We have to be honest and admit it: none of us could live without the Internet. Well, maybe I could, but... Would it be worth it? Jokes aside, all of us go about our daily lives with our cell phones in tow, ready to receive and respond to messages, or to consult anything on the internet or in an application. In this post we are going to see how to set up a wireless guest network, with the aim that anyone who passes by our house can use it.
Is it necessary to do something like this? Isn't it enough that we give them the password for the home WiFi? We could do it, of course, although from a security point of view that would not be the most intelligent thing.
The reason for this is malware and its ability to infect devices connected to the same network. An example would be this: one of our guests, to whom we have provided access to our WiFi network, unintentionally downloads a malicious program to his mobile phone. Malware can use our home network to infect all the devices connected to it: our cell phones, computers, tablets, etc. A disaster.
By creating a guest wireless network we are restricting the scope of these potential attacks. If these happen, the damage will be limited. With this wifi network only for visitors and guests, We can continue to be hospitable hosts without having to risk our own safety. It serves to illustrate this that this is the option that rental apartment owners usually use to offer their tenants.
What exactly is a wireless guest network?
The guest wireless network can be defined as an isolated access point connected to our router. Under normal circumstances, all the devices we have at home connect to the router through a specific point, joining together to form a network. The case of the guest network is the same, with the only difference that use another access point.
With this system, our guests will be able to connect to the Internet through the home router, but they will not be able to access the rest of the home network (if we do not allow it, of course). Another advantage of this idea is that Hosts can control broadband connection speed, something recommended to prevent connected visitors from using all the bandwidth and Internet use for the rest from losing speed and fluidity.
Set up a wireless guest network step by step
Although it may seem complicated, the truth is that Creating one of these isolated networks is quite simple. There is no need to plug in new cables, nor request permissions of any kind from the internet service provider company. The home router, no matter what type it is, has an option to carry out this operation. We explain how to do it:
- To begin with, We go to our computer and in the browser search bar we enter the IP address of our router. We can find it in the user manual of the device. If we do not have it at hand, we can try 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1, which are the most common.
- Below is a dialog box in which we have to write our administrator username and password.
- Then, in the section on router settings, we activate the option “Authorize access to guests or Guest Network”. Sometimes it comes with different names, depending on the router model.
- We select the check box and we add the name of the guest network (In the control panel of certain routers, it is designated as SSID). This will be the name of the network that our guests will see on their devices when they try to connect.
After completing these steps, the new guest wireless network will become available, although in some cases it may take several minutes for it to become visible.
Some recommendations for safety
Now that we have configured our wireless network for guests at home, before freely offering it to visitors, it is advisable to take into account some measures to reinforce our own security. Take note of them:
- First of all: it is necessary set a new password for the new network. This way, only people to whom we have provided this password will have access to it.
- It is also convenient set encryption type, selected WPA2, the most reliable algorithm that exists on current devices. This is necessary to prevent information transmitted over WiFi from being intercepted by third parties.
- Another thing to do is uncheck the box for “Authorize guests to access local network resources”. This is a setting that does not always appear as optional, but if it is, it is better to use it.
- Finally, you have to deactivate the “Authorize access to settings” option, if it exists.