Safer Internet Day – How to effectively secure your WiFi network? » The economic and political letter of PACA

WiFi has become the default way to access the Internet, and once WiFi is working properly, we tend to forget about security and keep our default settings.

On the occasion of Safer Internet Day, what if you took new measures to ensure that your internet connection is properly secured? WiFi encryption, on-board security, guest network and connected objects… What are the best practices to adopt today?

Above all, it is necessary to realize the extent of the threats to your devices and data and that securing your home must be taken seriously. Because unfortunately, a poorly secured WiFi network does not stop at your door and can endanger your whole family.

1. Use strong passwords: First, the choice of your passwords is essential. According to the recommendations of the ANSSI (National Agency for the Security of Information Systems), an effective password contains between 12 and 16 characters composed of upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters. And above all, it must be unique for each online account. To store them all without having to remember them, use a password manager. It can even offer you perfectly secure passwords.

2. Change the default password for your devices: Changing the default passwords for each device (computers, tablet, telephone, internet box, router, etc.) is fundamental for your security. If one of your products does not offer this option, it is imperative to change it immediately. Otherwise, it becomes a doorway for all the threats that target your home and a danger to every one of your devices and every member of your family. Changing your password should be the first step in setting up your connected devices or WiFi system.

3. Change the name of your WiFi network: In the same vein, also change the name of your WiFi network and its password. Because, there are several default implementations of WiFi passwords, more or less robust, and easily hackable, without forgetting that it is displayed directly on your box! Changing the name of your WiFi will allow you to better identify it among your neighbours’ networks. For added security, this network should remain your personal connection. Never share the password with anyone.

4. Enable Guest Network: It is necessary to create a real separate network for your guests. It allows you to give Internet access to all your guests without them being able to access your personal network. From now on, your main WiFi password remains secret and can be complex. You no longer have to communicate it, because it is the Guest network that you will share in a very simple way using a QR code.

5. Check the security standard of the WiFi installed: The use of “WPA + WPA2” is the most widespread but is not very secure for compatibility reasons. As for the powerful “WPA3”, it is rarely selected by default because it is too recent. The ideal is to use the mixed mode “WPA2 + WPA3” which ensures good compatibility and allows the use of the recent “WPA3” with compatible products.

6. Isolate IoT: Connected devices called “IoT” (Internet of Things), which most of the time use 2.4GHz WiFi, slow down your network and use old security protocols (WPA). This imposes compromises in terms of WiFi speed and security. If possible, isolate these devices into a dedicated WiFi network. This option is now available on some newer WiFi systems.

7. Use an integrated security suite: The security suites integrated into routers or WiFi systems are now very efficient and offer you a much higher level of protection than traditional solutions, by pointing out cyber threats, without slowing down your network. This is true 360° protection, embedded in the center of your network, to protect all your devices connected to this WiFi against cyber threats, even before they are on your network. Thus, all your connected devices are protected, even those on which you cannot install a specific cybersecurity solution such as connected household appliances or IoT. It comes down to centralizing and unifying your security strategy, no matter what devices you use.

Safer Internet Day is the perfect opportunity to take the time to protect our WiFi networks and therefore our home, our data and our loved ones. These few tips, easy to access, will allow you to connect without fear on all your devices, in complete security.