When we talk of threats to Linksys wifi extender network, they may come from external as well as internal sources. External as in hacking attempts, phishing, and more. While internal sources may be a trusted contact violating the security without notifying the owner. Whatever the case is, there are always ways you can remediate the effects and protect your devices from risks. If you have a device like Linksys extender and are looking for information on how to secure Linksys extender from potential threats, this blog is for you.
Secure Linksys Wifi Extender
When you connect to the internet, an IP is assigned to the networking device, in this case, your Linksys extender. This is also known as the public IP address. You can trace back it easier to locate your extender and gain access to your device. Hackers may then manipulate security protocols to steal key information like banking details, SSN, and other personal data. If you do not want such a thing to happen to you, there are steps you can follow:
- Never click on suspicious links that you see on the downloading sites or third-party websites. They may lead you to websites that can collect your data, or initiate unwanted downloads to affect your computer.
- Avoid downloading software or programs from unverified sources. Such platforms may host malicious apps and software, which when run can compromise the security of your extender device and any saved data. They may also steal valuable information like credit card information, SSN, and more.
- Use a VPN while surfing the web. This will prevent access to your original extender IP address. When you browse anonymously, a fake IP will be assigned to your computer/wireless device and the extender so it can’t be traced back.
- Never open emails that you receive from unknown people. They may contain attachments that might prove fatal for your computer security.
- Always install a high-quality antivirus and keep the system firewall updated at all times. Updating the virus definitions for your antivirus is extremely important especially when there are above a thousand scams taking place every hour. This won’t just secure Linksys extender but make your computer resilient towards attacks as well.
How to Secure Linksys Extender from Potential Threats?
While threats to the public IP can be addressed using the steps discussed above, you can always protect the private IP by enforcing admin rights. When you first set up your Linksys extender, the setup wizard walks you through the steps to configure the same. Even if you chose to use the default credentials, you can now change them to even secure the network. This will help you strengthen the extender device security greatly. Here are some steps you can follow to secure your Linksys extender from potential threats:
- Login to the Linksys extender setup wizard using the default web address http://extender.linksys.com or the IP address 192.168.1.1.
- Once logged in, head to the device administration section.
- You will see the admin settings of your extender device. Locate the admin username and password fields and use the Edit button to assign new values.
- You can set a strong password using a combination of different letters, uppercase and lowercase, characters, symbols, and numbers.
- Once you have changed the values, click on the Apply Changes button.
You will now log out of the Linksys extender setup wizard. You can test the new values on the login page. Once you have set these values for your Linksys extender, you will assure of your extender’s security.