Despite all the focus on encryption, user endpoint security, and anti-phishing software, when was the last time you updated the password for your workplace WiFi?
How many employees have come on board and departed since then, not to mention the numerous visitors and clients who could have joined your network through conferences, meetings, and office visits. This means that a lot of people know your WiFi password or have it saved on their devices. Some of these users might not be as friendly as they once were.
For this reason it is a good move to change the password on a regular basis; and especially after a member of staff leaves the company.
We’ll go through how often you should update your passwords, how to do so, and what can happen if you don’t.
Why should I change my WiFi password?
Unless you update it, anybody who has ever known your WiFi password still has access to your network. Additionally, they may easily access your network’s resources and internet connection from close by, including from outside your office.
So, if you work in a shared office building with other companies, it’s possible ex employees or clients might be near enough to access your network on a regular basis or share your password with others in the area.
It’s difficult to detect who is using your network and it has the potential to be used maliciously. Security professionals and cyber security awareness training often looks at the worst case scenario.
If someone connects to your network and everything linked to it because they previously knew your WiFi password and you never updated it, then you have been compromised in the same was as being hacked.
They can now gain access to (or attempt to gain access to) your phone, computer, doorbell camera, printer, network, and other smart devices.
They can modify your router’s configuration settings, deactivate your internet service, disconnect your gadgets, including cameras, or change your WiFi password and lock you out entirely if you haven’t reset the Admin password.
They may even be able to deactivate the router’s firewall, allowing them to hack your devices from anywhere in the globe, not only while they are connected to your WiFi.
What are examples of good WiFi passwords?
You should retain a record of your administrator password, which should be extremely difficult to guess since you won’t be using it frequently. Therefore, it might be a random collection of characters and numbers. For this, online password generators are excellent.
Since you’ll be using your WiFi password frequently, it should be more memorable and simple to write. For that, random nonsense is a nuisance.
Security experts advise using two unrelated phrases with a number or symbol after each to create secure passwords. Just as simple as that. Therefore, “twig&railway5” is an illustration of a strong password.
When it comes to saving passwords, common sense rules apply. Avoid using the background of your refrigerator in social media images if your WiFi password is plastered to it.
Employees can use a password manager on their work phone or password-protected notes to retain their passwords if they wish to keep them safe. It is best to make sure it cannot be seen from a window by a bystander or possible hacker.
It’s acceptable to write down your passwords if you wind up with too many to remember. After all, those that steal passwords often do it online rather than by looking through your documents. It is considerably safer to have a large number of strong passwords written down than it is to have a large number of weak or similar ones that you can recall instantly. If you do write them down, though, be careful not to make it clear that they include your passwords.
How often should I update the password for my WiFi?
The Admin password shouldn’t be shared with anybody else and doesn’t need to be changed frequently.
Even though you won’t use it frequently, keep a copy of it in a secure location since you will need it to change the WiFi password.
It is recommended to change the WiFi password at least once per year. It’s a quick and simple task to change the password, just bear in mind that you also need to type in the new password to every connected device that will use the WiFi network including printers, laptops, smartphones, tablets, cameras, and other smart devices.
One of the easiest ways to change your password regularly is to set up a routine date to change the password every year. This could be at the start of summer, or perhaps in between Christmas and NewYear when the office tends to be quiet and shut down for a couple of weeks.
Other important tips to follow is to never use the same password on more than one system or website.
If hackers manage to break into a system and discover the list of everyone’s email address and password, they use that list to try logging in to hundreds of other systems with the same credentials.
Another potential tip for keeping secure passwords is not to hand it out to guests and visitors. Have an IT admin type in the password and connect the device for the user and ensure the settings don’t remember the password and login on the machine.
Many hardware suppliers make it easy for users to manage and change passwords within an app. The password can be stored in the app so there’s no need to write it down anywhere else. As the app is on your phone and likely protected by a pin or biometric login such as a fingerprint of facial recognition login it makes it difficult for anyone to access the password.
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