Without knowing you personally, I’m going to make a prediction. At some point in your life in the past 6 months, you have asked the question, “What is your wi-fi password?”
You’re sitting at FluffterNutter Coffee Shop and without their telling you, you had probably already figured out that the wi-fi network was called FlufferNutter-Guest, because we all know the concept of a “guest network.” You just needed the password.
I would like you to forget the term “guest network” and instead use the term “public network.”
As you already figured out, FlufferNutter Coffee Shop has two networks: FlufferNutter and FlufferNutter-Guest. To run their business, FlufferNutter needs cash registers, payroll computers, etc. All of that lives on the FlufferNutter wi-fi. If they gave out the password to the FlufferNutter wi-fi, a smart hacker could probably break into their systems in a matter of minutes. Instead, you get access to FlufferNutter-Guest. That’s for guests, right? True, but in reality, a guest network is simply a wi-fi network that has no ability to connect to the main w-fi.
Actually, both networks probably live on the same wi-fi router. But the wi-fi router vigilantly serves as a 24×7 gatekeeper blocking all access from the guest wi-fi network to the main wi-fi network where the payroll computers and cash registers faithfully take your money. In other words, the guest network is a network for anyone to publicly access without fear that they will be hacked.
Your home wi-fi router probably has a built-in guest network. You rarely have guests, so why should you care?
Think of it this way.
Your home computer, your laptop, your family computers, your Chromebooks, etc. contain personal information. In FlufferNutter terms, your personal computers are your cash registers and payroll computers.
On the other hand, does your TV need access to your personal computer files? No, then it’s a guest. Does your Roku or Amazon Echo need access to your financial documents? No, then it’s a guest. Does your child’s phone need access to anything on your laptop? No, then it’s a guest.
Your main wi-fi is your master bedroom.
In other words, your main wi-fi network should be reserved for the most secure devices. Treat it like your master bedroom. No one is just randomly allowed to walk into your master bedroom when they visit your house. People who stay at your home have full access to the guest bedroom and guest bathroom and maybe the kitchen. No one should ever be allowed to have access to your main wi-fi.
It’s very simple.
Login to your router and setup your guest network with a simple password and move all devices to your guest network, unless they have secure/personal data.
All entertainment, Amazon Echo and smart home devices should be added to your guest network. Period.
I call my guest network wifi-enjoy.
For whatever reason, the kids didn’t like being on the “guest” network. So instead I used the word “enjoy.” It turned from “WHY ARE WE ON THE GUEST NETWORK” to “THANK YOU THIS IS AWESOME FAST.”
It doesn’t take that long to setup. Maybe an hour. But you may be saving yourself a serious headache down the road.
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