Configure Your Router With WPA-2 Security
Securing your wireless router is important if you want to protect yourself, your privacy, and your data. An unsecured wireless network could allow someone to gain unwanted access which could allow them to steal your data or even infect your computer with malware.
For many of the routers manufactured nowadays, there is an option of choosing the WPA-2, which is one of the most secure protocols for wireless networks. Although the WPA-3 is the most secure, most routers use the WPA-2 security.
In this article, we will be discussing how you can configure your router with WPA-2 security. Follow these steps and ensure that your wireless network is secure and protected enough to safeguard all the personal and sensitive info on your devices.
What is WPA-2 Security On Routers?
WPA-2, also called Wireless Protection Access 2 was created in 2004 as an upgrade of the WPA protocol, which was made a year earlier. This wireless network security uses long passwords and AES encryptions to provide a secure network.
However, the WPA-2 security utilizes two different security modes, the enterprise model, which can be used in the corporate setting, and the personal mode, which was designed for home use.
Why You Should Setup Your Router With WPA-2 Security?
While the WPA-2 can be pretty slow on older router versions, due to the insane amount of processing power it requires, it is still one of the most secure network security options. WPA-3 is the latest security protocol but some legacy Wi-Fi devices may not work properly with it yet.
WPA-2 security is easier to configure than the earlier types of network security, and it is also more secure. With the option of enterprise and personal modes, it makes it easier to use it both at work and at home.
All the information on all your devices must be kept safe by ensuring your Wi-Fi connection is secure; using the WPA-2 security will guarantee that.
How To Check Your Current Wifi Security Settings Before Doing WPA-2 Configuration?
You can easily determine the type of security your wireless network has on your phone or computer if you're not entirely sure about the kind of network security you're using.
How To Check Your Router's Security on Mac
It's very easy to check your wifi security setting on a Mac:
- First, click the Apple icon at the top left of your screen.
- Choose the System Preferences menu option.
- Click on the Network icon.
- Ensure that your Wi-Fi is highlighted and selected in the list on the left and click on the Advanced button option at the bottom right corner.
Find the name of your network in the list and you will see the current security setting under the Security column.
How To Check Your Router's Security on Your Mobile Phone
On your mobile phone, you can determine the current wifi security you're using and decide whether it's on WPA-2 or not by checking your device's wifi settings.
- First, you click on the settings app.
- Then, you click on the wifi connection icon on the settings app.
- Find the network of your router from the list of networks available.
- Tap on the name of the router to bring up the network configuration.
- Under the network configuration, in the option named security, you'll discover which current wifi security you're using.
How To Check Your Router's Security on Windows
If you have a Windows PC and you want to check your current wifi security settings, just follow these steps:
- Click on the icon that indicates the wifi connection at the bottom right of your taskbar.
- Choose the network of your router, and look for the wifi details of the network under properties.
You will discover the type of security setting your network has under the option security type.
How To Setup WPA-2 Security On Your Router?
There is no single way to configure a router because routers differ, and each one has a different configuration interface. But generally, the network security settings of the router can be changed or configured on any device connected to the router.
However, to make any kind of change to the router's wifi network security settings, you'll have to access the router's admin panel/console. And to access this, you'll have to know the router's admin username and password as well as it’s IP address. In most cases, the router login credential will be set to the default values.
Therefore, to find your router's IP address, you can check the back of your router; you'll find it under a heading titled "default IP address". It will read something like, “192.168.0.1”. Also, most router manufacturers use slightly different IP addresses used to access the admin panel.
If your router doesn't list an IP address, search on Google by typing the name of the manufacturer and "default IP address" to find it. For example, “arris router default IP address”. There are some cases where the default IP address will be depicted as a domain, and in other cases, it is depicted as a series of numbers.
Furthermore, the router's admin password and username can also be found on a sticker at the back of the router. If you can't find it, you can use the same method mentioned above to search Google for the router’s “default admin login”.
