These Wi-Fi networks are often the main target of cybercriminals. Indeed, they can use them to access all the information on the computers connected to them. On the other hand, hackers have refined their techniques. They can now access companies and organizations through home networks. Consequently, maintaining a good level of security for our home Internet network is tremendously essential. Read on to find out how to prevent a cyberattack on your Wi-Fi network.

Change the router password often

All routers come with a default password for the Wi-Fi network. In addition, this applies to both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks. Indeed, it is usually forceful with numbers and upper and lower case letters. However, being the default of the router is one of the main enemies of the security of our Wi-Fi network.

It is highly recommended that we change the password of our Wi-Fi network at least every 3 months. These passwords should be at least 16 characters each. In addition, they should randomly combine letters (upper and lower case), numbers and special characters. Obviously, this password should never be the same password that we already use for something else. Furthermore, it should not contain personal information that would make it easily deducible.

Keep the network SSID hidden

It will have happened to you on more than one occasion that when connecting any of your devices to the Wi-Fi network, you have seen how other nearby options appear. By default, all Wi-Fi networks will appear when we are in range, even if they have a password.

For this reason, it is very fascinating to hide our Wi-Fi network. By doing this, we will have total and absolute control of the people who can connect to our Wi-Fi network. In addition, we prevent any cybercriminal from knowing of its existence.

Turn off the Wi-Fi when not in use

Although it may sound too logical, the truth is that it is something we do not usually consider. If we disable our Wi-Fi network when we leave home or when we are sleeping, we will prevent anyone from accessing it.
If you are worried about disconnecting the router, all of these devices can disable the Wi-Fi network without turning off the device or disconnecting it from the power. Some may even have a dedicated button on the router itself.

Limiting the transmitting power of antennas

The routers just out of the box have a configuration in their antennas so that they can send the Wi-Fi signal as far as possible. This is obviously for homes that have large dimensions. However, it is not usually necessary for apartments or other smaller buildings.

The router’s antennas are responsible for emitting the Wi-Fi signal. If we limit the power of their emission, we will still have a signal. However, this will also mean that someone outside our home will not receive enough signal to detect the network and access it. This is one of the ways to prevent a cyberattack.

Use WPA2 encryption

Wi-Fi networks have wireless security protocols to prevent undesirables from accessing it. These have improved greatly over the years. So if your router is old or if it is misconfigured, you are probably using an older protocol that is obviously more vulnerable.

We strongly recommend using the WPA2 protocol on our routers, as it is much more difficult to decrypt. Some devices may not be compatible with it, but they should at least be compatible with WPA. However, we must do not use WEP, as it has some significant security flaws.

Invest in a good router

Listen to what I say. Cheap is often expensive. Keep in mind that the router is the device in charge of managing your entire Wi-Fi connection. Consequently, we must use reliable and durable hardware. Most of the time, our network providers usually assign us the router. Moreover, these are typically very reliable devices.

However, it may be the case that you are the one who must personally purchase your router. In that sense, it is best to choose reliable and solid brands. Keep in mind that there may be offers with cheap prices. But this does not mean that they are also good. So, it is best to go for a model from a good brand. It doesn’t matter if it means spending more money.

Okay, so we have seen how to prevent a cyberattack on your Wi-Fi network. So, I hope these tips will help you to increase the security of your connection. See you soon!

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What are the obstacles to avoid at home?

There are many obstacles in the home that have almost no effect on Wi-Fi wireless networks. However, there are others that do, and they affect it a great deal. Consequently, these are the elements that should be avoided at all costs.

Thick doors

Very thick doors are one of the main enemies of wireless WiFi networks. Logically, if we have doors at home that are too thick, we cannot remove them. However, we can keep them open so that the wireless signal can pass more easily to other rooms. It is very important in these cases to place the WiFi router or WiFi access point as centered in the house as possible. In this way we will be able to provide coverage to all addresses more or less homogeneously. Otherwise, we cannot reach the other side of the house and we will need to use WiFi repeaters, PLC with WiFi or use a WiFi mesh.

If you have very thick doors in your house, then the best thing to do is to leave them open. On the other hand, if you have the router in one of the corners of the house, then the signal will probably not reach the other side. Consequently, you would have to buy additional equipment. Such doors can attenuate the signal by up to 15dB. In other words, it greatly attenuates the wireless WiFi signal.

