For better home Wi-Fi security, change the router’s default administrator password, install current firmware, use WPA2 or WPA3 encryption, and turn off remote access and network services you do not need. Also choose a Wi-Fi name that does not reveal your household or router details. Menu names and available controls differ by router; check the current manual or manufacturer support page before changing an unfamiliar setting.
1. Change the router administrator password
Replace the default password used to sign in to the router’s settings with a unique, strong password. This is separate from the password people use to join Wi-Fi. A strong Wi-Fi password does not protect the router’s control panel if its administrator credentials remain unchanged.
CISA recommends changing default passwords and credentials supplied with equipment. If you use an ISP-managed router and cannot change the administrator password, ask your provider what access and security options it supports.
2. Update the router’s firmware
Install available security updates, and enable automatic updates if the router offers that option. Firmware updates patch weaknesses in the software that runs the router. CISA’s Internet Exposure Reduction Guidance, published June 4, 2025, recommends applying security patches and changing default passwords.
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Some internet providers manage firmware updates on their customers’ behalf. If the router’s interface does not offer an update control, ask the provider how updates are delivered rather than assuming the device is current.
3. Choose a supported Wi-Fi security mode
Set wireless security to WPA2 or WPA3, using the strongest option that works with the devices in your home. CISA’s telework guidance recommends WPA2 or WPA3 and advises disabling WEP and legacy WPA modes. The guidance does not establish that every household device supports WPA3, so check device compatibility if switching modes causes connection problems.
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Do not leave the network on WEP or legacy WPA just to accommodate an older device. Check the router and device makers’ guidance for a secure compatibility option; if an essential device cannot use a supported mode, consider whether it should remain connected.
4. Choose a non-identifying Wi-Fi name
Change the default network name (SSID) if it reveals the router’s manufacturer or model, or identifies your household or physical location. CISA advises against including those details in the SSID. A less revealing name is a privacy measure, not a substitute for encryption or a strong Wi-Fi password.
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Disable internet-facing router management unless you have a specific need for it. Also review UPnP, DMZ, remote upgrade, and other services, turning off those your household does not require. These features can create network paths or expose services; disabling them without checking dependencies, however, may disrupt applications or devices that rely on them.
Before turning off UPnP or DMZ, check the requirements for any game, application, or device that may depend on them. If you keep a service enabled, understand why it is needed and follow the router maker’s security guidance. CISA and NSA also advise consulting vendor hardening guidance and weighing configuration changes against their effect on users.
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6. Check whether the router still receives security support
Look up the support or end-of-life status for the exact router model on its manufacturer’s site. If it no longer receives security updates, CISA advises replacing unsupported equipment. When comparing replacements, check that the exact model receives updates, supports WPA2 or WPA3 for your household’s devices, and provides manageable firmware and administrator controls. CISA does not endorse a particular router brand or model.
7. Consider protective DNS if your router supports it
CISA’s 2020 telework guidance recommends using a protective DNS service. The cited guidance does not identify or compare providers, so it does not establish which service is best. Check your router’s documentation and your provider’s options before changing DNS settings.
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Where to find these controls
Router menus vary by manufacturer, model, firmware, and internet provider. Look in the router’s administration interface for sections such as Security, Wireless, Administration, Firmware Update, Remote Management, or Services, but treat these as examples rather than guaranteed labels. Use the current manual or support page for your exact model. ISP-provided equipment may restrict settings or handle updates automatically; contact the provider if a control is missing or locked.
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