Once you have the default admin username, password, and default IP address, follow these steps to set up or configure your router with WPA-2:
- Open up a web browser on the device connected to your router.
- In the address bar, type in the router's default IP address, and press enter.
- A login window will pop up where you can input the admin password and username then click to log in.
- The configuration interface of each router differs, but you should find the network security options under wireless authentication or security.
- Set the wireless security to WPA-2 and set your encryption to AES.
- Save the changes according to the instructions on the admin panel.
- Restart or reboot your router.
Ultimately, if you are using a router model created before 2006, you can still configure your router to use WPA-2 security, but you'll have to combine it with the WPA security. You will also have to make use of both AES and TKIP encryptions.
Be advised that these settings won't give a secure Wi-Fi connection as when you use WPA-2/AES alone because WPA/TKIP is weaker. So it would help if you upgraded your router to the latest model to use the highest form of security effectively.
How Can You Confirm That WPA-2 Security Is Enabled on Your Router?
If you’ve already enabled WPA-2 in your router’s admin interface then you’re done! Be sure to open up your email and browser to make sure the internet connection is still working.
At any point, you can log in to the router’s admin interface to verify that WPA-2 security mode is enabled.
Whenever your WPA-2 security is on, browsing the net, and checking out your apps and emails becomes a safe task because you're immune to attacks from hackers.
Ways To Strengthen Your WPA-2 Security on Your Routers
Many people make use of the WPA-2 security in their homes and offices to surf the internet safely on their routers. The following are some ways you can strengthen the WPA-2 network security
Strengthen Your WPA-2 Security By Using Strong Passwords On Your Router
You can increase the complexity of your passwords by using a combination of lower and uppercase letters, numbers, and special characters. The longer and more unique the password is, the harder it is for others to guess, and the more secure your connection will be.
Improve Your WPA-2 Security By Eliminating Any Remote Access To Your Router
To make sure that your router settings are not altered over wifi, you need to eliminate any access to your router over a wireless connection. This is so that the only way any change can be made on the router is via an ethernet cable
Setting Up Automatic Updates On Your Router Can Help to Strengthen Your WPA-2 Security
Make use of firmware settings to regularly check for any pending installation update on your router; ignoring updates can open up your router and Wi-Fi connection to malware attacks.
Also, consider upgrading your router if it’s out-of-date or no longer supported. Once a router reaches a certain age, the manufacturer often no longer provides firmware updates. You’ll want to be sure that your router is actively supported and being kept updated to keep you safe and to use the latest security protocols.
Keep Your Connected Devices Up To Date Can Boost Your WPA-2 Security
Ensure that you update all the operating systems on all the devices you would like to connect to your router. This way, you can boost your WPA-2 security by ensuring that all the recent patches against any known or unknown network vulnerabilities have been installed when you updated the OS.
Getting Help to Set Up Your Router With WPA-2 Security
Configuring your router to use any wireless security can be confusing if you aren’t familiar with internet devices or if you are uncomfortable with changing your computer’s settings.
If you are finding it difficult to set up your router with WPA-2 or WPA-3 security, it is advisable to contact the technical support department of your internet provider for help. EPB customers can contact a technical support expert 24/7 to get help with configuring their router and any other related questions.
Configuring Your Router to Use WPA-2 is Quite Simple
Most people are unaware of the dangers that come with surfing the internet with an unsecured Wi-Fi network. They don't know that some or all of their details can be stolen and used by hackers to access their computers if they use a wireless network with little or no security.
It’s in your best interest to increase the security of all wireless networks connected to your devices to the highest level. For many of the routers manufactured nowadays, there is an option of choosing the WPA-2, which is one of the most secure protocols for wireless networks.
Fortunately, configuring your router to use WPA-2 is quite simple. Follow these steps and ensure that your wireless network is secure and protected enough to safeguard all the personal and sensitive info on your devices.
