How To Optimize Wifi Router Settings

Francis D'sa Jan 16, 2022 17:10:01 IST

Using an Net connexion on a single PC is a pretty simple task that tin can be washed past connecting an Ethernet cablevision, simply  wireless-enabled devices such as smartphones, tablets and laptops require wireless connectivity, which brings in the need for a router. Most users footstep out and buy a wireless router off the shelf and install information technology on their ain. And since wireless routers ordinarily can operate directly out of the box, they are not secured past default. Some routers, such as Belkin, provide a secured wireless network out of the box, whereas routers from other manufacturers ordinarily take open networks and common administrative passwords. This is an open invitation to anyone in the vicinity to simply search and connect to your network with ease, thus jeopardising your data and even utilising your expensive Internet bandwidth.

Change the default password of the router

Here is a step by stride process on how yous should configure the router and prevent intruders from entering into your wireless network. Do note that though routers from various manufacturers have dissimilar interfaces, the settings should be similar. We will be showing you an case using a Linksys router'southward user interface. Perform the following steps later on connecting the router to the PC.

To begin with, check the router's user manual or the sticker on the rear or lower panel of the router for the default IP accost, username and password. It would nearly commonly exist 192.168.0.one or 192.168.1.i. Type this IP address in any Internet browser and y'all should be greeted with the routers master interface, asking you to give in the username and password.

Change the default IP address and set the DHCP accordingly

Modify the default password

In one case you are logged in, change the password. You should consider this mandatory as routers commonly have a common username and countersign and anyone tin can easily make it. Yous should come across the selection in the Administration section. Yous can choose to go ahead with the setup wizard to configure the router or stick to manual configuration. We evidence y'all the manual method.

Change the default IP address

Side by side, yous should ready a local IP address for the router. Past default, the manufacturer uses IP addresses such as 192.168.0.1 or the 192.168.i.1. We recommend that you change 2nd-last section to a random number between 1 and 254. For example, you tin modify it to 192.168.25.1 or to make information technology safer, you lot can change the entire subnet to 10.twenty.xxx.xxx or 172.sixteen.30.xxx to exist safer. This volition now exist your router's default IP address to configure it in future, unless you decide to factory reset the router once again.

Set the DHCP server style to  disable

This is a service built into your router, which automatically assigns an IP address to every computer or device that connects to it. Disabling it volition mean every reckoner or device on the network will have to exist assigned with a static IP address. In this way, if a user has access to the router'southward username and password, he would still take to judge an IP address to enter the network. If you wish to keep it enabled, yous should gear up the IP address range to a minimum. For example, if y'all have 5 devices connecting to your router, ready the DHCP server to give out only five IP addresses. This mode, the sixth device volition not be able to get an IP address and get on the network easily.

Change the channel of the wireless performance appropriately

Set up the wireless network

Caput on to the wireless section. Here you lot should give your wireless network an SSID or a network name. Change the default to something else, only resist putting in sensitive information that can give out details stating that it is your network. And so if an outsider is scanning for a wireless network and sees your SSID, he should not know whose it is.

Set the wireless channel

A wireless channel is the frequency zone of operation for your router'southward wireless network. This ranges from aqueduct 1 to 11 with each aqueduct differing marginally in frequency values to keep them autonomously. This should be done because if you are having other wireless routers in your expanse (or neighborhood), you could be using the same channel they are using, which will cause interference in both networks and reduce the efficiency and speed of your wireless network. If you know what aqueduct other routers in your area are using, ready yours autonomously from theirs by at to the lowest degree three channels apart. In gild to find out the channel numbers of other routers in the vicinity, y'all can use a utility that will scan the wireless network and list it out to y'all. You tin employ inSSIDer for Windows on a laptop or WiFi Analyzer on an Android device.

Check the signal strength, channels and other wireless networks in the area with utilities

Disable the Wireless SSID broadcast

This feature will hide your wireless network from anyone who is scanning for an available wireless network in your area. If y'all disable the broadcast, you volition need to manually add your wireless network every time yous set up up a new device to connect to your router. This feature is recommended for use, every bit a hidden network is safer than a visible one.

Enable the WPS or SES mode

This is a feature used by most wireless devices to deeply connect to a wireless router without entering any passwords. For example, if you lot want to connect a device to your router, you should press the physical  WPS or SES push button on the router to let your device to be continued without entering whatever password. And so if anyone needs to proceeds admission, he has to press the push on your router.

Gear up the wireless security

Caput on to the wireless security section. By default the manufacturer, in most cases, keeps the wireless security disabled. This is highly vulnerable if left untouched, as anyone can wirelessly connect to your router without a password. E'er select WPA2 Personal with TKIP or AES algorithms. Y'all volition and so need to enter a password. Opt for an alphanumeric password and try not using simple or dictionary words that can make it easy for anyone to guess, or for a password slap-up utility to break through. Try using longer passwords.

