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There’s a lot to do to secure your home network but there are some quick and effective steps you can take to immediately secure your work. From using good antivirus packages to firmware patches, here are a five handy home security suggestions to help secure your home network now.
Use Remote Protection Services
Educating yourself about home network security is a great thing that will help. But it can take time, and even then, you aren’t really an expert. Fortunately, there are experts out there that can make your job easier. Just Google “outsourced IT services near me” to find some of the best security around. Many of these services offer remote security systems that will actively monitor your network and provide updates and patches as needed, and they don’t cost too much.
Install Top-Rated Anti Malware
The first step to good home network security is a quality anti-malware or antivirus package. What you use is up to you and based on your budget. But even the most expensive ones are affordable. Services like Symantec Norton offer security packages focused on both the home and business. But these can be intensive and use a lot of PC resources. Some of the best that won’t break the bank include Malwarebytes, Avast and AVG. All are powerful and very affordable.
Secure Your Home Network Router
A secure router is needed to protect you from bad people who can hijack your router, and you won’t even know it. Security systems like Kaspersky Cloud can help. But you may not know that around 80% of people use weak or default router passwords. But default passwords provided by your ISP are often known to hackers and available on the dark web. It always helps to change your router’s default password to something strong enough to ensure you don’t fall victim.
Keep Hardware Up to Date
You have probably heard of software updates, and these are a strong step to enhance your home security. Patches fix vulnerabilities in your software and prevent hackers from accessing your system. But did you know hardware also has vulnerabilities? Hardware like printers has onboard chips called firmware. And these can also be compromised with “backdoor” access. So also update any firmware connected to your network as and when any updates are available.
Use Ethernet Cables if Possible
Wi-Fi is, of course, very convenient because you don’t need cables. However, Wi-Fi leaves you open to network hijacking, and someone sitting within range of your Wi-Fi can access your system. Good Wi-Fi security will help, so always learn how to configure Wi-Fi security. But to play it safe, Ethernet cables can provide better security, and it doesn’t share internet connection speed either, meaning you will always get the full speed of your connection from your ISP.
Summary
Managed IT and remote services can help secure your home network when working from home. It also helps to change default router passwords that could be available on the dark web. Using Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi can help prevent unauthorized access from hackers in range.
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