Control Who's on Your Home Network
Unlike locking the door to your home, you only need to secure your home network once to be safe. Ensure your system is as tight as possible.
Keeping your Viasat Internet wireless system secure has never been more important!
Network poachers can slow down your network, while hackers could gain access to financial and other personal information. Anyone within range of your Wi-Fi signal can jump onto your network, so it's worth taking the time to ensure you have strong security in place.
For Important Basic Security, Follow These Steps
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Step 1:
Create a strong password or ratchet up the strength of your password.
- A strong password is your first line of defense against poachers.
Step 2:
The next level of security involves changing your network visibility settings.
Doing so will ensure your Wi-Fi signal doesn't appear among the list of nearby, active networks.
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You'll need to turn off your Service Set Identifier or SSID, which is the public name of your wireless network, e.g., "JonesHome."
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To turn off your router's SSID broadcasting or visibility, open your browser and type your router's IP address into the address bar.
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Your router's IP address is on the bottom of your router or in the user manual or setup software (for example: 192.168.0.1).
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Step 3:
The router settings page will appear.
You may be required to log in to change your settings.
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If you do not know the username, your router's owner's manual will provide it, or you may look online by searching "default username for router" and look for your router type in the list.
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A typical default username is "Admin," Your password is your Wi-Fi password, NOT your Viasat password. Some routers show the password on a label on the router.
Step 4:
Once you are logged in, disable your SSID broadcast.
- Every wireless router settings page is a bit different, so if the setting isn't obvious, check your manual or the manufacturer's website support pages to find it. Some are labeled "closed" or "visibility" settings.
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Cell phones, tablets, and computers typically have an "Other" option at the end of the list of (non-hidden) wireless networks. When you select "Other," you will be able to type in your wireless network's name. Your network name will typically be case-sensitive. Some devices will also have a box you need to check that says, "Connect even if the network is not broadcasting."
Additional Tips
Here are a few other things you can do to help keep yourself safe from online threats:
- Don't open messages from unknown sources – delete or disregard them.
- Don't share personal information or passwords with other people; when creating a website, mix upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and special characters for a minimum of 10 characters.
- Log out before leaving a website – particularly private websites with sensitive information, such as your banking site.
- When making purchases online, use alternate payment services such as PayPal, Google Checkout, or Amazon when available. Always look for an "HTTPS" in your browser's address bar when sending card information and regularly check your credit card statements so you can dispute unauthorized charges.
- Turn on multifactor authentication (MFA).
- Update Software.
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