This post have been updated since it was originally published on May 23, 2021.
Your phone would not be the same without its Wifi connection, of course, but that doesn’t mean you should just keep your Wifi settings as they are at all times. Certain settings can negatively impact your phone — its battery and your privacy. Getting a handle on those settings can make all of the difference. You need to turn off this Wifi setting right now, according to security experts. Doing so will keep your personal information better protected and give you peace of mind.
The default username and password should be changed
One of the most crucial steps in securing your home Wifi network is to modify the default username and password, according to Steve Anderson, CEO of Junk Yards Near Me. “Hackers can easily locate these default credentials online since wifi providers automatically issue a username and password to the network,” Anderson says. “By changing the username and password, attackers will have a harder time determining whose wifi it is and gaining access to the network.”
Enable wifi Network Encryption
“Among the most effective ways to protect your network data is to use encryption,” Anderson says. “Encryption scrambles your data or the substance of a message to prevent hackers from deciphering it. WPA2 is the most secure encryption option for your home wifi network.”
Maintain the software on your router
Wifi software must be maintained to keep your home’s network secure. “Like any other software, the router’s firmware might include flaws that hackers are eager to exploit,” Anderson says. “Because most routers don’t have an auto-update feature, you’ll have to update the software to keep your home network safe constantly.”
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File Sharing And Printer
If you are using your Wifi in public, it’s important to protect your phone from possible hackers by adjusting some of its settings — including file sharing and printer, says Caroline Lee from CocoSign.
“The Wifi setting that you must turn-off is file sharing and printer when you are in a public WiFi network, it will help you avoid any data compromise and will keep your device secure,” Lee says. “Keep your PC/phone hidden from other devices if you are using public Wifi. One more suggestion for the mobile phone users regarding WiFi will be - turn off the automatic scanning of WiFi Signal. Always enable and disable WiFi manually as and when required. It will save your phone's battery because when you leave this setting turned on for automatic searching, your device always keeps looking for WiFi in the background.”
That last tip is one that tech experts, across the board, continue to recommend. Turning your Wifi off can help protect your privacy in a major way if you are out and about.
“If you ask me, the one setting that you should immediately turn off is your Wi-Fi, because the public Wi-Fi networks are often controlled by hackers and the names of these wifi networks are also fake,” says Miklos Zoltan, CEO & Cybersecurity Researcher at Privacy Affairs. “If you connect to these fake networks, the hackers can control anything you do. Thus, turn it off and you can turn it back on whenever you want, so that your personal data remains safe and secure.”
Switch off your Wi-Fi by sliding the Wi-Fi toggle off in your phone's settings menu, Zoltan recommends. “Unsecured Wi-Fi networks are one of the most popular ways for hackers to target mobile devices,” he says. “Anyone may use these public networks, such as those used at airports and coffee shops. This means that a hacker might potentially see everything you do on these networks when you're logged in. You can switch it back on whenever you want, but it will keep your phone from automatically connecting to public Wi-Fi networks.”
When you are in the comfort and privacy of your own home, you can afford to be more relaxed with your Wifi settings. But the minute you step out your door and rely on public Wifi to connect to the world, make sure you are taking these extra precautions so that your data is as safe and private as possible.
