Wireless Internet is the new best friend of the millennial generation. These are people who are used to being constantly connected without being physically connected. The wireless network makes this paradox possible. Many households have wireless Internet access so multiple laptops can access the web from any room. Businesses offer it to lure in customers trying to work in an interesting setting. University campuses make WiFi available to students and faculty. Corporations have facility-wide WiFi networks to facilitate work. As much as these networks make work and play easier and keep it mobile, they also have become uniquely susceptible to outside attacks. You can take a few small steps to minimize the risk of hackers accessing your network and information.
The first, and most obvious, suggestion is to set a strong password on your network. Avoid things like “password” or your last name or address. Attackers can usually place a network within a fairly small range, and they should never be able to get your password off your junk mail. Encrypt it with a seemingly random series of numbers and letters and your network will be much safer than your neighbors’ network. You can also hide the name of your network, the Service Set Identifier. If potential hackers are unable to see that there is a network, they won’t even try to break into it.
Some models of routers offer the option of reducing the power of the transmitter. This will reduce the range of its signal. As long as it reaches to the parts of the house where you are likely to sit and surf, there is no need to stretch your signal out into the street and into the neighbor’s garage. It is also a good idea to disable remote administration of your network. It is unlikely you are going to need to utilize it so why tempt those who may use that function to hack into your private home network?