Metal doors

Another enemy of Wi-Fi is metals. For example, if we have metal doors in our house, we have the same problems as in the case of thick doors. This type of doors can attenuate the signal over 11dB, so it attenuates the wireless signal quite a lot. In these cases, the only thing you can do is to leave the doors open, and follow the same recommendations as in the previous case.

Nowadays, it is quite rare to have metal doors at home. However, it is possible that we do have some fire doors in our home that are usually metal and with special reinforcement of the same. In these cases, we must consider that it will attenuate the wireless Wi-Fi signal quite a lot.

Concrete or cement walls

Concrete and cement is another enemy of Wi-Fi. Generally, houses are built with these materials, so the signal can be attenuated up to 12dB if we try to pass through rooms that have walls of this type. For this reason, it is significant to place the Wi-Fi router in a central location and away from nearby obstacles. This way we can have a fairly homogeneous coverage at home.

In a house with plasterboard walls we will notice that the wireless Wi-Fi coverage will be clearly better than in concrete, cement or brick walls. In a house with plasterboard walls we will notice that the wireless Wi-Fi coverage will be clearly better than in concrete, cement or brick walls. Indeed, it takes much less time to install this type of wall than to build a brick wall.

Glass and mirrors

Window or door glass, as well as mirrors that we may have around the house and even in the bathroom, are also one of the enemies of Wi-Fi wireless networks. This type of material greatly attenuates the wireless signal. For this reason, there is usually not much Wi-Fi coverage in bathrooms. In addition, we must also consider that we have the bathroom walls and the corresponding tiling on the walls. So, this is attached to the general painting.

You will notice the attenuation by the glass if you have a garden and the Wi-Fi router is located in the living room. As a result, you will quickly notice that the signal received by the Wi-Fi client is clearly lower, and that as soon as you move into the living room the coverage is maximum.

Windows with glass and metal frames

Large windows with glass and metal frames are an awful combination for Wi-Fi wireless network coverage. Generally, these elements give access to the garden or patio of the house. If so, you will probably have to install an outdoor Wi-Fi access point. There are now high-end Wi-Fi Mesh systems available that have outdoor Mesh nodes. Their goal is to have the best possible performance.

Very well, in this way we have seen the 5 obstacles that most affect the Wi-Fi network. Therefore, you have more ways to avoid these obstacles and improve your connection. Bye!

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What are router ports?

A router is an essential element for Internet browsing. This device allows you to connect to other devices, either by cable or via Wi-Fi. A router is an essential element for Internet browsing. This device allows you to connect to other devices, either by cable or via Wi-Fi. Consequently, it manages the data we send and receive. Thus, when you access a website, the router acts as an intermediary between the website servers and the computer or cell phone you are using.

Now, what are ports? They are the gateways that the router uses for all the information to pass through. This is where all the information that we send or receive from the network is going to pass through. Therefore, whether these ports are open or closed can be decisive for the data to enter better. A domestic router, whether ADSL or fiber optic, will have a total of 65536 ports. Obviously, it is not necessary to open or use all of them. Many of them have a specific function that is important, but most of them are not really used.

Why router ports are important

These ports are going to act for data input and output. Therefore, if you have any of them closed when using an application that needs it, you may see that the connection is slow or there are cuts. For example, when downloading files or initiating a video call. Consequently, you will need to know exactly which program is used by which program. The information exchanged with the connection could be blocked or even fail to reach the destination, regardless of whether it works better or worse.

In such a case, it is necessary to act. We must know which ports are used by a certain application, for example, and open them correctly in the router. We will see that there are different types and also methods to open them, as well as thousands of ports available.

Types of router ports

The ports are supervised through IANA, an entity that is in charge of assigning them at a global level. Some ports are used by certain system services, router services or protocols. Others, on the other hand, are used for applications that connect to the Internet. For example, video call programs, games, downloads, etc.

• System ports: Those ranging from 0 to 1023. These are those reserved for the operating system and different protocols. For example, 20 is used by FTPS, 21 Ftps, 22 SSH or 25 SMTP.
• Registered ports: They are those for programs or games. They are usually configured during the installation process of that application. They range from 1024 to 49151. For example, we can name the 1194 used by OpenVPN in some NAS or 6881 used by BitTorrent.
• Private or dynamic ports: On the other hand, 49152 to 65535 are the applications that connect to a server. We will also use them in some applications that we install.

