Securing Home Networks

If you or your employees spend some or all of the time working at home and rely on an internet connection, there is a risk of being compromised. Here’s now to mitigate that risk.

The key risk

Often, the biggest threat comes from simple and honest mistakes, like clicking on a scam email. Everything that enters and exits your home wireless network passes through your router, making it essential to secure it. If your router isn’t protected, others could access your network without your knowledge or use your Wi-Fi for free. Other risks include someone gaining access to your devices or an attacker using them in a denial-of-service attack, where multiple computers are linked together to target another system.

How to protect your business and your team

To improve the security of your home network and protect your business, there are several key steps you can take, such as:

• Changing the default login details to a secure, business-specific username and password. Many routers come with default login credentials set by the manufacturer, and these are often the same for all devices of the same model.
• Renaming your home wireless network to make it harder for attackers to identify your router’s make and model, which could expose vulnerabilities they might exploit to access your network.
• Making sure your network name doesn’t contain any personal information, like your name or home address, to prevent others from identifying it as yours.
• Setting a strong, unique password for your wireless network, or consider using a memorable passphrase for added security.

Taking these precautions will significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access to your network and devices.

Email password compromise

If someone gains access to your email password, they can cause significant damage. They might also gain access to your social media accounts, as many people use the same password across multiple platforms. Sensitive business information, such as work documents, pricing, or contracts, may be exposed. Additionally, the attacker could send fraudulent emails from your account, containing malware or phishing links. They may even use the “forgot password” feature on other accounts to lock you out. The consequences of a compromised email account can be severe and long-lasting.

Here are some tips for protecting your business email:

• Use a unique password for every online account. Reusing passwords makes you more vulnerable.
• Make sure your passwords are long and strong. Consider using passphrases made up of random words and avoid using personal information like birthdays or addresses.
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on all accounts for an extra layer of security.
• Avoid using easily guessable personal information in your passwords, such as pet names or family details, as attackers often check these first.
• If you struggle to remember passwords, use a password manager to securely store and manage them.
• Remember, never share your passwords with anyone, even family, friends, or colleagues.

Keep all security up to date

It’s essential to keep all devices connected to your home network secure by applying software updates as soon as they’re available. This includes mobile devices, computers, printers, smart home devices, and anything else that accesses the internet through your router. Operating system and app updates often address newly discovered security vulnerabilities that hackers could exploit to infiltrate your network. By keeping your software up to date, you’re protected against the latest threats.

Additionally, many updates improve overall system performance, enhance user experience, and fix bugs, which can increase the reliability of your devices. It’s also important to set your devices to update automatically whenever possible, reducing the chances of overlooking critical updates.

Enable a firewall

A firewall acts as a barrier between your home network and the outside world, monitoring and controlling incoming and outgoing traffic. It helps prevent unauthorized access to your devices by blocking potentially harmful data. Most modern routers come with a built-in firewall that’s configured to block common threats, but you need to make sure that the firewall is enabled and properly configured.

You can adjust settings to customize the firewall’s behavior, allowing or blocking certain types of traffic based on your preferences. A well-configured firewall can prevent cybercriminals from exploiting open ports or gaining remote access to your network. Regularly check the firewall settings and make sure it’s actively working to monitor and defend against any suspicious activity.

Create a guest Wi-Fi network

Setting up a guest Wi-Fi network is an excellent way to secure your home business devices from potential threats posed by less secure personal devices. Most modern routers allow you to create a separate guest network that isolates your main business network from other devices in your home.

By connecting personal devices, like smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs, to the guest network, you limit the chances of them interacting with your business laptop, desktop, or phone. This setup ensures that even if your personal devices become compromised, your critical business devices remain secure. Make sure to set a strong, unique password for the guest network and disable access to your primary network resources to further isolate the devices.

Next steps

• Depending on the cost, consider giving employees devices such as laptops or phones that are for work use only.
• Be aware the ‘internet of things’ is across much of our lives and will continue to be so. If you don’t need the features that use the internet, like voice activation, disable them.
• Be aware any new devices you buy probably come with a default password that might be easily found on the internet.
• If you’re unsure, get professional IT help.

Securing your home network is essential to protect your personal and business data from cyber threats and ensure that unauthorized users cannot access your devices or sensitive information.