Ensure the strongest security configuration for the wireless network

Use MAC filters

Using the wireless MAC filter is one of the best security feature possible for a router. Yous can configure the router in such a manner that information technology can just allow known computers and devices to enter the network and reject all unknown ones. You should configure this section advisedly and but after noting the MAC addresses of every computer and device you will connect to information technology. To get the MAC address of each device, you can cheque the network device's properties section or check out for whatsoever sticker on the product itself.

Enable MAC filters to deny unknown devices to the network

Tweak signal forcefulness

Head on to the advanced wireless settings if your router features it. Here you can fine tune the  router's wireless network to work more efficiently. Basically, we would recommend tweaking the transmission strength or the wireless signal settings to the required level. This feature volition only beam out your wireless signals in your expanse of required coverage and not further. If all your wireless devices are located inside your house, there should be no reason the wireless signals should go outside your house. To know the signal strength, y'all tin can use InSSIDer or WiFi Analyzer to know the signal force of your wireless network and increase/lower it accordingly. Note: Some routers do not accept this feature and you lot can skip this section.

Admission brake and parental control

This section can exist set up if you want to control how your users can access the Cyberspace. You lot can ready up devices to utilize the Cyberspace at item times or on specified days of the week only. This way you can control your Internet bandwidth wastage and besides fix access restrictions to other users on the network. This section also can help block websites past name or keywords. Use this feature if you want parental command over your users.

Gear up access restrictions and parental controls

Logging and updates

Logs and firmware updates should be monitored frequently. Enable logging to know your router's network usage where you can be informed nigh devices connecting and leaving the network, or the bandwidth used past particular devices. This feature can help you bank check if anyone is entering your network without your knowledge. If your router has options to send you alerts via e-mail or SMS, we recommend using information technology. Lastly, keep your router's firmware updated to the latest. This can help you lot gain additional features and improve its security if the manufacturer has rectified some bugs in the firmware. Utilise the motorcar update feature if available.

Keep the firmware updated at all times

Passwords

Maintain the habit of using random passwords and changing them frequently—try this weekly or at least twice a calendar month. This can act as an additional security level—it can hurl out an undetected user who has already logged on to your network, without your noesis, the next time he or she connects over again. It can also discourage them from trying to hack into your network once more every bit it would involve a lot of hard work hacking all over once more.

Router placement

Identify the router in a perfect area to maximise its coverage and get the highest speed. As nigh routers use an Omni-directional antenna, the radio waves are spread all around instead of being thrown a in a unmarried management. Hence, routers placed near a wall have their transmission half inside the room and the remaining half exterior the room. In this manner, your network is seen outside your surface area and there is a loss of ability considering the radio waves are non beingness used efficiently. E'er place the router in the central zone of the entire coverage area to make the best use of the wireless power and also lower the leakage of the radio waves outside your room. Lastly, keep all other equipment that work on a similar wireless frequency away from the router or switch them off. Equipment such every bit Bluetooth devices, microwave ovens, cordless telephones, and a few remote controlled toys operate on the two.4GHz frequency, which tin cause an interference with your wireless router.

Make up one's mind the best location for your router.

Concrete wireless switch

If your router has a physical switch to turn off the radio, y'all can use this feature to disable the wireless networking when you are not using whatever wireless devices. This feature just turns off the wireless network while keeping the computers on the wired network untouched. This feature besides saves you the trouble of logging into your router's firmware and switching off the radio from the firmware.

Configure Guest network

A few new router models are seen featuring an boosted virtual network called Guest network or Guest SSID, which allows your friends or guests to gain temporary admission to your network and utilise the Net. But this Invitee network isolates all other computers in the LAN from the guest user and denies permissions to shared drives and such. The characteristic is proficient for securing your local network from friends, but not the Internet usage. Enable this feature simply if you need information technology.

Enable and make use of the Guest SSID feature if bachelor

Upgrade your wireless clients to the latest technology

If you are using older generation 802.11 b or 802.11 g devices, it is advisable to use the latest 802.11 due north engineering science-based devices for superior performance and increased coverage area. When buying a new router and/or laptop, always opt for the 802.11 northward technologies.

3rd party firmware

If you are an advanced user, or if y'all want to take boosted features enabled for infinitesimal tweaking of the wireless router'due south settings, y'all can also opt to change the default firmware to a DDWRT-based or Tomato-based 3rd party firmware. You lot can log on to the DDWRT website and cheque if in that location is an available firmware for your router.

At present that yous take configured your router, you tin can sit dorsum and relax without the worry of anyone trying to intrude into your network. But you can never be sure since hackers are constantly developing meliorate cracking utilities to interruption into secured networks. Neverthless, you should take your necessary precautions. Maintain the habit of oftentimes changing passwords, SSID names and the IP address range of the router. Try not to go on sensitive data open on your network, which tin can lure an intruder into sabotaging your privacy. Finally, make sure yous utilise a skilful firewall, antivirus and privacy suite to be safe.

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How To Optimize Wifi Router Settings,

Source: https://www.firstpost.com/tech/news-analysis/how-to-get-the-best-wireless-router-settings-for-your-home-3617677.html

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