How to open router ports

We have already seen how many ports there are and what they are. Well, let’s go into the procedure to open it. Don’t worry, it is a simple procedure. Besides, at some point we will have to do it to ensure that a program works properly. The paths vary depending on the router model we have.

However, a fundamental element is to know the default gateway. Most likely it is 192.168.1.1, but this may vary. To find out what it is in your case, in Windows, you can go to the Terminal and run the ipconfig command. You will see different connection data and one of them is the gateway to access the device.

Consequently, the first thing to do is to set the default gateway and enter the router configuration. You also need to know the login details. The password, if you have not changed it, is usually of the type 1234, admin123 and similar. However, we recommend that you change this password and never leave the factory default.

Let’s get to work!

Depending on the router model, you may need to know your private IP. No problem, as this info is also in ipconfig. Basically, it is the IP of the device where you are going to play or install the program where you need to have those ports open. After obtaining this data, it is time to go to the router configuration. Once there, just open the corresponding section. Next, it is important to enter essential data. Namely, the port number (you can also put a range of several), the protocol it uses and the IP address. You can also give it a name to know in the future to which application or service it belongs.

On some models you will see that default applications are provided. This makes it easier to open the ports. In fact, just check the Default option, and you will see a menu with different programs and choose the one you are interested in. This will apply the corresponding changes without having to set anything manually.

In addition, it is a mistake to open more ports than you really need. Ultimately, the more you have open, the more exposed you are to potential network attacks. Think of your router as a large building that you want to protect; the fewer ports you have open, the better.

Enable UPnP

An alternative option is to use the UPnP protocol. This is not something that is on all routers, but it is on many. The acronym stands for Universal Plug and Play, and its function is to open or close router ports automatically. Specifically, when installing an application that requires it. It is very intriguing since we do not have to touch anything manually.

For example, if you use a video game console or a computer game, having it enabled means that it will open the necessary ports automatically. Furthermore, the good thing is that when they are not being used, it will close them again without us having to do anything. It will also help reduce the risk of security problems.

To activate the UPnP protocol in the router, you have to access the configuration and go to advanced settings. It will depend on the exact model, but you have to search for UPnP and activate the button. Once done, you will have to apply the changes to take effect, and you will be able to open or close ports automatically.

Which router ports to open

You may be wondering which ports to open. There are thousands, as we have indicated. Logically, it is not good to have all of them open for security reasons. In fact, the ideal is to open only those that you really need. For example, ports specific to an application or protocol.

Therefore, let’s take a look at the main ports that you will need to open to use some devices or services correctly. For example, a printer, a Skype video call. Furthermore, to connect a game console to the network so that the games run smoothly, without any interruption.

For the printer

When connecting a printer to the network, connectivity problems may occur. Occasionally, the cause is not having the ports open. It is important to know which ones are used and to open them in the router if necessary to make it work in the best possible way. In the instruction manual or by doing an Internet search, you will be able to see exactly which ones it uses.

However, the usual port that you must open for the printer to work properly is 9100. Other common ports are 9101, 9102, 2501, 5001, 9600, 631, 6310 or 161. All of them work for certain processes and models.

On the other hand, if you decide to open the ports, you should bear in mind the importance of updating the printer and making sure that it is protected at all times. There have been cases of cyberattacks that, for example, exploited vulnerabilities and had port 9100 opens. This flaw affected brands such as Canon and HP. You should always have all patches installed to resolve problems of this type.

Internet gaming on the PC

Another reason for wanting to open router ports is to play online games on the computer. This can be essential to keep the ping as low as possible and to avoid outages. The goal is to achieve a smooth connection and that data can travel easily. Keep in mind that our computer will have to connect to the game servers.

Now, which ports to open to play over the Internet? This will depend on the game itself. Consequently, you will need to know the ports it uses. However, there are some general ports that are usually required: 53, 80 and 443. They are used by the DNS service, browsing through HTTP and through HTTPS, respectively.

Connecting game consoles

In addition to opening ports to play on the Internet from the computer, it is also important to consider which ports should be opened on the game consoles. Each one will have a series of ports that we must open so that they work as well as possible. In this way there will not be any type of cut or speed failure. You must know which is the IP in each case to be able to configure it.

