you need to get one as soon as possible. 

  1. Use A Firewall 

For optimal protection, use multiple firewalls while browsing to protect your devices from malware, viruses, spyware, and other intrusions. A firewall blocks intruders from accessing your internet but doesn’t bar connected devices from using the internet. So, you need to make sure that a firewall is up, as some routers may not have this feature turned on when they’re first installed.  

Also, if the router doesn’t have a firewall, you can always install one for your home or business. 

  1. Change the IP address 

Every router has a unique IP address. The downside of having the default IP address unchanged is that high-level hackers can use sophisticated means of harvesting the IP address.  

Change the IP address by accessing the router settings and then substituting a few numbers. Thereafter, access your Wi-Fi using the new details. 

  1. Disable Remote Access 

Some routers come with a remote access feature. Certain applications also require access to the internet with remote access capability. Some people prefer their routers left in remote access mode because they want admin-level access to the internet even if they’re away. But that’s not a wise thing to do.  

Instead, switch off the remote access feature if you’re not using it. Hackers can use this vulnerability to access your servers. However, if you have devices that need this feature, you can switch it on when needed. By keeping it switched off, you reduce the risk of hackers gaining access to your network. 

  1. Hide Your Network 

Whenever you receive a router from a service provider, it will automatically assign your network an SSID. As mentioned, you need to change this SSID as soon as possible for security reasons. But, sometimes, simply changing the name of your network may not be enough. That’s why you have to go a step further and hide your SSID. If the network is hidden, it becomes hard for hackers to access the network. Only those who have the password and know the SSID will get access. 

Another great idea is to create a guest network. This should be hidden as well. With a guest network, you can rest assured that a hacker won’t be able to access the major network with all the shared folders, files, and information on that major network. So, when visitors come, you simply give them the Guest network details. Also, make sure that it has WPA 3 grade encryption. 

Conclusion 

Ensuring your internet connections are as secure as possible is critical to preventing intruders from accessing your data and other confidential information. With hackers becoming more cunning and sophisticated, you need to be a step ahead by upgrading your network security and implementing stringent measures such as those discussed above.  

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