Most of the users don’t even check their extenders after doing Rockspace extender setup via rockspace.local as the internet is all they need. Well, this puts their connected devices in a dangerous landscape. A report suggests that hackers carry out cyber attacks against a large number of home WiFi networks, especially those that are not secured.
To enhance your extender’s security, we have come up with this post. Here are the various basic settings to be implemented in your Rockspace for safeguarding your WiFi from potential threats. So, let’s get started.
1. Apply Parental Controls
You can apply parental controls and time-based internet usage restrictions to protect your kids or loved ones from visiting malicious or inappropriate sites.
To enable the parental control filter, visit your extender’s admin panel and select the ‘Parental Controls’ option. Here, you have the freedom of what type of sites to disable, and set the schedule when the filters are in effect. You can assign specific IP and MAC addresses too.
2. Check Your Rockspace Web Page
Before beginning, ensure you get into your extender’s admin panel, the console where you can manage your device’s settings, including creating a guest network to doing firmware updates.
Firstly, ensure your extender is connected to your home router. Run any web browser on your computer and type the default IP address. The IP address is a string of numbers and it can vary as per the extender’s manufacturer. The common ones are the following:
• 192.168.1.1
• 192.168.0.1
• 10.0.0.1
• 192.168.2.1
Bonus Tip: If you don’t know your extender’s default IP address, prefer checking the user manual.
3. Choose the Encryption
Hackers love unsecured WiFi networks. Protecting your home network can fight against unwanted connections that may use your WiFi network for malicious or illegal purposes. Therefore it’s essential to protect your extender’s wireless network with secure encryption.
There are different types of WiFi encryption, and it’s up to you which one you can employ. The widely-popular WiFi security protocol right now is WPA2. If you have recently purchased a new extender, you might have the newest security standard called WPA3.
Never go with Open or No security, or if you are using WEP, change it to WPA2 immediately. You can change your Rockspace security passphrase key using the re.rockspace.local web address.
4. Set up an Additional Wireless Network
Set up a ‘Guest Network’ and put visitor devices on a separate network. By doing so, the visitors’ devices won’t be able to access your shared files and devices within the local network. Even it shields your device’s admin panel from various IoT attacks.
To avoid confusion between primary and guest networks, set up a guest network with a different network SSID name and passphrase key. Keep your guest network security key reliable and secure, so that strangers don’t mooch off it for security causes.
5. Maintain the Firmware Updates
Firmware, which operates on your extender at a low level, effectively controls everything the device does. It establishes your network’s security requirements, establishes limitations on which devices can connect, and more.
Even if some more recent extenders update themselves in the background, it’s always worthwhile to check that your model’s firmware is current. You are therefore safe from any recently discovered exploits and have the most recent bug fixes and security patches installed.
Although the procedure differs from model to model, it shouldn’t be too difficult to find the option to update your extender’s firmware in the admin control panel, much like with the password settings. Check the extender’s manual if you run into trouble.
If you’re lucky, the procedure will be automatic, and you may even get notifications on your screen each time a firmware update is done, which often takes place over the course of one or more nights. If you’re unlucky, you might need to download fresh firmware and direct your extender to it through the manufacturer’s website. Otherwise, the further work is definitely worthwhile.
Bonus: Enable the Firewall
Incoming network data is examined by a firewall, and anything it deems hazardous is blocked. SPI Firewall is a common name for the built-in firewall capability found in the majority of WiFi devices. A database is used to compare portions of all incoming network data, and only traffic that passes the test is allowed to enter. So, if your device supports the same, get it enabled on your device to add an additional layer of security.
That’s how you can secure your Rockspace extender from potential threats.
