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Why You Need a Router for Your Wireless Internet

For all of its uses and benefits, using the internet exposes you to many potential security risks including theft and identity fraud. It’s important to take necessary measures to ensure your system is protected so you don’t become another victim of computer hacking. One of the best ways to protect your wireless system is with router hardware. Not only can routers saving you money by allowing you to connect to the Internet from multiple computers without having to pay for a wireless subscription for each computer, but they also increase the security of your system. Most routers today have a built in firewall, which basically makes your computer invisible on the Internet. Without this protection your IP address is exposed and you are extremely vulnerable to hackers.One mistake many people make in regards to their router security is the password. Many routers come with a generic password setting that you should immediately change as these are easily guessed. You should also make sure to choose a difficult password that doesn’t contain any of your personal information such as birth date or social security number. With your router you can also prohibit outside access to your wireless internet system. First, you should change the setting to Wi-Fi Protected Access, which will require you to create a password used to gain access to the network, and therefore outsiders can’t sneak onto the system. You can even prevent wireless thieves from picking up your network by turning off the Service Set Identifier (SSID), so that if someone searches for available wireless networks in your area, your system won’t even show up.A router also has the ability to block Internet viruses from attacking your computer. Unlike other anti-virus software, because the router is a separate device from the actual computer it doesn’t slow down your system.