A fundamental piece for our connections is the router . It is the device that will allow you to connect many other devices and have access to the network. This means that, in the event of a problem, many computers can be affected. Therefore, we must always keep security in mind and reduce the risk of intruders. We are going to give some essential guidelines to achieve this.
What to do so that the router is always protected
These tips must be taken into account both for the main device that we have, as well as if we are using an old router to use it as a repeater or any other function. In all cases it must be protected and thus reduce the possibility of a hacker to gain access and put privacy at risk.
Do not leave the router as it comes from the factory
Something very important is to change the values that come from the factory with the router. If we keep them, it can facilitate the entry of any intruder. For example we talk about changing the name of the network, security settings, passwords …
Normally the name of the router will reflect the model and even the telephone operator that we are using. This could help attackers search for potential vulnerabilities or carry out a strategy to break into the device and compromise security.
Prevent vulnerabilities
Of course another essential point is to avoid security flaws . Vulnerabilities are present in all types of devices, but they are especially sensitive if we are talking about a router, since it is permanently connected to the network and also serves to establish connection with many other devices.
Our advice is to always update the firmware of the device. We must never leave an outdated version, which may have vulnerabilities. This must also be applied to any other device that we have connected to the device.
Always use strong passwords
Another very important issue is to use keys that are really secure . Here we must mention both the Wi-Fi network and the password to access the router and its configuration. We must never leave the one that comes from the factory, but we must also generate a really strong one.
There are many methods of stealing passwords on the Internet. A safe one is one that is totally random, that has different symbols, numbers and letters (both uppercase and lowercase). Also, that key should not be used anywhere.
It will also be essential that the encryption we use is adequate. Sometimes the security problem that attackers take advantage of is that we are using outdated encryption, such as WEP. We must always use a safe, current one, such as WPA-3 or, failing that, WPA-2.
Also protect connected devices
But it is not only necessary to protect the router itself, but also any device that we have connected. If there are vulnerabilities on other computers, they could use them as a bridge to reach others. We are talking about computers, mobile phones, tablets … But also what is known as the Internet of Things.
We must apply the tips that we have mentioned above. We must always have good passwords, updated equipment and minimize the possible vulnerabilities that may appear.
Constant review
But something that we should not ignore is the fact of maintaining a periodic review . If we want to avoid intruders in the router, something fundamental is to check that there are precisely no unknown computers connected to the device.
For this we can enter the router, in its configuration, and see which devices are connected at that moment or which have been connected recently. Also check that the encryption is adequate, that it is up to date and, in addition, change the password from time to time.