How to Keep Your WiFi Network Safe

How to Keep Your WiFi Network Safe - Specialized Audio and Video Sacramento

How to Keep Your WiFi Network Safe

After the year we just had, the Internet seems like a basic requirement to survive in the twenty-first century. If you look around, most of your audio and video products are probably connected to WiFi. It is safe to state that the Internet is for everyone and does not cater to the technologically competent. Unfortunately, if not protected, your information can get into the wrong hands. In this article, our Specialized AV team shares how to keep your WiFi network safe.

Change Your WiFi Name

The first step toward a safer home WiFi network is to modify the SSID (service set identifier). The network is identified by its SSID. Many manufacturers assign a default SSID to all of their wireless routers. In most situations, it is the name of the company. When a computer with a wireless connection searches for and shows nearby wireless networks, it identifies each network that broadcasts its SSID publicly. This increases the likelihood of a hacker entering your network. Specialized AV recommends changing our network’s SSID to something that does not reveal any personal information, so deterring hackers.

Create a Strong Password

A default password is pre-programmed into the majority of wireless routers. Hackers can easily guess this default password, especially if they know the router manufacturer. When choosing a password for your wireless network, make it at least 20 characters long and include numbers, letters, and symbols. Ultimately, this option makes it tough for hackers to gain access to your network.

Enabling Network Encryption

Almost all wireless routers provide encryption as a standard feature. It is disabled by default. Enabling the encryption setting on your wireless router might help safeguard your network. Make careful to switch it on as soon as your broadband provider installs it. Furthermore, WPA2 is the latest and most effective type of encryption available.

Turn Off Network Name Broadcasting

It is strongly advised that you prevent network name broadcasting to the general public when using a wireless router at home. This function is frequently beneficial for companies, libraries, hotels, and restaurants. Additionally, this is used to provide consumers with wireless Internet access, but it is typically unnecessary for a private wireless network. So, if you have a commercial building, our friends at Headwaters Construction Inc. recommend turning this off as well. WiFi is used so often that anyone could try to connect to your router.

Always Keep Your Software Up to Date

Router firmware, like any other software, can contain weaknesses that can lead to serious vulnerabilities. Always install the most recent software and download the most recent security patches to ensure that no security vulnerability or breach is left accessible to internet predators. Additionally, if your router is outdated, please contact us for WiFi installation in Sacramento.

Reliable Firewall

A “firewall” is intended to safeguard computers from malicious invasions. Wireless routers typically include built-in firewalls, though they are sometimes provided with the firewall disabled. Make that the wireless router’s firewall is turned on. So, if your router lacks such a firewall, make sure you install a reliable firewall solution on your system to monitor for unauthorized access to your wireless network.

Use Virtual Private Networks 

A virtual private network, or VPN, is a collection of computers or networks that communicate via the Internet. Individuals can safeguard and encrypt their conversations by using VPNs. Furthermore, when you connect to a VPN, your computer launches a VPN client. When you use your credentials to log in, your computer swaps keys with another server. After both computers have validated each other’s authenticity, all Internet communication is encrypted and protected from prying eyes.

Most importantly, examine which devices link to your home network and ensure that they are protected against viruses and spyware with reputable security software. Contact Specialized AV for more information on VPNs. 

As you can see, safe Wifi networks are important for both home and business purposes. Unfortunately, there are people out there who will take your private information. To ensure that your WiFi network is safe, contact Specialized AV for professional WiFi installation services. We will ensure that your network is not only safe but also fast and reliable. So, we look forward to hearing from you!

Causes of Slow WiFi

causes of slow wifi - Sacramento Audio and Video

Causes of Slow wifi

Slow wifi can be extremely frustrating, especially if you work from home. Unfortunately, there’s no one way to fix slow wifi since there are so many different potential causes. If you’ve tried troubleshooting but can’t seem to fix the problem, consider the following causes of slow wifi. For immediate assistance, you can always contact Specialized Audio and Video in Sacramento.

Wrong Spectrum Band

Wireless networks operate on two primary frequency bands: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. These frequency bands have an effect on how far and fast data can move over wifi. The 2.4 GHz band provides slower speeds over a greater distance, while the 5 GHz band provides faster speeds over a shorter distance.

As a result, if you want the best wifi speeds, our AV experts always use the 5 GHz band. Experts agree that the more devices you have connected, the slower your WiFi will be. As a result, you can save the 5 GHz band for your most-used devices, such as your laptop.

If you have a dual-band router, you can only use both frequency bands. This router allows you to have two separate wifi networks – one for each pair. You can configure each of these networks to have its own name and password.

To find out if your router supports both wifi bands, go to the router’s settings tab. Then, ensure that both of your bands are turned on. You can also find the name and password for your 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks from this page.

Not Enough Bandwidth

The overall amount of data that can be transmitted over a network at any given time is referred to as bandwidth. That means that if someone on your network makes a video call, streams a movie, or downloads a large file. It can cause your wifi to slow down.

Open the Task Manager to see which tasks are consuming a lot of bandwidth on your Windows device. You can do this by right-clicking on the Taskbar at the bottom of your screen. Then, from the pop-up menu, choose Task Manager.

Once the Task Manager is open, you can sort your tasks based on how much bandwidth they use by clicking on the Network column’s header. If you discover any tasks that are consuming an excessive amount of bandwidth, pick them and press End Task.

If you’re using an Apple device, you can use the Activity Monitor to identify tasks that consume a lot of bandwidth. To do this, navigate to the Applications folder and open the Utility folder. Then, at the top of the window, open the Activity Monitor and pick the Network tab.

To find the most bandwidth-intensive applications, sort by bytes (data) or packets sent or received. Then, at the top of the window, press the “X” to terminate any running processes.

Router is Outdated

One of the simplest ways to improve your weak wifi link is to replace your old router. In general, newer routers can have faster wifi than older models. This is due to the fact that older routers are typically unable to support newer wifi requirements. Ask our audio and video service experts which wifi router best fits your needs.

The Router is in the Wrong Place

If you have a new router but are still experiencing wifi “dead zones,” you should consider moving your router. Since router signals move in an outward radius, placing your router in a central position rather than a corner would provide better coverage.

Wifi signals can be transmitted both vertically and horizontally. This means you should keep your router in an elevated spot, such as on top of a bookshelf, or place it on a wall. Water and metal objects, on the other hand, block wifi signals, so keep your router away from refrigerators and fish tanks. It takes trial and error to find the optimal router placement, so test your wifi signal strength in various areas before deciding on a final location for your router.

Network Driver is Outdated

Your device uses a network adapter to link to the internet, which is supported by network drivers. These network drivers allow your computer’s hardware and software to communicate with one another.

Windows Update automatically installs the most recent network drivers on your device. However, these network adapter drivers can go missing, become out of date, or become incompatible with your current device. This can cause your wifi to lag.

If you have Windows 10, you can manually update your network driver by typing “network driver” into the Windows search box (the magnifying glass icon in the bottom-left corner of your screen). Then, in the search bar, select Device Manager and press the Open button. Right-click on the network adapter you want to update in the Device Manager menu and select Update Driver.

If you own a Mac, Apple can manage both device and driver updates. To ensure that your drivers are up to date, go to System Preferences. Then, pick Software Update and press the Update Now button. If you don’t see this option, your Mac is current.

Hire an Audio and Video Company

If you’re still unsure about your slow wifi connection after reading the article above, hire a professional. They can diagnose the problem and provide you with a quick solution. Our Specialized Audio and Video team is more than happy to help restore your wifi or improve the connection altogether. Learn more about our premium products and services today! Don’t forget to leave us a Google Review!