When you set up a network, your router has a default administrator password. When you open the local web page used to manage your router, which is usually the local IP address or router manufacturer's name, change the default password to something harder to guess. If someone knows your router's password, they can quickly change settings to allow themselves better access.
You can change both the user name and password whenever you want. Don't lose them, though. Otherwise, you'll need to manually reset the router, which forces you to set up your network again. This works well for both wired and wireless networks.
With a wireless network, encryption is key. This is what prevents those outside the network from seeing any information transmitted on the network itself. The two most common types are WPA and WEP. In order for this to work, all networked devices must support the encryption method. Change your encryption settings through the router settings or through your computer's network settings window.
By default, your router chooses an SSID, or service set identifier. This is basically the name of your network. Anyone trying to hack in can easily tell whether this has been changed or not. Any networks that use the default SSID become prime targets. Hackers see these networks as less secure and less likely to have any encryption. You have full control over the SSID. Before you start connecting devices, change the SSID in your router settings.
While changing SSID settings, change how the SSID is broadcast. Unless you have a public network, the SSID does not need to be broadcast. If others don't know the network exists, they won't hack in. Inside your home, broadcasting isn't necessary. Only people with the SSID will be able to connect.
If you are looking for a more advanced security method for your home network, try MAC address filtering. Every device that connects to your network has a unique MAC, which is used to identify your device. Though this isn't hack proof, it does deter some hackers. All you need to do is choose to only allow specific MAC addresses to connect to the network. Without the proper MAC address, a device cannot connect.
