There’s a lot of biased security advice given to consumers on how to protect their PCs and home networks on the internet. Here are some un-biased, hot tips in securing a home network.

1. Update everything. To start, Windows Update is your friend. It’s crucial to make sure you let the Windows Update do its work. Make sure it is turned on and automatically updating and installing all current updates. Microsoft is continually creating patches and fixes that are in many cases vital to keep your computer secure. in some cases there can be conflict between your software configuration and the Microsoft patch, but this is not common.



2. Use a good antivirus. It isn’t enough to just use the antivirus package bundled with your PC. While the software may still run if you haven’t maintained your subscription, it won’t be able to download the latest updates. There are more than 25,000 new pieces of unique malware detected everyday by antivirus companies, so it is absolutely crucial to make sure your antivirus is completely up to date with all software updates and virus definitions.
3. Use a firewall. It will come as no surprise to people that the internet is full of nastiness just waiting for the opportunity to attack you PC. The Windows firewall is more than sufficient a firewall to complete all your needs for home networking. Make sure it is turned on and working.
4. Use good passwords. Always use a password on every user account, and be sure to disable any guest accounts. Change the default passwords on your router, as the default passwords are widely spread on the internet. Above all make sure you use separate passwords between your banking and other passwords. Your banking password should be much stronger, using a combination of letters, numbers and punctuation.
5. Protect your Wi-Fi. When setting up your wireless internet there are some options that are very important. Make sure you choose to setup a WPA2 encryption protocol. SSID is the name of your network and change this to something other than the default, eg. Jono’s Wireless. The encryption key is the password to your network. It is important to make this longer then a normal password, something like… “This is MY encryption key!!!”

If you follow these rules, your network and PC should be safe from most hackers and viruses. It’s important to note that the above advice is not applicable for business networks. Most of the time, there are more advanced products in place, so some of the things above (such as the Windows Firewall), will need to be off. If you’d like more detailed advice, product recommendations, or are concerned about the state of your network, please contact The IT Department.