Are you the type to easily share your Wi-Fi network with your passing friends? Some precautions are necessary so that this generosity does not turn into an open house operation!
Without security measures, anyone who has the Wi-Fi password for your Internet box will be able to browse your computer’s hard drive and the folders you share. Worse, it becomes quite possible to use the IP address of the box to carry out illegal downloads for which you would be held responsible! Here are some tips to protect your network.
Make the network invisible
The best precaution is yet to make sure your Wi-Fi is not discoverable when a user searches their phone. Internet boxes offer an option to block the broadcast of your network name. It is usually found in Wi-Fi Settings under the name Broadcast SSID Where Hide SSID.
Change password regularly
To limit the risk of intrusion, also make it a habit to renew the Wi-Fi security key every month or every two months. Repeat the operation if you are organizing a party where you communicated the code to your guests. The password is changed from the box management interface, accessible from a web browser.
Define time slots for access to Wi-Fi
No Wi-Fi, no intrusion! This is common sense, but it is enough to turn off the wireless access point of your box when you are not at home to limit the risks of hacking or misuse. The advanced configuration options of recent Internet boxes allow you to define time slots for Wi-Fi activity.
Open a network for your guests to use
No question of refusing a little Wi-Fi to passing friends. To avoid communicating your network password, the Orange Livebox 4 and the SFR Fiber box offer you to create a wireless network reserved for guests. This gives access to the Internet, but does not offer a gateway to the main network and your personal data. Once on the administration interface of the box, activate the tab corresponding to Wi-Fi. Activate then configure the Guest network by renaming the access point and personalizing the password. You just have to deactivate this access point once the evening is over!
