Most businesses today provide free Wi-Fi services to their customers. Not only does this improve customer turnout, but there are also significant chances of improving business visibility and gaining a foothold in one’s business in the community. This strategy can work wonders for small businesses. Going than an extra mile is always fruitful!
Nevertheless, significant harms are resulting from this generosity. One of the principal issues is non-customers using the Wi-Fi without your permission. Another area that you need to look out for is non-customers gaining access to your confidential business files. Data protection may be at stake!
Following are some valuable questions you need to ask yourself and your Wi-Fi manager. Also, we provide you with some easy hacks to make your Wi-Fi use safe and secure.
Is your router physically secure?
The question is regarding the location of your router. Is your router easily accessible? If yes, you need to start worrying! A simple resetting of your router may break all your access barriers. Changing passwords and gaining access becomes a child’s play ones your router is available to unwanted people.
Make sure that your router is placed at a private location, at least away from common gaze. You can choose to lock the room where your router is set to deny unwanted access to your Wi-Fi.
Did you change the default router password?
Using default passwords in routers and ATMs can be a dangerous idea. Not only is the default password easily lost (since you never produced it), it is also available where it was first generated, most of the times stored in the data of the Wi-Fi providing company. Moreover, trust me, nothing's hard to access for unscrupulous minds!
Updating your router password may seem like a necessary precaution. Nonetheless, most often forget to update their default passwords and jump the security ladder. For maximum protection use a password that is at least fifteen characters long. Use a mix of letters, numbers, and special characters to strengthen your passwords.
Sharing your password with everyone is not a good idea as well, choose wisely and choose minimum. Also remember to change your password quarterly and as often as any of your employees leaves the firm.
Are your firmware and software up to date?
With the use of technology and latest hacks breaking firmware and software access is not difficult. For maximum security, you have to match up to the hacker’s game!
Check your router’s firmware to update latest software. Install updates as and when available, make sure your router’s firmware is up to date. Also, make sure that the computers that use your wi- fi have the secure software. Use premium quality anti- virus programs to protect your software against malware and viruses. Stay up to date with your protection!
Are You Using WPA2?
WPA stands for Wi-Fi Protected Access; most routers come with a default WPA setting. For maximum security, you should choose the highest level of WPA security. In some unfortunate cases, routers have an older default version of encryption like WEP, Wired Equivalent Privacy. WEP is extremely hackable, so check your router settings to choose the best WPA possible. In the case where your router does not allow for an upgrade, upgrade to a new router altogether!
Have you set up a Private Access and Public Access point to your Wi-Fi?
If your customers and employees have access to your Wi-Fi from the same public access point, then your company data is highly insecure. Data recovery may become highly improbable in cases where your personal data has reached in the hands of bad customers.
You can use Service Set Identifier (SSID) to create two separate points of access to your network. Your employees can use one access point, and your customers can use the other access point. Having two access points will make sure that your company data will remain isolated from the computers and devices of your clients even on the same subnet. Also, your guests will not have any access to other’s devices and computers. So give a boost to your privacy!
For those who want better security, you can create multiple access points and keep your data secure.
Have you eliminated rogue access points?
Unofficial access points created by your employees can generate high risks for your Wi-Fi security. In most cases rogue APs can be used by hackers to intrude your private files and data, they are susceptible to malware and viruses. These unwanted access points are difficult to locate and even harder to guess their configuration.
For example, one could use these rogue APs to broadcast your SSID (the 32-character identifier for a wireless network) and generate unwanted access to your Wi-Fi network. Dangerous, isn’t it? Well no, if you manage to regularly scan your Wi-Fi network using appropriate software to detect rogue APs and their location. In most cases, detection of rogue APs will be followed by a detailed procedure to remove them. Otherwise, one can use technical support to uproot them.
Well everyone will be very thankful to you for your generosity (you are offering them free Wi-Fi!). Nonetheless, you do not wish to gather praises from unscrupulous users and hackers for your inadequate network security. Choose your router firmware carefully; detailed knowledge of the brand can save your time, money and data! Running the latest firmware is the key a safe and secure Wi-Fi usage. A regular scan of your business devices and computer support systems can work wonders for privacy.
