Is the wifi password that came with my router good enough, or do I need to change something?
Nope, definitely change it. If you leave the default password on there, anybody who can see your network can easily look up the generic password online and jump right onto your internet.
Quick things to check first
- Grab a device already connected to your wifi, open a web browser, and type your router’s IP address (usually something like 192.168.1.1) into the top address bar to see the login screen.
- Look at the sticker on the back or bottom of your router to find the default admin username and password the factory gave you.
- Log in using those default credentials, find the settings section for “Administration” or “Security,” and change that admin password to something only you know.
If that didn’t fix it
- While you’re logged into that router web interface, find the wireless settings to change your actual wifi network name (SSID) and wifi password. You don’t have to use the random network name printed on the box, and making a custom wifi password stops neighbors from mooching.
- Look for a “Firmware Update” or “Router Update” button in the admin panel and click it. Keeping the router’s software updated patches security holes so hackers can’t sneak in through old flaws.
When to call a pro
If you change the password and save it, but the router suddenly stops responding completely and you can’t get back into the admin screen even after rebooting it, you’ve likely bricked the device and need a pro. Also, if you notice weird unrecognized devices eating up your bandwidth in the admin panel even after changing all your passwords, you might have deeper malware on your network that needs a professional to scrub.
Pro tip
Change both your router’s admin password and your actual wifi password right after you set up a new router. Don’t just reuse your old wifi password if it was something easy to guess, and update your passwords every few months if you ever notice your internet acting sluggish or dropping connections.