22 July 2021

Now we are going to be working at the university more often, this means we are going to be out and about more too. However, most of us will continue to work at home for most of the time. This means we will be connecting to different types of network. Not all connections are equally secure though, and hackers have simple tricks that allow them to gain access to unsecure networks and see your data. How do you make sure that your internet connection is safe at home and out and about?

At home

1. Install security updates. It is important to install software updates, both on your router and on the devices that are connected to it. Software updates contain security measures that protect your device from the latest threats.
2. Configure WPA2. Your network is secure if you use an encrypted connection with WPA2 security. See the manual for your router to find out how to configure WPA2.
3. Choose a strong password. Don’t use the default password for your router but create a new one instead. Devices that connect to the router need a strong password too. For tips on creating strong passwords that are easy to remember, see here.

Out and about

1. Mobile hotspot. Connecting via a mobile network is generally very secure. You can create a hotspot on your mobile that enable you to connect your laptop to the mobile network. Use a strong password for your hotspot.
2. Use eduVPN. Are you connecting to a public network, in a train or a restaurant, for example? It is really easy for hackers to access your data through public networks. This means these aren’t safe unless you encrypt your data. You can do so by using a VPN connection, such as eduVPN. Read knowledge item 1330 to find out how to install eduVPN.