P2P Downloads

When downloading through P2P applications, it is also significant to open the ports. If you have ever used programs such as eMule or Lphant, you will surely remember the bandage next to the icon. That meant that the ports were closed and downloads were very slow, so if you use P2P programs to download files, whatever they are, you should be aware of which ports they use. Consequently, open them in the router so that the speed is adequate and problems do not appear.

For example, in the case of BitTorrent, which is one of the most popular applications, ports 9881-9999 TCP are used. However, you should know which ones are used by the program you are going to use to avoid malfunctioning. You may notice a significant difference in download speed if the ports are open or not.

Video calls

When you make a video call, you need an optimal connection. After all, you are sending and receiving numerous data, and it is important that the image is not interrupted. Therefore, you will also need to open certain ports to ensure a smooth connection and a good result.

Conclusions

Therefore, as you have been able to see in many occasions, it is necessary to open the router ports. For example, to play games over the Internet, to use video calling applications or P2P downloads. You must know exactly which ones to open. Furthermore, the steps to follow depend on the device you are using

However, as we have explained, you should bear in mind that opening router ports should be an exception. That is, you should not leave more ports open than you really need. Indeed, you could be exposing security and end up being a problem instead of a solution or an improvement. As an alternative to having to open ports manually, we have also explained the UPnP protocol alternative to open and close ports automatically. This is done when an app requires the use of the port. This feature is present in many routers. See you later!

The post Which ports should I open in the router for each task? appeared first on Linux Windows and android Tutorials.

From the Browser

This is the most commonly used method and is identical to access from the PC. You can use the browser of your choice. It is also faster and does not require any additional software to be installed.

First step

Open the browser on your phone and enter the following IP address of your WIFI Router 192.168.1.1. You should note that this information may vary according to the brand of your Router.

Second step

You will then see a login screen depending on your router manufacturer. Then enter your username and password. If none of the parameters have been changed then both are usually “admin”. I also recommend you to check this website, it has a list of usernames and passwords used by most manufacturers.

Using the Router app

If you have a relatively modern Router and from a manufacturer like ASUS, Netgear, Google, TP-Link, Lynksys, Xiaomi, Dlink… It is very likely that in Google Play you will find a dedicated app for your Router. These apps offer some new features and advantages that you would not normally find in the PC version. So you should give them a try. Depending on the manufacturer the app will be different. You can download the app of the most popular manufacturers by following the links below:

Linksys
ASUS Router
Google Wifi
TP-Link Tether
D-Link Wi-Fi
Mi Wi-Fi

Conclusion

Accessing the configuration of your router is quite simple. All users should have this information. We also recommend that you change the default passwords as soon as you log in to improve your security. Thanks for reading. Bye!

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What is QoS?

It is a mechanism that allows the router to manage the bandwidth of the connection. To do so, it ensures traffic prioritization and guarantees a minimum bandwidth. It also measures bandwidth and prioritizes packets according to priority queues. It also analyzes the type of traffic generated. As a result, it gives higher priority to one type of traffic than to another. The first thing the router does is to determine the type of packet. Then, it puts it in a queue. Now, depending on the configuration of the router, one queue will move faster than another. But it will always guarantee a minimum bandwidth for each packet. This guarantees an equal distribution of bandwidth.

This tool has practical uses. For example, the requirement of a user watching videos on YouTube is different from that of a user playing video games. Therefore, QoS organizes and prioritizes bandwidth consumption.

How to activate the QoS mode in the router.

This technology has been with us for some time. Therefore, it is most likely that your router has this capability. So the first thing you have to do is to enter the IP address configuration. In my case, the address is http://192.168.1.1/. Please note that the direction varies according to the model. Once the page opens, just enter your user credentials:

Then, just go to the QoS section and finally activate it.

Creating QoS connection rules.

This tool not only optimizes network traffic. It also allows you to create custom connection rules. By means of these rules, it is possible to limit the bandwidth. Either for upload or download. Moreover, these rules are applied according to IP address or MAC address. In this case, I will limit the downstream bandwidth to a specific MAC address.

You can add the necessary rules to control both downstream and upstream packets. You just need to know the local IP address or MAC address. Okay, so we have seen what QoS is and how to activate it on the router. See you soon!

