How to Keep a TP-Link Router Secure
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Support.com Tech Pro Team
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Introduction
Your wireless router transmits a signal through the air and may be detected hundreds of feet away. By default, anybody nearby can use your network. It is highly recommended that you take some simple safety steps such as encrypting and also limiting access to your wireless network.
Encrypting the information that is transmitted through the air is the best way to protect communications from eavesdroppers. The two main types of encryption are Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP). WPA2 is the best choice but many older routers do not have this option. If your router doesn't have WPA2, you should upgrade.
To limit access to your router it is recommended that you use a strong password that isn't freely shared or used anywhere else.
This guide will walk you through the process of protecting your wireless network.
Encrypting the information that is transmitted through the air is the best way to protect communications from eavesdroppers. The two main types of encryption are Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP). WPA2 is the best choice but many older routers do not have this option. If your router doesn't have WPA2, you should upgrade.
To limit access to your router it is recommended that you use a strong password that isn't freely shared or used anywhere else.
This guide will walk you through the process of protecting your wireless network.
1 Log In
- Using a computer that is connected to the TP-Link router, open a web browser (such as Safari, Google Chrome or Internet Explorer).
- At the top of the browser is the address bar, type in http://tplinkwifi.net.
- If the address does not work, check the bottom of the router to confirm the default access address. You can also try to connect via IP address (example: http://192.168.1.1 or http://10.0.0.1)
- If you are prompted for a username and password, you may find it on the same label where your router's address is.
The default credentials are typically:
- Username: admin
- Password: admin
2 Select Password
Wherever possible, you should pick a password that is impossible to guess and is also resistant to brute-force attacks.
Some devices or systems do not allow special characters or they may have their own requirements.
Password Dos and Don'ts
- Passwords should be long, 8-12 characters or more.
- Passwords should be something easy for you to remember, but hard for others to guess or lookup.
- Passwords should have lots of different character types: upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols.
- Replacing letters with symbols is a simple way to achieve this: use @ for a, and ( for c, as example.
- Passwords are personal, most services have a way to create a 'linked' account or share services with trusted friends and family.
- Change passwords regularly. Every 90 to 180 days; this helps keep your accounts from being compromised long-term.
- If you must write down a password or make note of it, do so only in specially designed programs, or keep and hold the physical copies with the same care and respect you would a social security card or birth certificate. Remember; anyone with your password "is you".
- Don't use short passwords; computers can guess them very easily.
- Don't use a common word you can find in a dictionary.
- Don't use information that can be looked up or guessed, such as a birthday, anniversary, or pet's name.
- Don't use the same password for everything. If one password is compromised, all of the same ones are compromised across all your accounts.
- Don't share passwords. People with your password "are you" to a computer system, or a service.
- Don't keep the same password forever. Assume that, at some point, it will be guessed, seen, or otherwise compromised, and it must be changed.
- Don't write down passwords in the open, or save them in non-encrypted files on your computer.
Password Resources
- Are Password Management Programs Safe? — Using a password management program can help you to create and maintain strong passwords that are different for every site and service you use.
- (External) The Diceware Passphrase Homepage — A systematic method, using dice, to create a thoroughly random, yet easy-to-remember password.
- (External) LastPass Password Generator — A simple online complex password generator from a company that makes password security software.
3 Change SSID and Password
After logging-in the router's user interface:
- Click on Wireless 2.4 then Wireless Settings.
- Confirm or change the Network Name. The network name (or SSID) is the name others will see when searching for available wireless networks in the area.
- On some models you must click Advanced, Wireless, then Wireless Settings in order to change the network name.
- On some models you must click Advanced, Wireless, then Wireless Settings in order to change the network name.
- Next, click on Wireless Security and type your new password. Scroll down and click Save.
- For Version, select WPA2-PSK.
- One some models you must select the Security and then the Version. Choose WPA/WPA2 - Personal and WPA2-PSK.
- One some models you must select the Security and then the Version. Choose WPA/WPA2 - Personal and WPA2-PSK.
- Enter the password you have chosen in the box next to Password.
- Once complete, click Save.
- Your wireless security settings have now been updated and your devices may connect to it.
- Any time you change your wireless security settings you will need to reconnect your wireless devices.
- If your router is dual-band, meaning it has a 2.4 and a 5 GHz network you may need to repeat the steps listed above for each network because each network may be controlled individually. You must use different network names for each band.
- If your router has a guest network you will need to repeat the steps listed above for the guest network because it is controlled separately.
4 Keeping Your Password Secure
Some precautions should be taken in order to keep your password secure.
Best practices:
- Do not use a master password that you use everywhere (such as email, work, school, home, network)
- If possible, do not share your password with anybody.
- Passwords that are shared with others, like for a home network, should only be shared if necessary.
- Be aware when typing your password in public, or that in no way anyone is watching.
- Some types of electronic devices like computers and smartphones can remember passwords, so beware of devices that are not yours.
- Make a schedule of when to change your password. For example, every 180 days.
