Wireless networks are an amazing addition to our technology, and they have made mobile devices even more practical. They have brought a lot of advantages, but they came at a cost to the security of user data.
It is easy for a hacker to breach a wireless network even if they are not on site. The only way to prevent this is to secure all access points to your network. The most significant access point is the Wi-Fi connection so let’s get to secure it;
How To Block Ports On A Router
Anyone having unauthorized access to your Wi-Fi network could mess up your data plans. Even if you have unlimited data, it might cause you to get hacked and lose sensitive information. That is why the experts at UbiFi.net recommend learning how to block ports from accessing your router to prevent any security breaches.
You, therefore, need to learn how to block ports from accessing your router to prevent any effects.
The specifics differ depending on the router you use, but here is the general guide on how you can block a port on any router;
You can use two methods when dealing with a D-Link router, port forwarding or virtual server. Port forwarding will allow you to block numerous networks at once, while a virtual server only blocks a single network at a time.
No matter the route you use, you first have to access the settings. For the D-Link, enter 192.168.0.1 in the browser and search.
For a TP-Link device, use 192.168.1.1 for other routers; go with www.routerlogin.com to log into your account.
The specifics differ slightly depending on the router, but they all have an advanced settings tab. Go to it to see all the router’s settings.
It is important to know the IP addresses of all the ports you want to block since you can’t stop them without them.
If you are using a D-Link router, go to the port forwarding option and follow the prompts to enter the details of all the ports you want to be blocked.
In the window for the computer name, schedule it to never to mean that the port will never access your network again.
On a NetGear router, go to advanced settings, the security tabs, and the block services. You will have the option to temporarily block ports or permanently block them. Select on then scroll to the service table and add the port number you want to block.
Select a protocol to block the port; if you are unsure, you can use both UDP and TCP; then, choose never to cut off the port on schedule. Make sure you then save the settings for them to take effect.
On a TP-Link router, go to security options and then firewall. Enable the firewall and allow packets not specified to be filtered out of the router after enabling IP address filtering. Save the settings, then go to IP address filtering.
Click on add new and enter the IP address you want to block at the WAN port and LAN address frame, select Deny, and save the settings.
Each of these methods works for the specific router options, and it is a good way to manage the number of people who get access to your network.
Differences Between Hubs, Switches And Routers
When dealing with wireless connectivity media, you must have come across hubs and switches. Most people don’t know the difference between them and think they can be used interchangeably. Let us get to the specifics and see how they differ;
Hub
A hub is a device used to connect all the devices on an internal network. It has multiple Ethernet ports to accept connections from various devices, but it has no information about where the data is sent.
The hub only knows when a device gets connected to one of its ports. It takes the data it receives and copies it to all its ports, so all the connected devices see it.
A hub creates security concerns since many users will keep getting information that was not intended for them, which could be sensitive data. This also creates unnecessary traffic, which could slow a network down by straining the bandwidth of the cable.
Switch
A switch is almost similar to a hub since Ethernet ports accept data from multiple devices on a network. Unlike a hub, a switch can learn the addresses of all devices plugged into it, and it stores them in its table.
This means that any data transmitted to a switch will only get sent to the receiver designated by the data source. This is the biggest difference between a switch and a hub, making a switch more reliable and efficient.
With a switch, only intended recipients will get the sent data, and there won’t be any repetitive data packages filling up the cables. This makes them a better choice for a network than a hub.
Router
Switches and hubs can only share data within a local area network. They can’t be used to connect to other networks because they cannot read IP addresses. A router can read IP addresses, and it uses them to forward data from one network to another.
A router reads the IP address on any data packet it receives to tell if it was meant for its network or not. If the data was for its network, it takes it in, making it the doorway of a network.
If data is not meant for the network, the router will send it to the next network.
Understanding Firewalls
When blocking out unwanted users, you will come across some firewall settings, and you need to understand what it is.
A firewall is a data filtration system used to prevent unauthorized access to systems by managing data from the internet.
A firewall allows wanted traffic to come in from the internet and blocks out unwanted traffic. It, therefore, protects a private or company network from the public internet and all the dangers that come with it.
There are hackers and a ton of malicious software on the internet that will try to get into your network.
Without a firewall, all of these would have unrestricted access to your data which would be very harmful.
A firewall is especially important to a large organization that has numerous servers and computers with sensitive information. If such information ended up in the wrong hands, it could ruin the company and cause a total collapse.
The firewall in computers works the same way as a firewall in a building. The firewall makes sure that if a fire starts on one end of the building, it does not spread to the rest of the building. Thus the building is saved.
Without a firewall, the fire would go ahead and burn the whole building down. A network firewall stops harmful activities before they can go into a system and cause damage.
As threats from hackers increase by the day, firewalls are becoming more and more important to all internet users.
A firewall uses an access control list to filter data that comes into a system. These rules are determined and can be changed by the network administrator.
A firewall works two ways; it controls what can enter and get out of a network. It uses the IP addresses, internet protocols, port details, and other designations to register the data items coming at it.
Apart from preventing attacks, firewalls can limit what a user can do on the internet using a computer.
If an employer or parent does not want the user to access certain websites or domains, they can change a firewall to prevent these sites from getting access.
Several types of firewalls are installed in various systems. The host-based firewall is installed on a computer, and it will protect only that computer and nothing else. You can purchase one of these and keep your device safe from hackers and malware.
On the other hand, network-based firewalls are a hybrid of hardware and software and protect an entire network from malware. You can have several layers of firewalls to fortify your system.
Conclusion
You need to know how to block a port on your router to keep your data and information safe from hackers.
Each router has a slightly different setup, but you can navigate the setting and enter the computer’s IP address you want to block from your Wi-Fi network.
You also need to install a firewall onto your network to keep your data safe from hackers. A firewall can also be used to limit the sites a computer can access. It is, therefore, a good way to reduce destruction for employees or learners as they work.
A Wi-Fi connection can be your best friend or worst enemy, depending on how seriously you take the security. A hacker could get into your Wi-Fi and use it for crime, and in the end, you are the one that will get arrested since your router will get traced.
