WiFi networks have become the norm, but they pose some security challenges: they can allow an intruder to access your network, the machines connected to it, and their traffic. A malicious person can conduct his attack from a distance, in complete discretion. However, strengthening the security of your WiFi network is not just about changing your network key, as you will see. Here are some tips to improve the protection of your network against possible intrusions.

Change the name of your SSID network

By default, your internet box diffuses a name that betrays its origin. Each operator has its name, so this gives an essential indication to a potential hacker who will try to exploit a flaw in your hardware.

Why not try to confuse everyone instead? Choose a different name – whether it’s something that has absolutely nothing to do with it, or why not a name that looks like another operator’s box. It will not improve your security, but it will undoubtedly waste some time for a potential hacker.

Keep your router up to date

It goes without saying that if there are loopholes, manufacturers tend to fix them and offer regular updates. However, the update is not always automatic on all models. You must, therefore, connect to your administration space.

Choose a strong password for your WiFi network

In general, your operator’s box manages your WiFi network. It means that in general, your operator has already assigned you a very complicated connection key that does not have to be changed. Unless your box is in common areas and you want to prevent anyone from connecting with the code pasted on the box label.

Anyway, if you change it, opt for something that is both mnemonic and secure. In this article, we give you some wise advice on choosing better passwords. One of them is to build your passwords as sentences (sequences of pronounceable words) rather than a series of numbers, letters, and special characters.

Choose the highest encryption compatible with your devices

WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) is the oldest encryption method – and is now almost as recommended as leaving your network without a password (whether in 64 or 128-bit version). It is a method to be avoided in any case.

WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) is a series of standards designed to improve security. WPA I was quickly superseded by WPA2, and more recently, after the discovery of critical protocol vulnerabilities, the WiFi Alliance launched WPA3. The problem is that this last technology is still slow to become more democratic.

TKIP is the old encryption method used by the WPA protocol.

AES is a secure encryption standard used by the military and others.

The WPA/WPA2-PSK (TKIP+AES) mode is not, contrary to popular belief, the most secure method available on your router. This hybrid mode combines the two versions of WPA and encryption protocols (TKIP and AES) for more excellent compatibility. However, it allows hackers to take advantage of the vulnerabilities of the WPA I protocol – knowing that the WPA 2 protocol is now vulnerable too. And it also allows you to use TKIP, less secure encryption than AES.

Therefore, if your devices allow it, we recommend that you choose the WPA2-PSK (AES) mode on your router since WPA3 is still slow to appear.