- It is not recommended to write down passwords. But if you have to, make sure that it is neither physically nor visually accessible by others.
Was this content helpful?
YesNoYour wireless router transmits a signal through the air and may be detected hundreds of feet away. By default, anybody nearby can use your network. It is highly recommended that you take some simple safety steps such as encrypting and also limiting access to your wireless network.
Encrypting the information that is transmitted through the air is the best way to protect communications from eavesdroppers. The two main types of encryption are Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP). WPA2 is the best choice but many older routers do not have this option. If your router doesn't have WPA2, you should upgrade.
To limit access to your router it is recommended that you use a strong password that isn't freely shared or used anywhere else.
This guide will walk you through the process of protecting your wireless network.
Encrypting the information that is transmitted through the air is the best way to protect communications from eavesdroppers. The two main types of encryption are Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP). WPA2 is the best choice but many older routers do not have this option. If your router doesn't have WPA2, you should upgrade.
To limit access to your router it is recommended that you use a strong password that isn't freely shared or used anywhere else.
This guide will walk you through the process of protecting your wireless network.
- Using a computer that is connected to the TP-Link router, open a web browser (such as Safari, Google Chrome or Internet Explorer).
- At the top of the browser is the address bar, type in http://tplinkwifi.net.
- If the address does not work, check the bottom of the router to confirm the default access address. You can also try to connect via IP address (example: http://192.168.1.1 or http://10.0.0.1)
- If you are prompted for a username and password, you may find it on the same label where your router's address is.
The default credentials are typically:
- Username: admin
- Password: admin
Wherever possible, you should pick a password that is impossible to guess and is also resistant to brute-force attacks.
Some devices or systems do not allow special characters or they may have their own requirements.
Password Dos and Don'ts
- Passwords should be long, 8-12 characters or more.
- Passwords should be something easy for you to remember, but hard for others to guess or lookup.
- Passwords should have lots of different character types: upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols.
- Replacing letters with symbols is a simple way to achieve this: use @ for a, and ( for c, as example.
- Passwords are personal, most services have a way to create a 'linked' account or share services with trusted friends and family.
- Change passwords regularly. Every 90 to 180 days; this helps keep your accounts from being compromised long-term.
- If you must write down a password or make note of it, do so only in specially designed programs, or keep and hold the physical copies with the same care and respect you would a social security card or birth certificate. Remember; anyone with your password "is you".
- Don't use short passwords; computers can guess them very easily.
- Don't use a common word you can find in a dictionary.
- Don't use information that can be looked up or guessed, such as a birthday, anniversary, or pet's name.
- Don't use the same password for everything. If one password is compromised, all of the same ones are compromised across all your accounts.
- Don't share passwords. People with your password "are you" to a computer system, or a service.
- Don't keep the same password forever. Assume that, at some point, it will be guessed, seen, or otherwise compromised, and it must be changed.
- Don't write down passwords in the open, or save them in non-encrypted files on your computer.
Password Resources
- Are Password Management Programs Safe? — Using a password management program can help you to create and maintain strong passwords that are different for every site and service you use.
- (External) The Diceware Passphrase Homepage — A systematic method, using dice, to create a thoroughly random, yet easy-to-remember password.
- (External) LastPass Password Generator — A simple online complex password generator from a company that makes password security software.
After logging-in the router's user interface:
- Click on Wireless 2.4 then Wireless Settings.
- Confirm or change the Network Name. The network name (or SSID) is the name others will see when searching for available wireless networks in the area.
- On some models you must click Advanced, Wireless, then Wireless Settings in order to change the network name.
- On some models you must click Advanced, Wireless, then Wireless Settings in order to change the network name.
- Next, click on Wireless Security and type your new password. Scroll down and click Save.
- For Version, select WPA2-PSK.
- One some models you must select the Security and then the Version. Choose WPA/WPA2 - Personal and WPA2-PSK.
- One some models you must select the Security and then the Version. Choose WPA/WPA2 - Personal and WPA2-PSK.
- Enter the password you have chosen in the box next to Password.
- Once complete, click Save.
- Your wireless security settings have now been updated and your devices may connect to it.
- Any time you change your wireless security settings you will need to reconnect your wireless devices.
- If your router is dual-band, meaning it has a 2.4 and a 5 GHz network you may need to repeat the steps listed above for each network because each network may be controlled individually. You must use different network names for each band.
- If your router has a guest network you will need to repeat the steps listed above for the guest network because it is controlled separately.
Some precautions should be taken in order to keep your password secure.
Best practices:
- Do not use a master password that you use everywhere (such as email, work, school, home, network)
- If possible, do not share your password with anybody.
- Passwords that are shared with others, like for a home network, should only be shared if necessary.
- Be aware when typing your password in public, or that in no way anyone is watching.
- Some types of electronic devices like computers and smartphones can remember passwords, so beware of devices that are not yours.
- Make a schedule of when to change your password. For example, every 180 days.
- It is not recommended to write down passwords. But if you have to, make sure that it is neither physically nor visually accessible by others.