Everybody needs good neighbours... who don’t steal your Wi-Fi
Have you noticed that websites are suddenly loading more s.l.o.w.l.y? Or movies keep buff..ering? Or games keep glitccccccching?
Now it could be that you simply need lightning fast, ultra reliable Wi-Fi 6 broadband from Swish Fibre. Or it could be that you have an unwanted ‘guest’ on your network. And if a neighbour has hijacked your Wi-Fi, it won’t only ruin your internet speed, it could put your security at risk.
44% of homeworkers don’t password protect their Wi-Fi
You should always have your Wi-Fi password protected because your router’s directly linked to your identity. So everything that happens on your network is your responsibility. If your neighbour’s downloading illegal content or performing malicious activities, it’s you who’ll get in trouble.
And if they accidently download malware, it can infect all your connected devices. Which might lead to data theft. Worse still, if you work from home, your employer’s security can be compromised too. Which could ultimately cost you your job.
Before you start panicking, the chances of somebody piggybacking on your network depend on where you live. If it’s a house in the suburbs, it’s fairly unlikely your neighbours will steal your Wi-Fi. If you live in a busy city, the odds are a bit higher.
Even if you haven’t noticed anything out of the ordinary with your Wi-Fi, it’s a good idea to check what’s connected to it now and again. Because unless somebody’s downloading large amounts of data, it can be hard to notice. Log into your router and check.
How to protect your Wi-Fi
Change your password frequently using special characters to make it strong. And change your routers user name. 66% of people never bother and yet the default is easy to guess
Hide your Wi-Fi name (Service Set Identifier - SSID) so it isn’t visible
Choose a next gen router with WPA3 (Wi-Fi Protected Access) security. Like the new Swish Wi-Fi 6 and Swish Plume Pods
Update your routers software every so often to keep it up to date and secure. A staggering 79% of people have never even thought about it
Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network). It hides your IP address and encrypts your traffic for better security and privacy. All connected devices will be protected.