When establishing any good network, you’ll need good WiFi passwords. Deciding on your password is one of the most important choices to make when protecting your network. It might be the decision between stopping or allowing hackers to attack your internet and its users.
A “good” choice is something strong, uncommon, and with a mixture of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. It is a real barricade against threats, and you can set it up by logging into your router settings online.
In this guide, we’ll introduce you to the simple steps behind choosing the best possible WiFi password. You’ll learn the process, how to protect your network, get examples, and discover the “why” behind this common practice. This guide has all the good stuff.
We are big believers that the best course of action is first truly to understand. Give us five minutes, and you’ll be ready to secure your WiFi with style!
Using WiFi Passwords Beyond Recreational Use
Firstly, it’s essential to establish the different domains of WiFi. Not all WiFi is simply responsible for recreational use at home. Some of us rely on a good WiFi password to protect our internet to work from home. Others are responsible for safeguarding guest WiFi for businesses offering complimentary connections.
In these scenarios, your guest access password is even more critical. You’ve got to make it both compliant and secure. It isn’t just you that you’re responsible for, but the security of your guests. That’s definitely added pressure.
It’s easy to see why businesses take password combinations seriously. The security of your internet can actually reinforce or damage your business reputation and customer relationships.
Beyond recreational use, your ability to create a strong password faces additional legal, moral, and business-minded demands.
How To Make a Good WiFi Password: 4 Steps To Take
Knowing how to make a good WiFi password is essential, especially when running a business. There are a few ways to increase its strength, including making it harder to guess and for hackers to crack.
As part of your preparations, you should really learn about WiFi security types in detail. But if you want a quick summary, here are the top ways to create a secure password.
1. Use Special Characters
Always “spice” up your passwords with features like special characters. This creates a more complex password that’s harder to guess.
Only set ones are allowed, so check which special characters are okay to use beforehand. It will save you the time and frustration of blindly clicking through your keypad.
2. Avoid Guessable or Common Passwords
Anything guessable (we’re looking at you, “123”) is a huge no-go for security. Similarly, common passwords can potentially endanger your business’ safety. Forget anything like “password” or even your date of birth or business name.
You’ve got to make it different. For instance, if you run a cafe and want to keep it themed, you could use “macchiato$2.50.” You wouldn’t use your cafe’s name.
3. Try Personal Mnemonic Devices
At the same time, you want your password to complement your overall business branding. For instance, like that macchiato ploy we used above, you can use passwords to your advantage. There’s no reason you can’t guard your WiFi networks in a fun and beneficial way.
Why not try mnemonic devices to help guests remember passwords? These involve strategies like chunking and acronyms.
4. Don’t Just Use Lowercase
Never use only lowercase letters. If you are the designated password manager, use as many upper- and lowercase letters as possible. It all makes your code more unique and secure.
How To Protect Your WiFi Password: 3 Steps To Take
What about once you’ve set your perfect password? What steps do you take then? Well, your password isn’t just a protective tool but something you should also guard. It isn’t a standalone defense.
Here’s how to protect your WiFi password in three simple steps.
1. Be Wary Who You Give It To
Your first approach should always be to be wary of who you give your WiFi password to. Not everyone deserves it; if you can, limit it to customers only.
This is part of the reason many businesses include WiFi passwords on receipts only. It just filters people a little. Of course, it also means your business isn’t full of people milking you for your internet, but that’s another story.
2. Back It With Software
You should back your WiFi with software, and routers should have antivirus software for protection, too. People often mistakenly think devices like laptops and mobiles need these forces. But your router is actually one of the most vulnerable parts of the chain.
You can also download captive portal software for extra safety, but we’ll discuss that in a second.
3. Change It Regularly
We hate to say it, but half of protecting something is knowing when to call it a day. To keep your network secure, you should regularly change your password combinations.
If you have no security concerns, aim to change your password at least once a year. But if you do, you should change it immediately.
Beambox: The Step Before Good WiFi Passwords
That’s right, you heard us. There’s a step you should be taking before brainstorming WiFi passwords. If you’re a business owner, you should be creating a captive portal software.
A funny guest WiFi network name never goes amiss. But there’s just something extra important about that login process — whether it’s using a strong password or a captive system. The issue with using even a secure password alone is that it’s still vulnerable. People can guess passwords, hackers can extract information, and eventually, these details need replacing.
A captive portal system is different. Instead, it allows you to physically barricade users until they cooperate with a web page pop-up form. You can run CAPTCHA checks, enforce terms and conditions, and even request marketing details like email addresses. It is a must-have for businesses.
Here at Beambox, we can offer top-of-the-range, all-in-one WiFi software. Start your Beambox free trial today and put your good WiFi passwords to use!
