Wireless network security is crucial and cannot be overstated. Data breaches and other Cybersecurity dangers are becoming much more likely due to the widespread use of mobile devices and the popularity of public Wi-Fi hotspots.
These best practices are crucial for making sure that your data and devices are protected from malicious actors, even though there are many alternative ways to secure a wireless network.
1. Enabling Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
The login process has an additional layer of protection thanks to two-factor authentication. Users must provide their username, password, and a code produced by an authenticator app, among other things. This makes it more challenging for someone to enter the network without authorization.
Go to the wireless router’s configuration page and enable two-factor authentication there. Make sure you download and have on hand an authenticator app before logging in, such Google Authenticator or Authy.
For even stronger security, you may also think about implementing passwordless authentication, such as cloud radius. This is a crucial best practice since it prevents unauthorized users from accessing your network in the event that they do manage to obtain your password. You can be certain that only authorized users will have access to your network by employing a cloud-based solution.
2. Encrypting Data
Another crucial best practice for wireless network security is data encryption. Data is encrypted so that only authorized users may decrypt it and read it. This helps prevent unauthorized parties from accessing critical information.
There are many ways to implement encryption, including by using encryption software, hardware, or services. Ensure that staff members understand the significance of protecting sensitive data with encryption and how to do so effectively.
3.Using A Strong Password
One of the most crucial best practices for wireless network security is using a strong password. The main characteristics of a strong password include length (the longer the better), a combination of letters (in both capital and lower case), digits, and symbols, the absence of any associations with your personal information, and the avoidance of dictionary words. The good news is that you may include all of these elements in your passwords without having to memorize horrible sequences of random letters, numbers, and symbols.
4. Using MAC Filtering
The the use of MAC filtering is also a popular best practice in wireless security. A network’s physical devices are given specific identifiers called MAC addresses.
You can aid in preventing unauthorized access by limiting the devices that are permitted to connect to the network to those with certain MAC addresses. By going to the wireless router’s configuration page and inputting the MAC addresses of devices that are permitted to join to the network, MAC filtering can be put into place.
5. Disabling SSID Broadcast
Another best practice for wireless network security is to turn off SSID broadcast. Anyone within the wireless network’s range can see the network name when SSID broadcast is enabled. By going to the wireless router’s setup page and turning off the SSID broadcast capability, you can disable SSID broadcast.
Making it more challenging for unauthorized users to connect to the network is the aim. If someone is within the network’s range and uses a wireless network scanner, they can still see the SSID, but it won’t be as simple to access.
6. Using A VPN
Another excellent practice for wireless network security is using a VPN. A VPN makes it more difficult for someone to eavesdrop on the connection by encrypting all traffic between a device and the VPN server. Given that public Wi-Fi networks are frequently less secure than private ones, this is especially crucial while utilizing them. Use only VPNs from reputable providers, and emphasize to staff how crucial it is to use a VPN when working remotely.
7. Enabling WPA3 Security
Password encryption is included in best practices for securing a wireless network. The most up-to-date and secure wireless security standard is WPA3. When possible, it ought to be utilized because it offers higher security than WPA2.
Ensure that you check for routers that offer this most modern security protocol when you are shopping about. It’s crucial to ensure sure WPA3 is enabled because earlier protocols were simpler to hack.
8. Changing The Default Password
A further best practice for wireless network security is changing the default password. A default password that is simple to guess comes with many routers. This is a security risk because it gives potential access to the network for unauthorized users.
Enter the wireless router’s setup page to change the default password to something more challenging to decipher. Make sure your password is strong by using a combination of capital and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols that is at least 8 characters long.
9. Disabling Remote Administration
An additional recommended practice for wireless network security is to disable remote administration. Anyone with the right credentials can visit the router’s configuration page and modify the network when remote administration is enabled. This is a security risk because it gives potential access to the network for unauthorized users. Go to the wireless router’s configuration page and turn off remote administration there. This will assist in limiting illegal network access.
10. Disabling UpnP
A system called Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) enables devices to automatically find and connect to one another. This is a security risk since it gives unauthorized devices a chance to connect to the network. You can turn off UPnP by going to the wireless router’s configuration page. By going to the settings menu on specific devices, you may also turn off UpnP.
11. Using A Firewall
Enabling a firewall is yet another way to secure a wireless network. A firewall assists in network security by preventing unauthorized incoming traffic. In preventing attacks from malware and other harmful software, this can be very crucial.
Access the wireless router’s configuration page and turn on the feature to utilize a firewall. Network-based and host-based firewalls are the two main categories of firewalls. Host-based firewalls can be deployed on individual devices, whereas network-based firewalls are frequently employed in business settings.
12. Disabling Unnecessary Services
Frequently, routers are sold with a lot of unused services activated. These pose a security risk since they could give potential attackers knowledge of the network. Access the configuration page of the wireless router and turn off any superfluous services there. This will assist in lowering the network’s attack surface. Commonly used yet pointless services include telnet, SSH, and HTTP.
Conclusion
To safeguard a network against potential assaults, it is crucial to put the previously mentioned best practices for wireless network security into effect. This will definitely make it more challenging for unauthorized users to access the network by turning off superfluous services, altering the default password, and enabling two-factor authentication.
Wifi Password Cracking Demonstration
In the video below, David Bombal demonstrates how easy it is to crack Wifi passwords using GPUs in the cloud.