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How to configure a wireless Wi-Fi network to be faster and more secure? Step by step guide

How to configure a wireless Wi-Fi network to be faster and more secure? Step by step guide

Surely it happened to us once that we have hired an Internet service pack and the provider delivered us a modem with different cables, connectors and indications in different languages ​​by mail to install it that we do not even know how to read them.

When we open the box to start the configuration we do not understand where to start, much less how to do it . In addition, we know that people like to crack other people’s WiFi passwords, so our concerns increase.

Next, we will explain everything you need to know about the configuration of the WiFi network , we will also show you how you should work to obtain impenetrable access to our modem and avoid thus the decrease in Internet speed.

Where can I configure my wireless network to customize it to my liking?

Desde dónde puedo configurar mi red inalámbrica para personalizarla a mi gusto

A wireless network is the set of devices, called nodes, that connect to it through electromagnetic waves, which are sent and received through ports that decipher these waves to perform a certain action.

In order to configure a wireless network we need a router , which will connect via cable (either fiber optic or ADSL) to the Internet network, and a computer ( in this case it will work as a receiving device) that has a network board connected to be able to pick up the WiFi signal.

Once we have the router and the computer running and connected to each other, we can enter the modem through our PC and start the configuration to increase security according to our needs.

It is always recommended to establish new SSIDs and passwords , beyond changing other parameters that will further increase the verification process for access to the gateway.

Steps to configure a WiFi network from scratch to be fast, secure and efficient

Pasos para configurar una red WiFi desde cero para que sea rápida, segura y eficiente

Once we have purchased a modem, either privately or because our Internet provider delivers it to us with the service package we have hired, it is necessary to configure it in order to have a connection that is fast, efficient and also secure.

We have to remember that these routers come with factory default settings in which the access password is publicly known by the manufacturer.

This point is a weak factor for our security since there are apps that have different PINs among their databases that can quickly access the modem.

This is why we recommend configuring our WiFi network every time we buy install a new router.

The steps we will have to take to configure a WiFi network in our home are the following:

Connect the router

The first thing we will have to do is connect each of the cables to their respective inputs or ports that are located on the back of the router. We will not have problems with this , because they come in different colors and shapes and the indications that are recorded on the router are very easy to understand.

Once we have done this we turn it on and check that it works correctly through the lighting of different pilot lights.

Enter the control panel

Once we have verified that the router is correctly installed we must go to our computer and from there follow the following steps:

  • We enter the browser and type in the address bar the following IP «192.168.1.1»
  • Once we have entered the router configuration, we What we will have to do is write the username and password provided by our Internet provider. Generally, depending on the device, the default user is “admin” and the default password is “1234” or “admin” .
  • When we access we will have a control panel on the left side of our screen

If we have questions about the user or the default password, we will have to contact the service provider, or search the official website of the router brand for this information.

Change SSID and password

When we are at the control panel, the first thing we are going to do is change the SSID and password. According to the brand of the router, it will depend on where this option is located in the task menu.

SSID is the name that the WiFi network will have and will be publicly known. The password will be the one we will enter as a password to enter our wireless network.

We will follow these instructions:

  • We look for the option permittedWireless†
  • We choose assertSecurity.d
  • We will write in the SSID field on name of our wireless network
  • We will choose the password
  • Press «Accept»

It may happen at this time that our computer is disconnected to the network since we have produced changes. If this happens we will have to enter again with the modified data.

Change channel

When our network does not have good signal stability, many nearby networks are probably transmitting on the same channel.

For this, we can solve the stability with the following indications:

  • Enter the menu to «Network»
  • We choose the network we want to modify WLAN
  • We look for the option «Basic »
  • Select « Channel »
  • Choose a channel
  • Click on « Accept »

Change DNS

Cambiar DNS

Routers have integrated DHCP servers, which are used to identify an IP address and generate some additional parameters such as the network mask, the gateway or the link and also allows the configuration of the DNS servers of the devices that are connect wirelessly with the router equipment.

It should be clarified that not all routers allow changing the DNS, for those who can change we will follow these steps:

  • We enter the control panel
  • We look for accountedNetwork for
  • We select “DHCP Server”
  • We choose a primary DNS and also a secondary DNS
  • We click on «Accept»

Activate MAC filter

The MAC address is a 12-digit number that is assigned to the network card interface that devices that connect to the wireless network have.

If we activate this option, what we are doing is telling the router that certain devices can only be connected, if any other equipment that is not in that list wants to enter, will not be able to access thanks to the MAC filter .

To change the MAC address we will have to follow these steps:

  • We start the control panel
  • Select “Wireless”
  • We look for the option “MAC filters”
  • We select assertDenegar•
  • We write the MAC address of each device that can be connected
  • We press «Accept» for each of the teams

Is it possible to detect if my internet connection is being stolen from my WiFi network ?

Es posible detectar si me están robando conexión a Internet desde mi red WiFi

When our Internet connection is running slowly and we have already verified that our devices that connect to the WiFi network do so correctly.

In addition, we have verified that the wiring connections to the router and its configuration are fine, the only thing we have left to see is if intruders are stealing WiFi signal.

For this we can check it with these methods:

From the router

We can check if they decrypted our access key to the WiFi network through the router by following this procedure:

  • We disconnect all the devices that are in our house and that have access to the WiFi network.
  • Once we have deactivated the Wi-Fi connection between the computers authorized to connect, we We will go to the router and check if there are lights that are intermittently, especially the Internet connection.
  • If this happens it is because there are devices in our network. If the result first gives us negative, we can check it at different times, especially when we realize that the Internet speed decreases.

Another way to check if you are stealing an Internet connection is to verify the IP addresses that were connected to the router.

In order to verify we will perform these steps step by step:

  • We enter the browser and type «192.168.1.1»
  • In this way we enter the router and enter the username and password
  • We choose in the control panel located on the left, the option of connected devices
  • We study the list and control it with the IP addresses of our devices and we will realize if there is any stranger that can belong to an intruder

A third method to verify is also controlling all the settings that we have assigned on the router .

That is, if we have an open network connection, an access password assigned by the manufacturer by default or we have MAC filters disabled.

To achieve this, we will enter the router from our computer, and if we find some of these poorly configured weak points, it is very likely that they are using our Internet connection without our authorization.

With an external program

There are different apps that allow us to verify if strangers connect to our WiFi network. We can do it from our computer or also from our mobile device. All we need is to be connected to the network we will analyze.

Next, we will take as an example the Android application «Fing» and we will show you the steps that we must follow:

  • We open the application
  • We select the name of the WiFi network at the top
  • Select “Devices” , located in the bottom left margin
  • There will not be a list with all the devices currently connected
  • We choose some that seem strange and we will obtain different data such as the IP address, MAC address, the provider of this address and operating system if it is a mobile device

To delete some of them, we simply select it and block it, in this way you can no longer connect with the data with which you entered improperly.

Online pages

Although this is not a method to determine if the Internet signal is being stolen from us, but will help us to verify the speed that we have and thus be able to establish if it is a router problem or directly device with which we connect to the wireless network.

There are different websites where we can control our Internet speed and compare it with the one offered by the service provider. We recommend our speed test.

If we find that the speed is lower we have two options, one is to call the Internet provider and find out the reasons for the low speed.

The second way is to enter through the two steps mentioned above, through the router with external programs.