ULTIMATE NETWORKING SECURITY GUIDE
JUST HOW SECURE is your home network? These days, it’s a crucial part of our everyday lives, connecting all our home devices to each other and the wider internet. But it’s also a target for hackers and other nefarious folk. By default, the router or modem router you’re using will be set up with convenience rather than security in mind, which puts you at risk of being attacked.
Your network is primarily vulnerable to attack from two vectors: first, by a physical incursion from someone within the range of your Wi-Fi network. You’d be surprised at its range—try wandering out front or back to see how easy it is for your network to reach into a neighbor’s yard or basement, or the sidewalk. If your network isn’t protected by strong encryption (and an even stronger password), then you’re at risk of at best sharing your internet connection with a freeloader, or at worst, opening your network to spies, hackers, and more besides.
Then there’s the risk of attack from outside your network. Did you know your router is configured by default to be accessed remotely? If you haven’t changed the password that came with it, chances are you could have already been breached by a drive-by hacker, scanning IP addresses and ports for vulnerabilities. This in turn can lead to malware such as Trojans getting on to your system, effectively providing hackers with an open door to your network and its resources.
Thankfully, armed with the right tools and techniques, you can close your network to attack from both outside and in. Over the following pages, we will focus on locking down your gateway to the internet, namely your router. We’ll help you determine if it’s time to get a new model, plus show you what settings add extra layers of security to place a host of hurdles in any hacker’s way.
Once your router is secured, we’ll reveal how to quickly check all your devices are secure, plus show you how you can securely connect to your home network while on the road as if you were sitting at home. Settle down, strap in and prepare to give any
