Securing Your Home Network

Hey, keep your hands off my broadband!

We’re taught from childhood that sharing is caring, but—like a stomach bug at crèche—not everything should be shared. So while it’s great to invite beloveds into your home and onto your network, without proper security, you could unwittingly host a block party.

Safety First

What’s wrong with a block party—the more, the merrier, right? Wrong. It’s not about having more than enough gigs to go around (yeah, uncapped 1Gbps line, we’re looking at you), it’s about leaving yourself vulnerable to theft and attack.

Sadly, there’s a society of seedy characters who steal sensitive personal data and do your network harm. We’re talking about malware like ransomware, viruses, Trojans, worms—you get the gist.

We understand some attacks, like cloning your identity, passwords etc. Rendering your computer utterly useless? Who knows? What’s certain is that cyber-attacks seek out soft targets, namely, your home network.

Here’s a couple need-toknows when securing your home network.

Personalise

The Internet’s underbelly drifters love default settings. Change default names, usernames and especially passwords (including administrative ones), and often! Brute force attacks don’t take long.

Think like a criminal. “TP-Link_AP0X7X” simply tells attackers which model to Google to find the device’s vulnerabilities.

Now here’s the kicker: personalise but don’t use personal information. Steer away from your name and other personal identifying information. Random is your friend. A network name like “Benjamin FrankLAN” works well. Of course, you could hide your SSID for added protection.

For passwords, string two or three random words together, toggle the case, sprinkle with numbers and special characters—Voila. E.g. Panda + Shoelace = p@nda5hoELAace. It’s memorable, but not personal.

Encrypt

Enable encryption with WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) or WPA 2, which is even better! Forget about WEP altogether. Here’s how to activate the best encryption for your network.

Secure End Points

Remember that your network is made up of all the devices that connect to it. Your computer, cell phone, tablet, SMART TV—all of those need to be secure too. Remove default names and install anti-virus software wherever possible.

Bonus Tips. Pull a Snowden and cover-up webcams. For extra measure, turn off your wi-fi when you’re not home- you’re not using it after all.

Update

While speaking of software, make sure that your router’s is up to date. Each new update is a better version, where kinks and bugs have been worked out. Download security patches to plug holes for cybercriminals.

Scorched Earth

A firewall is a network security system (combo of software and hardware) that monitors incoming and outgoing network traffic, allowing or blocking specific traffic based on predefined security rules.

You know how burning a strip of grass prevents fires from spreading? That’s sort of what a firewall does. It creates a barrier. In fact, firewalls add a double layer of security. Whatever manages to leap the hurdle is thoroughly screened as well (learn more about How Firewalls Protect.
That’s really just the tip of the iceberg. There are more advanced tips and tricks to turn your network into Fort Knox, but we’ll leave it there for today. If you’d like to know anything specific, email us on sales@bitcohome.co.za, and you could inspire an all-new post!

Until then, if you’re looking for hassle-free, lightning-fast home fibre Internet you’ve come to the right place.

Career options in the industry

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Becoming a Blockchain Developer

Bitcoin.com news indicates that there are several avenues of becoming a developer including learning computer languages and codes, a formal university degree and/or a self-taught blockchain development. Bitcoin also advises aspiring developers to attend a (white hat) hackathon because a hacker mentality helps make good blockchain developers since it fosters a unique way of thinking. Hackers tend to think outside the box when faced with problems and obstacles, rather than engage in conventional thinking.

Required skills

Blockchain technology field is pure programming, hence, computer science skills are essential and intensive. Different coins and blockchains use a particular blockchain programming language. Additionally, web development skills are important as a blockchain developer. Networking and security skills may also be required for back-end development work. Furthermore, a good blockchain developer works well with a team and can collaborate. The ideal blockchain developer knows when to ask for help with a problem and when to simply keep plugging away by themselves until they arrive at the answer. So, the best candidate for blockchain development works well with others, knows his or her limitations, and can approach problems in an unconventional and critical fashion.