How-to Security
How to Secure Your Home Router: A Settings Checklist
The router settings that matter most for security, in order: admin password, WPA3, updates, remote access, WPS, UPnP and guest Wi-Fi, plus two that don't help.
Section
Security
Practical, prioritized steps for keeping a home router and the devices behind it secure, and what to check before trusting a router long term.
Start here
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Comparison Security
Parental Controls: Router, Device or DNS? Where to Set Them Up
Where to set up parental controls: on the child's phone or tablet, on your router, or with a family DNS filter, what each one covers, and how to combine them.
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Troubleshooting Security
Think Your Router Was Hacked? What to Check and What to Do
The signs of a hacked router that FBI and CISA advisories describe, and what to do in order, from checking DNS settings to a reset or replacement.
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Guide Security
VPN on Your Router: When It's Worth It and When It Isn't
What a VPN on your router does, why it helps smart TVs and consoles that can't run VPN apps, what you need, and when per-device apps are simpler.
Understand
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Guide Security
Guest and IoT Networks: Isolating Devices You Don't Trust
Why NIST suggests a separate network for smart home devices, how a guest network keeps visitors off your main network, and how to set one up safely.
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Guide Security
How to Find Your Wi-Fi Password (Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android)
How to see your Wi-Fi password on a Windows PC, iPhone, iPad or Mac, share it from Android, or find it on your router when no device is connected.
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Comparison Security
WPA2 vs WPA3: Which Wi-Fi Security Should You Use?
WPA3 stops attackers guessing your Wi-Fi password offline and protects past traffic. When to use WPA3-only, when to use mixed mode, and what WPA2 still does well.
Fix problems
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How-to Security
How to Change Your Wi-Fi Password
Change your Wi-Fi password in a few minutes: where the setting lives on ASUS, NETGEAR and TP-Link routers, how to pick a strong one, and reconnecting devices.
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How-to Security
How to See Who's on Your Wi-Fi (and Remove Them)
Find the list of connected devices in your router or its app, work out which device is which, and remove anyone who shouldn't be there by changing the password.
Topics we cover
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Router security
Securing a home router — credentials, firmware updates, remote access, UPnP, encryption and segmentation.
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Network segmentation
Guest networks, IoT isolation and VLANs on home routers.
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Wi-Fi encryption
WPA2, WPA3 and transition mode — what each protects against and device compatibility.
Recently published or updated
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Comparison Security
Parental Controls: Router, Device or DNS? Where to Set Them Up
Where to set up parental controls: on the child's phone or tablet, on your router, or with a family DNS filter, what each one covers, and how to combine them.
Published
-
Guide Security
VPN on Your Router: When It's Worth It and When It Isn't
What a VPN on your router does, why it helps smart TVs and consoles that can't run VPN apps, what you need, and when per-device apps are simpler.
Published
-
Guide Security
How to Find Your Wi-Fi Password (Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android)
How to see your Wi-Fi password on a Windows PC, iPhone, iPad or Mac, share it from Android, or find it on your router when no device is connected.
Published
-
Troubleshooting Security
Think Your Router Was Hacked? What to Check and What to Do
The signs of a hacked router that FBI and CISA advisories describe, and what to do in order, from checking DNS settings to a reset or replacement.
Published