What steps can you take to monitor and detect intrusions on your wireless network?

WPA3 is effectively the latest and most advanced Wi-Fi security protocol (so far), offering several significant improvements over its predecessors, WPA and WPA2. WPA3 uses a 192-bit cryptographic strength , providing a higher level of security compared to WPA2, which typically uses 128-bit encryption. It should be your default protocol on your router. And please do not use WEP anymore 😉

Para segurança sem fio, uso WPA3. Ele oferece criptografia robusta e autenticação forte. Ativo o WPA3 nas configurações do roteador ou considero atualizar o roteador se ele não suportar WPA3, já que WPA2 é mais vulnerável.

Here's my perspective on WPA3 and the wider landscape of Wi-Fi intrusion detection: WPA3 Isn't Foolproof: Even with WPA3, a weak password is still a weak password. Treat your Wi-Fi credentials like bank account details. "Guest" Access Is Your Friend: For devices you don't fully trust (friend's phone, smart TV, etc.), a separate, less privileged network is essential. Intrusion Isn't Always Obvious: It could be a neighbour leeching off your bandwidth, not a hacker. But that's still a vulnerability that needs addressing. Early in my career, I felt like Wi-Fi security was just about encrypting the traffic. Now I realize it's about knowing who and what is on your network at all times.

You can disable broadcasting your SSID. This would drastically increase security since the malicious actor would have to know both SSID name and password together. Moreover you may limit the number of connections to your wireless router, so no unknown device would be able to connect. If a device somehow breaks into your network, one of your known devices would not connect so this could set an alert for you too One setback is that, a guest visiting your house would not be easily connect to your network. On the other hand I personally think that you can personally log your guest into your network by first changing your network settings and this would look really cool to your guest.

Eu altero o nome padrão (SSID) e a senha da minha rede para algo único e complexo, dificultando ataques. Também mantenho o firmware do roteador atualizado para corrigir vulnerabilidades.

Know Your Admin Panel: It's not just about the Wi-Fi password. The router's web interface is often wide open if the default login hasn't been changed. "Hidden" Isn't Secure: Turning off SSID broadcast doesn't make your network invisible. It just makes it slightly more annoying for the average attacker to find. Patching is Ongoing: New router vulnerabilities are discovered constantly. Set a reminder to check for firmware updates every few months. In my early days, I felt like once the router was set up, it was good to go. Now I realize it's a dynamic, ongoing threat, and you need to treat it as such.

Monitoro regularmente o tráfego da minha rede para detectar invasões. Uso logs do roteador ou ferramentas de terceiros para verificar dispositivos conectados e uso de dados, procurando por picos de tráfego ou dispositivos desconhecidos.

Here's my perspective on how to make that monitoring effective: Know Your Normal: What's "unusual" depends on your household. If you have a teen who streams movies all day, a traffic spike might not be a big deal. The Device is the Clue: Is your smart fridge suddenly sending tons of data? That's more concerning than your laptop. Look for activity that doesn't make sense. "Breach" Isn't Binary: It could be someone leeching your wifi, not a hacker. But that's still a vulnerability you need to address, even if it's low-risk. Early on, I felt like traffic monitoring was too complex for home users. Now, I see it as the equivalent of checking your bank statement for weird charges - it's not perfect, but it can spot problems early on.

Configuro alertas para detectar possíveis violações de segurança. Roteadores modernos e ferramentas de monitoramento permitem alertas personalizados para atividades incomuns. Com alertas instantâneos, posso responder rapidamente a ameaças e minimizar danos.

Here's my perspective, focusing on how to make those alerts useful, not just annoying: Don't Be the Boy Who Cried Wolf: Too many alerts get ignored. Focus on critical triggers: new devices joining, traffic to known bad IP addresses, etc. Delivery Matters: An email alert is useless if you only check it once a week. Look for tools that can text you, or even send a message to your smart home hub. Escalation is Key: Not every alert is a crisis. Build in a system where low-level ones get logged for review, but high-risk ones wake you up in the middle of the night. I realize it's about the right alerts, delivered in a way that actually drives action, not paralysis.

Here's my perspective, focusing on how the "human element" impacts even the most secure configurations: Complexity Is the Enemy: Too many security settings overwhelm users. If it's a hassle to connect, they'll find workarounds that are less secure. "Guest" Doesn't Mean Safe: Even visitors shouldn't have unfettered access. Segment that network too, to limit what a compromised guest device can do. The Password Still Matters: WPA3 encryption is great, but a weak password renders it useless. Educate users on creating strong, unique passwords for your network. I realize that security is only as strong as the weakest link, and often, that's a human.