Your modem is the gateway to all the devices (computers, tablets and mobile phone) in your home and needs to be secured properly. There is a fundamental problem with almost al modems – they have a default password that anyone can find in a matter of seconds online. Below are some simple steps to secure your modem.
1. Change your administrator password and username for the modem
All modems will let you change your admin password and most will allow you to change your username (don’t use ‘admin’ or ‘administrator’). You should be able to access your modem through your Internet browser. The instructions for access will differ from provider to provider but will either be a web address (http://providername.com) or an IP number (the part that looks kind of like a phone number e.g 192.168.1.1) and instructions can usually be found on the back of the modem, or the box it arrived in, or online.
You don’t need to keep re-entering it so don’t worry if it’s gibberish e.g. Y35uiTr#1w6@ . And yes, I suggest you write it down and keep it somewhere safe. Your house is safer than the Internet.
2. Change the name of your wifi
This is the wifi name that is visible when you search to connect to your wifi from a computer, tablet or mobile phone.
- Do NOT keep the default name of your modem or provider as that makes the job of cyber criminals all that much easier
- Do NOT use your name or any other name or your address as that makes it easy to identify who you are
3. Change the password of your wifi
This is very important. Do NOT use an easy to remember password.
You don’t need to keep re-entering it so don’t worry if it’s gibberish e.g. Y35uiTr#1w6@ . And yes, I suggest you write it down and keep it somewhere safe.
3. Guest access to wifi
If your modem permits a ‘guest’ or ‘visitor’ access to your wifi, enable it. And again, make it gibberish.
By following these simple steps, your modem will now be far more secure – as will you, your family and your work,