Acutis How to Secure Your Home Network
The short answer
Securing a home network comes down to a handful of practical steps you can finish in an afternoon: turn on strong Wi-Fi encryption, set unique passwords for both Wi-Fi and the router itself, keep the firmware updated, switch off risky shortcuts like WPS, put smart-home gadgets on a guest network, and know which devices are actually connected. None of it requires technical expertise — just a login to your router's settings page. Here's the full checklist.
1. Use WPA3 (or WPA2) encryption
In your router's wireless settings, set the security mode to WPA3. If your router or older devices don't support it, use WPA2. Never use WEP or WPA (both are broken), and never run an open, password-free network. Encryption is what stops anyone within range from reading your traffic or jumping onto your Wi-Fi.
2. Set strong, unique passwords
You actually have two passwords to think about, and they should be different:
- Your Wi-Fi password. Use a long passphrase — several unrelated words are easy to type and hard to crack. Avoid your address, name, or phone number.
- Your router admin password. This is the login for the settings page itself. If it's still the default printed on the sticker, change it. Otherwise anyone who gets onto your network can take over the router.
3. Keep the firmware updated
Router firmware is software, and software gets security holes. Manufacturers patch them, but only if you install the updates. Check your router's settings for a "Firmware Update" option and apply any available update. If your router supports automatic updates, turn that on so you don't have to remember.
4. Disable WPS
WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) is the "press a button to connect" shortcut. It's convenient, but its PIN method has well-known weaknesses that let attackers brute-force their way in. Unless you specifically need it, switch WPS off in your wireless settings — you'll just type the Wi-Fi password instead, which is safer.
5. Put IoT devices on a guest network
Smart bulbs, plugs, cameras, and other cheap gadgets are the weakest link in most homes — they rarely get updates and can be hijacked. Create a separate guest network and connect all your IoT devices to it. That way, if one is compromised, it can't reach your laptops, phones, or files on the main network. The guest network is also where actual guests should connect.
6. Choose a good DNS
Switching your DNS to a reputable provider can add a layer of safety, because some resolvers filter out known malicious and scam domains before you ever connect. It can also speed up browsing. You can set this in your router so every device benefits. (See what is DNS for the basics of how this works.)
7. Know what's connected
You can't secure what you can't see. Periodically review the list of devices on your network and make sure you recognize every one — an unfamiliar entry can be the first sign of trouble. Our guide on how to see what's connected to your network walks through the manual methods, and the MAC vendor lookup helps you identify a device by its maker.
A quick recap
- WPA3 or WPA2 encryption — never WEP or open
- Strong, unique Wi-Fi password and a separate router admin password
- Firmware kept up to date (automatic if possible)
- WPS turned off
- IoT gadgets and visitors on a guest network
- A trustworthy DNS provider
- Regular checks of what's actually connected
Stop guessing — is it the network or your machine?
Securing your network is easier when you can see what's on it and whether it's healthy. Acutis Go runs a 60-second check and tells you plainly whether a problem is your network, your settings, or your own device — so you stop chasing the wrong thing. Free, no account to try.
Get Acutis Go — freeFrequently asked questions
How do I secure my home network?
It is a handful of practical steps you can finish in an afternoon: turn on strong Wi-Fi encryption, set unique passwords for both the Wi-Fi and the router's admin page, keep the firmware updated, disable WPS, and put IoT devices on a guest network. None of it requires special equipment.
Should I use WPA3 or WPA2?
Use WPA3 if your router and devices support it, and WPA2 if they do not. Never use WEP or the original WPA - both are broken and offer no meaningful protection. If some older device forces you down to WPA2, that is still a reasonable place to be.
Why should I disable WPS?
WPS exists to let you join a network by pressing a button or entering a short PIN, and that PIN is the problem: it is a weak shortcut around an otherwise strong password. Turning it off removes an easy way in and costs you almost nothing.
Why put smart home devices on a guest network?
Because IoT devices are frequently the least-maintained things on a network - rarely patched, sometimes never updated at all. Putting them on a separate guest network keeps them away from the computers and phones that hold your actual data, so one weak device does not become a route to everything else.
Is the router admin password different from the WiFi password?
Yes, and this catches people out. The Wi-Fi password is what devices use to join the network; the admin password protects the router's settings page. Many routers ship with a default admin password that is publicly documented, so changing it matters as much as the Wi-Fi one.