Cyber Security: Best Practices for Your Home

The article below is sponsored by Univest Bank and Trust Co. To read about the many services offered by Univest, please click on the following link: www.univest.net.

Cyber Security: Best Practices for your Home

By: Randall S. Long, IT Security Officer, Univest Corporation

Home computer security doesn’t happen by accident.   Even with tools like firewalls, anti-virus and anti-malware software you need to configure them correctly to protect your network and your computer.   Where do you start?  Follow these recommendations to make your home network more secure for your family:

• Secure your wireless network – Change the default settings to prevent an unauthorized person from accessing your network. 
• Change the name of the router – The router name is also known as the SSID.   Rename the router to whatever you like, but something that will not identify you or your family.
• Change the default password – All equipment comes with default passwords that are readily available on the Internet.   Change your default password to something that is long and complex.
• Review the security options – WPA2 or WPA is more secure than WEP.  
• Create a guest network with a different password.  Visitors will have access to the Internet, but this will not allow them see your equipment on the network. 
• Use a firewall – if your equipment has a built-in firewall option, be sure to enable and configure it.
• Explain the rules and expectations of computer use to your family.
• Keep your computer in a central location so you can see what your children are viewing online.
• Install parental control software to monitor and block inappropriate sites. 
• Configure automatic updates and patching.  This will close known vulnerabilities making it more difficult for hackers to get into your network.
• Anti-virus and anti-malware software should be installed and kept current.
• Use a password manager.  Password managers will store your passwords in an encrypted file so if you forget your password you can look it up.  However, if your computer is hacked the hackers won’t gain access to your encrypted passwords.
• Dispose of your equipment properly.  Many times people upgrade their phone or computer and do not properly erase or wipe the information that is stored on it.   Anyone who comes across one of these discarded devices can easily access the photos, texts, contacts, emails, documents or anything else that was saved on that device.