You have dinner in the oven, you’re looking for extra glasses, and your cousin’s son yells (again): “What’s the Wi-Fi password?” You’re juggling hundreds of things at once and the last thing you want to do is spell out your password.
Here’s the good news: You can put a printed copy on the refrigerator and everyone can scan it with their phones to connect. But first, I’ll show you how to create a separate network so you don’t have to worry about little Billy accessing your personal stuff on your devices and computers.
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be my guest
When guests connect to your main Wi-Fi, they can potentially access devices like smart TVs, printers, and even your laptop or phone if file sharing is enabled. Worse yet, if your device is compromised, your entire network could be at risk. A guest network keeps everyone happy while keeping your private life private.
Most modern routers allow you to set up a guest network without having to be a tech guru. Warning: This will take a few minutes, but it’s totally doable.
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Step 1: Log in to your router’s management console. You will need your IP address. You can usually find it on a label on the bottom or side of your router. Seeing 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 is common.
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If you don’t see yours…
- And Windows: Open the Start menulook for “Command Prompt” and with the command prompt open, type ipconfig and press Get into. Look for the line that says “Default gateway.” This is the IP address of your router.
- A Mac: Gonna System configuration > Crimson. Select your pink wifi > Advanced. Your router’s IP address is in Router.
Step 2: Open your browser, type http:// and hit your IP address. Hit Get into to open a login page. For credentials, try username. administration and the word password for the password. If the default values are different, they may be printed on your router. You can also consult this site listing default passwords for almost all routers in use.
Step 3: Look for a setting called Guest Crimson oh Guest Wi-Fi. Give it a different name (also known as SSID) than your main network, along with a unique, secure password.
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If you have snoops in the family… When family and friends connect to your guest Wi-Fi network, you can block them from accessing your files or devices on your main network. Turn off the native access configuration.
Sorry, but dedicated snoops won’t stop at a closed door. Here’s a sign that someone is snooping around.
While you’re at it, a quick security check
Before you finish, follow these additional steps to lock everything:
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- Change your administrator password: If your router still uses the default login, update it.
- Also update your firmware: Check for software updates to keep your router safe from vulnerabilities.
Your network is a bigger target than you think.
Now comes the fun part.
Create a QR code that automatically connects guests to your new guest network, without any fuss or drama. With the free site QIFI.orgall you need are three pieces of information:
- SSID: This is the name of your Wi-Fi network. Find it on the back of your modem, in the management console, or in your network app.
- Encryption type: Choose WPA/WPA2/WPA3. You can find this in the Wi-Fi section of your phone under the network details.
- Key: This is your router password. It’s on the back of your router if you’ve never changed it. (Please tell me you’ve changed it!)
Hit Trigger and your QR code is ready. Print a few copies to hang around the house, or do what I did: Order this custom sign that looks elegant. Now, when someone asks you for the Wi-Fi password, you can simply point.
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