5 Tips to Secure WiFi Network from Nosy Neighbors

How many WiFi signals are there in your vicinity depends on the area you live in. Another issue is that your WiFi signals are amongst the many others being broadcasted in the area. Amongst the many houses it is your immediate neighbors who might be looking for free internet connection. Naturally, it will get you worried about how to secure your WiFi network.

Tech experts have come up with a few tips to help you keep nosy neighbors away.

Tips to Secure Your WiFi Network

Given below are 5 powerful tips to keep your neighbors from accessing the WiFi connection.

1. Check for Suspicious Devices

The first thing to check for suspicious devices is your WiFi router. If anyone in your vicinity is sucking out the bandwidth from the WiFi network this is where their device will appear. Unfortunately, not everyone offers such a smooth access to this information. The next place to look for is the WiFi extender, if you have one.

Now, you have a WiFi router connected to a Netgear WiFi extender, you would need to perform Netgear login to search for unauthorized access. Do this to secure your WiFi network against unauthorized access. You can then perform the necessary steps to block access for the said device.

2. Check WiFi Security Settings

If someone is accessing the internet using your WiFi router, chances are they have bypassed the security. So, it is time for you to up the security on the networking device. You have to make changes to the WiFi router and extender (If you have one).

Given below are a few security measures you can follow to secure the WiFi network.

• Use WPA2
  To keep the WiFi network hidden from neighbors, WPA2 security comes in handy. Do not opt for WEP security protocol as it is old and vulnerable to cyberattacks. You can make the changes on the WiFi router as well as the extender.
• Hide the SSID
  If there are too many WiFi connections in your area, hiding your network name is a win-win situation. SSID, or the WiFi network name has to be kept hidden especially if you are using weak network security measures. In the case of a Netgear WiFi extender, you can do this by visiting the IP address 192.168.1.250.
• Turn Off WPS
  WPS (WiFi Protected Setup) is a major vulnerability that lets others access internet at the cost of your WiFi router’s bandwidth. It is also susceptible to Brute Force attacks when using a PIN to validate new connections. The issue arises from how the PIN is processed.The PIN is an 8-digit number. Whenever a new device tries to access internet using the WiFi router, it is checked for validity. Cutting the PIN number in half makes it easy to guess the actual PIN number. Turning off the WPS function helps you keep nosy neighbors away and secure your WiFi network.

3. Change Default Router Credentials 

The WiFi router comes with factory set username and password. So, your WiFi router credentials are the first thing that need to change. Keep in mind to create a unique username for the WiFi router.

Regarding the password, it must be a combination of letters, special characters, alphabets, and numbers. Thus, you can even change the password for your Netgear WiFi extender by going to the Netgear login page. This is an important tip to secure your WiFi network from nosy neighbors.

4. Passphrase or Password

Do you tend to create passwords that contain your first name or last name? Stop doing that. You have to create a password that is not too long or too complicated to remember. If that seems a bit hard then go for the alternative – a passphrase.

So, instead of creating a combination of different letters, numbers, and alphabets you should create a longer passphrase. The passphrase would have more characters and can include a few misnomers to throw off a hacker. This one tip can help secure your WiFi network against not only neighbors but also against cybercriminals.

5. Keep an Eye on It

With seamless internet browsing, we often seem to ignore the fact that others might be accessing internet using the same WiFi router. You should always keep a vigil on who has access to the internet. Check the router and extender admin settings to know the devices accessing internet using your network bandwidth.

Conclusion

To secure your WiFi network you might have to be rude to someone asking for access to it. Keeping these tips in mind will surely help you make the network invisible to nosy neighbors.