Is Your Home Network Protected Against Cyberattacks?

Yahoo. LinkedIn. Equifax. Zoom. Facebook. What do these big-name companies (and many more not included on this list) have in common? They’ve all been hacked within the past few years. Cyberattacks are growing more sophisticated and frequent year-over-year, and they don’t just happen to large corporations — they happen to home networks too.

One of the most critical measures you can take in your Dallas, TX, home is securing your home networking system. Keep reading to learn why it’s important and what you can do to safeguard your devices and private information.

SEE ALSO: Does Your Home Networking System Perform at its Best?

 

The Dangers of an Unsecured Network

Today, our homes contain more internet-connected devices than ever before. It’s not only our smartphones and computers that require a wireless connection these days — but also our smart doorbells and smart thermostats and wireless speaker systems, plus many other smart devices.

While smart technology offers unmatched convenience at home, each internet-connected device represents a portal an ambitious hacker could use to breach your home network. And vice versa — someone who hacks your router could gain instant access to all the devices in your home.

Malicious cyberattacks can be devastating. You could have your identity, banking data, or personal medical data stolen. Some hackers may even try to blackmail you by holding your network devices or personal information hostage. These are just a few reasons securing your network is a critical safety measure if you live in a smart home.  

4 Steps You Can Take to Bolster Your Network Security

You can take several steps right now to secure your home network and private data from cyberattacks.

• Change default usernames and passwords. Set a unique username and password for your Wi-Fi connection. Most default passwords are readily available online for hackers to find and use to break into your home network. Additionally, set secure usernames and passwords for individual devices connected to the network.

• Enable firewalls and encryption. Most routers have built-in firewalls to prevent hackers from breaching the network — make sure yours is enabled because many are not always activated by default. Additionally, most modern routers offer an encryption feature that you can activate to prevent anyone from intercepting your private data.

• Update your firmware. Like firewalls and encryption features, most routers don’t auto-update when new firmware updates are released. It’s your responsibility to update your firmware manually when a new version comes out. These updates frequently contain vital security patches that plug vulnerabilities a hacker could exploit.

• Create a guest network. Limit home network access to your immediate household. Create a guest Wi-Fi network for your friends, relatives, and neighbors to use whenever they’re at your house. Having a separate guest network safeguards your primary network and personal information from any viruses, malware, or spyware your guests may unintentionally bring with them.

Have a networking question? Reach out to the team at Custom Media to discuss your current solution and what you can do to improve your networking speed, reliability, and security. Give us a call, fill out an online form, or start a live chat on our website to get started.