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Taskbar icon is the quickest option

Obviously, the option to check the taskbar is the fastest. Indeed, the connection icon shows the Wi-Fi signal strength level. And not only that of the current connection, but also that of other available networks. If by any chance it is not displayed, please click on the arrow to show hidden icons.

Using PowerShell to measure Wi-Fi signal strength.

On the other hand, there are formulas to obtain a more accurate measurement. For this, you have to use PowerShell. For this purpose, press the Win+X combination and launch PowerShell.

Then, you just have to run the following command:

netsh wlan show interfaces

The image shows the magnitude of the wifi signal expressed as a percentage.

Using the command prompt to view the Wi-Fi signal strength.

Another option to appreciate the value of this variable is with the system symbol. With this in mind, press the Win+R combination to invoke the run box. Once there, type CMD.

Then, you only have to run the following command:

 netsh wlan show interfaces

Once again, you can see the signal strength expressed as a percentage. Very well, this way we have seen how to check the WiFi signal strength in Windows 10. Small data like this allow improving the understanding of the network connection. See you later!

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Brief introduction about Simple Port Forwarding

This is a free program focused on the management of router connection ports. Of course, this can be done through the router configuration itself. However, this program has a very intuitive interface. In addition, it also offers a portable version in addition to the executable version. So once run, you just have to search for your router version. Currently, there is support for more than 3000 routers available. If not available, you can choose a compatible one or request the inclusion of the model. On the other hand, the app automatically detects the IP of the router. It even offers a window with a web interface for access. Simple Port Forwarding allows you to set your IP address as static temporarily. In addition, it is possible to change the DNS connection.

How to open and manage ports easily with Simple Port Forwarding.

The app has support for multiples. In addition, the program knows the ports used by hundreds of applications. On the other hand, a complete wizard is provided for this task.

How to modify ports with the program

For this purpose, it is necessary to work with the supplementary window of the program. Please click on item 4.

A new window will be displayed immediately. Once there, you can select the specific application. The tool stores the necessary port settings for each program. Likewise, it is possible to add a new configuration for any other software. With this in mind, just drop down the list of possible apps.

In addition, we can also select P2P programs. This is very important since most of these programs require opening certain ports.

Change router ports manually

We can also customize the port management. To do so, click on Add Custom. A new window will be displayed. There you must configure a series of specific parameters.

In this section you can add a name to the defined task. You can also tell the program the type of connection, or the ports we will use.

Ultimately we have seen how to easily open and manage ports in Windows 10. This tool is very easy to use and has several configuration options. See you later!

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Here’s a short summary of VPNFilter working system.

More devices prone to infection

Now, we know more shocking news about its hidden power! According to Cisco Talos security team, the malware is also able to infect devices from UPVEL, Ubiquiti, D-Link, ASUS, ZTE and Huawei devices! With this discovery, the total number of vulnerable device models have gone straight up from 16 to 71 with the possibility of more vulnerable device models.

In the meantime, the malware is spreading really fast with 500,000+ confirmed, infected routers and NAS devices across 54 countries.

VPNFilter plugins

In addition, researchers also discovered new abilities of the VPNFilter malware. These enhancements come up as third-sate plugins as a part of the malware’s tri-stage deployment system.

Here are all the 4 known plugins to date.

• ssler – Intercepts and modifies web traffic on port 80 using man-in-the-middle attack. It’s also able to downgrade traffic from HTTPS to HTTP.
• dstr – Overwrites device’s firmware files.
• ps – This plugin can sniff network packets and identify certain types of network traffic. According to Cisco, this plugin is to identify Modbus TCP/IP packets, often used by SCADA equipment and industrial software. The latest report also claims that this plugin also looks for industrial equipment connecting over TP-Link R600 virtual private network.
• tor – VPNFilter uses this plugin for communicating with a “command & control” server via the Tor network.

How to stay secured

There are several steps that you can do to keep your device secured. However, rebooting your device isn’t enough anymore.

First of all, change the default username and password of the router’s access page. You also have to upgrade your device’s firmware to the latest possible version. Disable the remote administration in your router’s settings. It’s also recommended to reset your router to factory default, but be careful as rearranging router settings to the previous stage can be painful for general users.

For performing these actions, follow the instructions from your router’s manufacturer page. In the future, better routers are going to come out that can fight against VPNFilter. Moreover, those will come up with WPA3 as the default protocol. Learn more about WPA3.

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