While the internet gives us a useful tool for business, interaction with friends and family, and much more, it also expands the approaches that criminals can take. People have been using the internet for nefarious activities since it was first created, and that won’t be changing anytime soon.
If you mainly use your internet over Wi-Fi, then you probably have plenty of experience entering your WPA2 (or similar) password, and you may have wondered why it’s so necessary. In this short guide, we’ll explain why you should keep your Wi-Fi secured all the time and with a strong password.
Someone Else Can Perform Illegal Activities on Your Network
When it comes to an IP address and an internet connection, the person paying for them is considered the one responsible for them. This means that if someone else accesses your network and you can’t prove that it wasn’t you, you may end up getting blamed for what they did.
This can range from targeted harassment and bullying to illegally sharing files and other crimes that can carry a hefty penalty. This is also why keeping your network security as strong as possible is important, as enterprising criminals will see an open wifi network as an invitation.
It Can Provide Access to Your PC and Files
If enabled, the computers on a home network can also access each other’s local files through the wireless network. When someone else connects to your network, they will also see your computers on the network, and they may be able to access and steal sensitive files from you.
If you have private data on your computer, you should disable network file sharing to prevent this, but you should still maintain network security. If you live in a household where files are frequently sent back and forth, accessing computer storage through the network can save plenty of time.
Your Bandwidth is Limited
The final thing to consider is that an open network will allow plenty of other people to use your internet simultaneously. If you’re trying to stream or download something, you’ll likely notice the difference in speed if plenty of other people are using your network simultaneously.
Even if you have fast enough internet for that not to be an issue, if someone else is using your network, you may end up using all of your limited bandwidth for a month. This can either slow down your internet speed or cause you to be charged extra for the month.
Conclusion
There are many more reasons to keep your wifi network as secure as possible, but these are some of the most crucial ones. It doesn’t take network scanner software to find an unsecured connection, just a glance at the available networks in the area, so don’t make it easy for other people to use your internet.
