How to lock down an insecure wireless network router

It's nearly always possible to find a router's default username and password online, depending on the brand and model. This means you can connect to the network, or tap into the router settings and lock out anyone from the network — even the owners. Worse still, hackers could monitor the traffic going in and out of the router, such as passwords and credit card information.

Change the default settings at the earliest opportunity with a strong username (if possible) and password.

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WPA2 isn't perfect, but it's the best solution outside of the enterprise. It allows you to set a strong password — with letters, numbers, and other characters — that can be near-uncrackable to attackers. The stronger the password, the harder it is for anyone to jump on your wi-fi network.

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Every networking device has a MAC address, which uniquely identifies that device. By setting the MAC Address Filter, it means devices with pre-set MAC addresses can join the network — even if a password has been set. This means you can set only your smartphone, notebook, and other devices to the network, and no other device can join — even if they have the correct wifi password.

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Updating the software for your router on a regular basis squashes known security bugs and vulnerabilities. These patches not only offer fixes, but also periodically you may get new software features that can enhance your network's security. These firmware patches are generally available from the router manufacturer's website.

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Universal Plug-and-Play (UPnP) has been criticized by the security community for allowing bugs and security flaws that can give unauthorized access to networks. Disabling UPnP can mitigate these attacks.

Also, if you have remote access to your router, disable this. It's yet another vector in which attackers can try to gain access to your network. Very few people, unless you're an enterprise network administrator, need remote access to networking devices.

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Some routers provide guest access. While this function often separates out your home network and your guests who use the temporary access, some hackers have been able to tunnel through the security wall into other parts of the network. If you really want to keep out people who shouldn't be on your network, disable this feature.

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Your network router can be the first line of defense to your network. You may not think you can be hit with a flood of traffic or a denial-of-service attack, but it can happen. Of course, having a firewall and other internet security on individual devices is helpful as well, but a router firewall can prevent some things from getting in.

At very least, turn on the firewall for both IPv4 (and if you have it, IPv6). If you can filter anonymous requests, also enable this feature.

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Wi-Fi Protected Setup is not secure, despite what you might have heard. A simple way of connecting devices to your network, perhaps, but in reality it's an insecure feature. WPA2 security can be good enough if you're at home. (Enterprises may need a server-based system.) If you have WPA2 or any other password-based security enabled, you may not need to disable Wi-Fi Protected Setup. In many cases, it's one or the other.

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Most modern routers have two frequency band settings: 2.4GHz and 5GHz. The latter band is far shorter-ranged than its predecessor, without any significant compromise in network speed or reliability. If you live in a small home, or a populated neighborhood, you can set your router to 5GHz so it covers your home but no further. That alone makes it more secure against unauthorized access.

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OpenDNS offers malware and botnet protection, and Web filtering for home and family users. This helps to prevent hackers or malware getting access to your computers by tricking you into visiting sites that are insecure. You can sign up for OpenDNS on its website. Simply plug in the DNS addresses (there are often two -- one for primary and one for backup) on your router's setup page.

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