Wi-Fi Security

Home Wi-Fi is something that we often “set and forget”. You type in the password once, and your phone quietly connects forever. But it’s really a small network, just like the networks in businesses, and that means it can be attacked. Criminals target home Wi-Fi because it’s often easier to break into than a computer or phone. If they get in, they may gain access to your browsing activity, your devices, or even the data traveling across the network.¹ The goal of this page is to help you understand how these attacks work, which hopefully makes it much easier to stop them.

One common Wi-Fi attack is guessing or cracking the Wi-Fi password. If someone can figure out your Wi-Fi password (which is easy if it's the default printed on the router or something simple like "home123") they can join your network just like any other device. From there, they may snoop on traffic, try to access shared files, or attack your devices directly. Weak passwords are the first line of failure, which is why strong WPA2/WPA3 (Wi-Fi protected access) encryption and a unique password are so important.

Another attack method involves capturing the data that’s transmitted over Wi-Fi. This is known as a packet capture attack, and it’s especially effective on networks using outdated security like WEP (wired equivalent privacy) or older WPA methods.² Once an attacker captures enough encrypted data, they may be able to crack it offline using powerful computers. That’s why modern routers ship with WPA3, which is much harder, often practically impossible, to break with this method.

A more sophisticated type of attack is the evil twin attack, where an attacker creates a Wi-Fi network that looks just like yours. They’ll use the same name and similar signal strength to try and trick you into connecting to it. Your phone might even automatically connect to it if the attacker is near. Once connected, all of your internet traffic goes through the attacker’s device first, allowing them to intercept connections, redirect you to fake websites, or capture login details. This is similar to a man-in-the-middle attack but specifically designed for wireless networks.

Attackers also take advantage of router vulnerabilities. Home routers often go years without updates, even though they’re essentially small computers with operating systems. If a router has an unpatched bug, attackers may exploit it directly from the internet. In these cases, they don’t need your Wi-Fi password at all, they can break into the router itself and change settings, install malware, or reroute your traffic to malicious servers. Keeping the router updated is one of the most overlooked but powerful defenses.

Another overlooked weakness is remote administration, which allows someone to access the router’s settings from outside the home. In some cases it can be very convenient, but if attackers find that feature open (and many routers ship with it turned on) they can attempt to log in. And if the password was never changed from the default, it’s basically an open invitation. For the average user, remote administration should always be turned off unless needed.

Home Wi-Fi attacks may also target smart devices like doorbell cameras, smart TVs, lightbulbs, and even refrigerators. Many of these gadgets don’t have strong security, and some use outdated Wi-Fi standards or default passwords. Attackers may break into the weakest device on your network and use it as a foothold to attack everything else. In a way it’s crazy to think that you could be attacked through your fridge, but that’s the reality when so many things are now connected to the internet. Security professionals recommend creating a separate guest network for smart devices, keeping them isolated from your main personal devices like phone and computer.³

Now for the important part: how do you stop all this? Luckily, few of the defenses require advanced skills. The first and most important step is to change the default router password to something strong. This prevents attackers from logging into your router’s settings. Next, make sure the network uses WPA3 encryption, or WPA2 if the router doesn’t support WPA3. Avoid WEP (it’s essentially broken) and avoid leaving the network open.

Keeping your router’s firmware updated is comparable to updating your phone or laptop. These updates fix vulnerabilities before attackers can exploit them. Many modern routers can update automatically, and if yours can, enable that feature. If not, check for updates every few months. Updating a router might sound confusing, but most of the time it’s just clicking a button in the settings dashboard.

To defend against evil twin attacks and Wi-Fi snooping, it helps to set a unique network name (SSID) and disable auto-connect on your devices in public places. At home, make sure the signal is strong enough inside your walls but doesn’t bleed excessively outside. Placing the router centrally rather than next to a window can reduce the range where outsiders can pick up your signal.

For added protection, enable the router’s built in firewall. Most routers have one, but it might not be activated by default. The firewall helps block unwanted inbound traffic, basically preventing the internet from reaching into your home network unless you initiate the connection. It won’t stop all attacks, but it adds an important layer of friction for anyone trying to probe your network. Once you have the firewall configured to allow your normal network activity and block everything else, it should only hinder a potential attacker, not you.

Finally, good Wi-Fi security isn’t only about the router, it’s about the devices connected to it. Strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, updated software, and avoiding suspicious links all shrink the attack surface. Even if someone manages to access your Wi-Fi, your devices should still have their own protections. Wi-Fi security is part of a layered defense: each layer reinforces the next, making your home network much harder to compromise.

¹ “Securing Wireless Networks”, Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, February 2021
² “Intelligent Techniques for Detecting Network Attacks: Review and Research Directions”, by Aljabri, M et al., October 2021
³ “Review of Smart-Home Security Using the Internet of Things”, by Vardakis, G, Hatzivasilis, G, Koutsaki, E, and Papadakis, N, August 2024