How to Find Your Network Security Key (And Protect It!)
Feel free to skip ahead to see how to find the network security key.
A network security key is a fancy way of saying a Wi-Fi password. Whatever you call it, you'll want to know how to find the network security key and protect it. It is extremely important to keep your personal or business network safe from all kinds of threats.
The simple truth is that anytime you install a router, the Wi-Fi signal can be detected and connected to anyone nearby. While this may be less of an issue if you're on your private island, for most of us, that puts us at great risk of people gaining control of networks and inflicting all kinds of damage if we don't have one.
For these reasons, we decided to put together an informative guide that includes everything you need to keep your home or business Wi-Fi safe.
Data is fed through your router, and when somebody manages to get unauthorized access, they can intercept it.
Why Your Network Security Key is So Important
Stop and think for a second about some of the things you do on the internet. You probably work, socialize, manage your finances, shop, and more. All of this data is fed through your router, and when somebody manages to get unauthorized access, they can intercept it.
From here, they might track your identity or sell your personal information on the dark web. That's not all. Cybercriminals can also implant malware or spyware on your network to continue inflicting harm even long after they are gone.
Last but not least, even if their intentions aren't bad and the person just wants a free internet connection, then they're stealing away bandwidth you pay for!
The Types of Network Security Keys
To you, it might just seem like a Wi-Fi password. But there's actually a lot going on behind the scenes.
There are now four main types of Wi-Fi security keys:
- WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy)
- WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access)
- WPA 2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2)
- WPA 3 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 3)
The most recent and secure standard is WPA 3, and you'll definitely want to look for routers that support it. However, WPA 2 is also still pretty good.
WPA and WEP, however, are outdated and more susceptible to attack. You should look to upgrade your router to one that supports one of the newer standards.
Now here's how to figure out your network security key and how you can change it to a good option for you!