Best Practices for Securing Your Wireless Router.

Now that you’ve chosen the perfect router, it’s time to configure your settings. One of the most important measures you should take when you set up your router is configuring your security settings.

Here are seven measures that you can take to protect your network from unwanted guests:

1. Change the Default Username and Password

This should be your first step in setting up a new wireless router. The default administrative username and password that come with most routers are simple and well-known to hackers. To change these settings, refer to your owner’s manual on how to log in to the router’s administrative console, which is generally done through a web browser. Not sure if your new password is strong enough? Read this post on picking a crack-resistant password.

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Choosing the Right Router.

With the winter holidays quickly approaching, you may be asking yourself how you will support all of those new computer devices on your wish list. If you are looking for a wireless router for you or anyone else this holiday season, there are a couple questions you should ask yourself before making a router purchase.

Do you need a router?

If you only have a desktop. Don’t bother. Routers are used to direct data in a computer network, so multiple devices can connect to the Internet and communicate with each other. These devices include tablets, gaming consoles, computers, etc. If you just have a desktop computer, you can simply connect it directly to your DSL modem.

If you’re a multi-device user. Like most Internet-users today, you’re going to need a router. So keep reading.

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LAN connection

A LAN connection, or local area network connection, is a network of interconnected computers in a close geographic area (such as a home or office) using network media. The computers on the network can share files, programs and printers.

LAN port

A LAN port is an opening on a piece of computer network hardware used to connect a computer to a network using a wire. It is also known as an Ethernet port, network connection or network port.

single-band router

Internet can either be dual-band or single-band. Single-band routers broadcast a single wireless  signal on a 2.4 GHz band.

dual-band router

Internet can either be dual-band or single-band. Dual-band routers broadcast two simultaneous signals, one on a 2.4 GHz and the other on a 5 GHz band.

 

Mbps

Mbps, or megabits per second, is a measure of data transfer speed. It is often used to measure Internet network transmissions, so products with a higher Mbps yield a faster Internet speed.

computer network

A computer network is an interconnected collection of computers and other hardware (such as routers and printers) that can communicate and share resources and information.

DHCP client table

A DHCP client table lists all devices connected to a wireless router.

guest network

A guest network is a small section of a computer network that is used by temporary visitors. Typically, it provides a full connection to the Internet but restricts the visitor’s access to internal websites, files and hardware usage. It also protects the computers on the network from being infected by malicious software applications that may exist on the visitor’s computer.