What’s a guest Wi-Fi network and why do you need one?

Hemil Mehta — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 14:49:32 +0000

As most of us are aware, home network security is extremely important. If your Wi-Fi network is not properly secured, it leaves you vulnerable to a variety of security threats. Determined hackers can use your Internet service for free, introduce malware onto your devices, and steal your personal data. It’s even possible for a hacker to hijack your Wi-Fi router and use it, along with thousands of other hacked routers, to launch a large-scale cyberattack on a company, government agency, or other organization. Fortunately, these threats can usually be addressed with some simple measures, like using the right type of Wi-Fi security (the WPA2 security protocol), setting a strong Wi-Fi password, and changing it every few months.

Your house guests may pose a threat to your home network

But there is another type of threat to your home network you may not be aware of your house guests. If your network is not set up correctly, visitors who access your Wi-Fi network pose a potential security risk to your devices and data.
Here’s how. Let’s say that you have two laptops, four smartphones, and a tablet in your home, any of which could be connected to your Wi-Fi network at any given time. Let’s say you also have several smart home devices connected to Wi-Fi, and you have a portable USB hard drive plugged into your Wi-Fi router to share files with other family members. Whenever a guest logs into your primary Wi-Fi network, they will also have access to every one of these devices. While it’s unlikely any of your friends would intentionally sabotage your network, there’s a chance that the device they are using to connect to your network is infected with some sort of malware. If so, there’s a possibility that this malware could be spread to other devices connected to your network.

Why you need a guest Wi-Fi network

Fortunately, there’s a simple way to address this particular threat Most Wi-Fi routers give you the ability to create what’s called a “guest Wi-Fi” network. Unlike your regular Wi-Fi network that you and your family members use, the guest Wi-Fi network restricts what your guests can do in your network. Specifically, it gives visitors access to your Internet connection and nothing else. They can’t see any of your devices on the network and they don’t have the ability to access them. Most importantly, they can’t accidentally introduce malware or compromise your devices or data in any other way.

How does a guest Wi-Fi network work?

Here’s how a guest Wi-Fi network works. Anyone looking to connect to your Wi-Fi will see your primary Wi-Fi network name as well as your guest network name. For example, if your primary network is called “MyWiFi” your guest network might be called “MyWiFi-guest”. Each of these networks has a separate strong password one you share with guests and the other that you only share with family members. When a guest asks you for your Wi-Fi password, you simply give them the guest Wi-Fi password and ask them to connect to “MyWiFi-guest”. Once they’re connected, they can use the Internet and you don’t have to worry about any security threats.

How to set up a guest Wi-Fi network

To set up your guest Wi-Fi network, you need to access the app for your Wi-Fi router. You log into the network and follow the instructions provided by your router manufacturer to create and set up the guest Wi-Fi network.

If you have a MosaicEdge™, you need to log in to the MosaicEdge™ app to set up your guest Wi-Fi network. This involves three steps
1. Turn on the guest Wi-Fi network for the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.
2. Provide a name for the guest Wi-Fi network (also known as the SSID).
3. Set a strong password that’s also easy to remember for your guests.

Share your guest password with your visitors

Keep a record of your guest Wi-Fi password and make sure it’s the password you share with visitors to your home, rather than your primary Wi-Fi password. And don’t forget to change your primary and guest Wi-Fi passwords every few months.
If you have any problems changing the name of your guest Wi-Fi network or changing your password using the MosaicEdge™ web interface, contact your service provider to get help.

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Let us make one thing in your life worry-free! Feel free to reach out to us with any questions at 715-458-5400.

Fiber Internet can increase your home value!

Hemil Mehta — Wed, 19 Jan 2022 16:20:45 +0000

It’s always important to make smart investments when you can so your future self can reap the rewards. There are so many things you can do that can impact the value of your home. But did you know that just having fiber internet can increase your home’s value? Whether you’re looking to sell soon, or you’re just thinking about it, you’ll want to give us a call and see if you can upgrade to Fiber Optics! According to the study released by FTTH, by upgrading your network to fiber, you can add over 3% to your home’s value! That means on a 175,000 home you could add more than $5,400 to your value, and with the current real-estate prices, you can most likely expect even more!

You might be asking, what is fiber internet?

Well, that’s a great question! Traditionally, internet companies use copper cables to bring you internet services. However, with advances in technology, people found out that using glass fibers to shoot light transmitting the data was much quicker and more effective! This means by switching to the fiber you are literally upgrading to the speed of light. Not only does fiber make your connection faster, but it also is more reliable during storms. Since it’s glass instead of copper, electricity isn’t drawn to it, and you can expect your internet to go out less! Even if it does still manage to be knocked out, fiber optics allow us to pinpoint the area causing the issue, so we can fix it and get you up and running as fast as possible.

Do you feel like your family doesn’t use the internet much and think you wouldn’t benefit from making this switch? Well, it’s important to keep in mind that as technology continues to advance, so will the amount of bandwidth your devices require to operate. Fast Internet can mean so much more than just streaming. Fast Fiber Internet can make new technologies more feasible, such as remote working, distance learning, gaming, home automation, and security. You should consider making the switch now before your devices begin to be slowed down by outdated internet connections!

How do I make the switch to Fiber?

Making the switch is not as hard as you might think either. You can visit ExperienceFiber.com and fill out our Fiber to the Home or Business form and we will show all the available services to your home and set up a time to have a technician switch you over if fiber is ready to go in your area!

Our Fiber services are now available in Chetek, Birchwood, Mikana, Turtle Lake, Cameron, Sand Creek, Prairie Farm. It is the perfect time to make this investment! Even if you aren’t ready to move, you’ll get access to the fastest and most reliable internet available provided by your local service provider.

So, whether you’re ready to move or not, give your home the value it deserves and your family the connection they deserve with Mosaic fiber GIGABIT internet! You won’t regret making the switch!