Home Network Security: Protect Your Family against Internet Threats
Many of us have placed low or no priority on our home networks until recently when we have to spend most, if not all working hours, days, and years on the same home network since the Covid-19 pandemic forced most of us to work from home starting March 2020. The fast, stable home network is now of high priority. However, we have placed the least attention on home network security outside of the WiFi password. In the wake of malicious constant bombardments of our homes network and children especially with nefarious information, online bullying and ever-increasing hacks and cruel information leaks/privacy violations to the protection from and on the internet; Home Network Security must be given urgent attention now!
In this post, I will recommend a high-level security practice to secure our network at home for work and the entire family. The methodology & technology I will mention here is purely what I have used. You are free to choose any technology that can provide the same feature.
Home Network Security Guides
1. Get your wireless router
I will strongly recommend that you buy your own Wireless Router besides the one provided by your internet provider. Most preferably a Dual Band wireless router in other to get better internet quality over 5 GHz. Connect the new router to one of the Ethernet ports of the provider’s WiFi router. This will help to create a good layer of network segregation besides the fact that you can configure the new wireless device just the way you believe it is most secure. Configure as many devices that support 5GHz to use the band. Do check this guide for suggestions on which WiFi Band Should I Use for My Device?
2. The router you choose in #1 above must have the following
- Threat protection functionality with built-in Antivirus to help defend against malicious websites and others
- Parental control feature that helps you regulate the kid’s internet contents and internet screen time.
- Seamless wireless connections around your home, i.e. roaming capability especially when you have a fairly big or multi-level house.
- Reporting capability
- Support for IOT (Internet of Things) i.e. smart home technologies
Personally, I have used the TP-Link Deco M9 Plus to meet the requirements above and that served me well. Again I am only stating what I have used but there are other products most definitely out there.
If you run a small business and you also work from home I will recommend that you check out Network Security for Small Business
3. A dedicated separate security device.
Using a dedicated network security device is also recommended. Perhaps your current network route does not have the features above or rather you are like me that later was fed up with one of the biggest annoyances or I can classify this as a threat that I needed to address i.e. Ads. Ads and adware are a new menace that tracks, follows, and shows up everywhere in our internet life. So I researched, and tried some products but finally settled for a device called Firewalla. The device met my following requirements at good a price as well. Below are the top features for me.
- Ads Blocking
- Active protection by automatically blocking high-risk network activities including features to protect entire families from violent and porn internet content coupled with safe search.
- Force DNS over HTTPS – privacy & security of Domain query
- Relevant security events notifications (e.g. upload event to specific cloud servers with location details and an option to block)
- Send selected devices’ traffic through a VPN tunnel.
- No additional software to implement on individual devices
In my experience as a father, I believe the home should be a safe haven while embracing freedom and the essential use of the internet. The above deployment options are based on my choices after I have tried so many approaches to my home network and ward security.
Have you used any different techniques, technologies and methodologies to secure your home network? Please share below in the comment section.
