Guide to Protect Your Home Network with Best Free Antivirus Windows
As you use more devices that need an Internet connection, it raises both the level of connectivity you have with the world and your security risks. But not too many people are aware of the security risks that devices like smartphones, smart TVs, computers, tablets, or baby monitors present unless they protect their home network. Leaving your Wi-Fi network unsecured and not using antivirus software is comparable to leaving your front door open.
From using the best free antivirus Windows to keep out viruses and malware to changing your default Wi-Fi name and password, here are a few things you can do to protect your Wi-Fi network at home.
Change Your Home Network’s Default Username and Password
Internet providers automatically give their clients a username and password, details that hackers can easily find online. Once they access your home network, they can gain control of your Wi-Fi, change the password, and hijack it. Change your password as soon as possible to something that is at least 12 characters. You can use phrases that are easy for you to remember but hard for other people to guess.
Activate Your Wireless Network Encryption
Data encryption scrambles the contents of the message or data exchanged over your home network. The most secure encryption homeowners can use would be WPA2, but it does not work on devices that are 10 years old or older. You have to upgrade the devices you have at home for the sake of security.
Turn Off Wi-Fi When No One’s Home
As important as it is for your antivirus software to run every time you’re using your computer, you also get full use of your Wi-Fi only when you turn on your devices. So when no one is home, it’s best to turn it off. This reduces the risk of hackers trying to get into your home network when you’re away from home.
Use a VPN
If you have no choice but to communicate using an unencrypted, unsecured network, use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). It safeguards your location and activities online from prying eyes. It also changes your IP address. You can use a VPN on your computer, tablet, laptop, or phone, just like how you can count on antivirus program to secure these personal devices.
Use MAC Address Filtering
Most routers come with a unique identifier known as the Media Access Control (MAC) address. This allows you to control the number of devices that can connect to your home network. You can input the MAC addresses of all the authorized devices and prevent other devices from hooking up to your network as well as hackers and intruders who want to access your Wi-Fi.
Use Firewalls
Your Wi-Fi router may have a built-in network firewall like many other routers. However, these firewalls may also be disabled. Make sure that your firewall is enabled to protect everyone connected to your home network from hackers and other intruders. It also helps to boost this level of security using the best free antivirus Windows with firewall protection. A firewall watches for any attempts to get into your system and block communications with unauthorized sources.
Scan External Devices
Among the most common tools that cybercriminals use to spread malicious files are USB sticks. Hackers infect these external devices with malware and viruses, so when you plug them in, they distribute the malicious files to your home devices. But these files can be easily prevented from infecting your devices by the best free antivirus Windows.
Secure Your Devices
This is the simplest way to protect your home security. Start with making sure that your computers and other devices are free from viruses and malicious files. Any device that is connected to the Internet is susceptible to malicious infections.
To protect your home devices, the best thing you can do is to install best free antivirus Windows like Comodo. It covers computers running on Windows 7, 8, and 10. Its topnotch features include antivirus scanning, auto-containment of unknown files, subjecting files to both VirusScope behavioral analysis and human analysis, personal packet filtering firewall, host intrusion prevention. Other features include anti-spyware, anti-rootkit, bot protection, anti-malware, memory firewall, virus-free warranty, secure online banking and shopping, and unlimited expert virus removal.
When choosing an antivirus software for your Windows PC, invest in Comodo Internet Security. It provides an unmatched protection, keeping your important data safe from cybercriminals. It scans, blocks, and quarantines malicious programs so your computer is at its best shape all the time.
