Your Wi-Fi network is a gateway to your personal data and devices. You can keep your Wi-Fi network safe by creating a strong password you won’t forget and sharing it only through safe methods. If an unauthorized person gets access to your Wi-Fi network, they pose a serious security threat to your online privacy and can use your internet to perform illegal activities. Here are six tips for creating, remembering, and sharing a Wi-Fi password.
Create a Long, Complex Password
Wi-Fi networks are susceptible to brute-force attacks, which use trial and error to break into your network and gain access to your data and devices. By using such methods, thousands of passwords can be fired at a Wi-Fi network until one eventually allows access. That means shorter and simpler passwords are easier to break than longer and more complex ones. The good news is that adding more length and complexity to a password can make it exponentially more challenging for any intrusion.
You should have a longer password that contains a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, symbols, and numbers to maximize Wi-Fi network security. Most experts recommend having a Wi-Fi password that is more than eight characters long. Some government agencies with highly sensitive data require their employees to have passwords of at least 15 characters. Symbols and numbers in a password further mitigate the threat of data theft, phishing, and other malicious attacks.
Avoid Common Words or Personal Information
The point of creating a secure password is that no one should be able to guess it, which means you should stay away from common words. Passwords such as “mypassword” or “12345” are easy targets. Using personal information in your password also isn’t a great idea, since someone could find that information online.
The most commonly used personal information in Wi-Fi passwords includes birth dates, usernames, street addresses, and pet names. If your password is straightforward, it may not require sophisticated hacking methods to gain access, since someone could guess it in a few attempts. In addition to creating a strong password, you can also secure your Wi-Fi network by upgrading the firmware and limiting the devices connected to it.
Change the Default Password
Most routers or gateways have a default password built in during manufacturing. The password is kept extremely simple to allow easy access during setup. A common mistake by users is to keep using the router’s default password. The default password is written in manuals and available online, so it’s readily available and an easy target for a malicious attacker.
Your router’s signal may be limited, but it still may extend outside your home. Not only can a hacker gain access to your internet connection through the default password, but they can also change it, locking you out of your internet connection. Once they have access, they can download viruses or malware into your network or devices or use your internet connection for illegal purposes. The best routers make it easy for users to change their password through the router console or mobile app.
Use a Password Manager
The best way to remember passwords is not to remember them at all. When you use a password manager, you only need to remember a single password to access all your other passwords. Using a password manager is one of the top cybersecurity practices, but only 39 percent of consumers actually use one.
A major advantage of using a password manager for your Wi-Fi network and other online accounts is that it allows you to create long, complex passwords without worrying about remembering them. The password manager will store the password for you. Some password managers are also built to automatically generate complex passwords. By using the generated password and saving it in the manager account, you no longer need to remember a million passwords. That means not all your accounts are compromised even if one password gets hacked.
Share Your Wi-Fi Password Electronically
There’s no need to write down or message your Wi-Fi password when you can easily share it electronically through your phone or computer. If you have a guest at your home or office, for example, you can share your password electronically so they can connect their device to your Wi-Fi network. Most types of devices won't be able to see the password, keeping it safe. Either way, it’s best to share Wi-Fi passwords only with people you trust.
Strengthen Your Router Admin Account Password
Most routers have separate login credentials for the router’s admin account, which is used to make configuration changes. Upgrading the admin account to a strong password will help further strengthen Wi-Fi network security. Most routers have a simple username and password as default, so you need to manually change the credentials to make it harder for hackers or anyone looking to gain unauthorized access to your Wi-Fi network.